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Eric, you mentioned white vans earlier, and I know that a joint decision has been made, albeit on a temporary basis, to set time limits in order to avoid late-night sittings in custody courts. Obviously that is very welcome for lawyers and court staff in particular, but has any modelling been done on the impact of that? My immediate thought is that it might just create a backlog of cases that are not being dealt with in the evening hours.

That was a really helpful update.

Finally, I want to ask about the process of transferring information such as police reports, evidence and so on, from the police to the Crown Office. Forgive me if this has been covered in earlier responses, but I think that it is a welcome part of transformation and reform. I am therefore curious about whether you have any update on that work, particularly in the context of the potential budget implications for the Crown Office.

Yes.

No, no—it is fine.

I take it that, as far as the budget is concerned, that work will continue.

I call Donald Cameron, to be followed by Rona Mackay. I ask members and witnesses to be as succinct as possible, so that we can get in as many questions as possible.

I am pleased to welcome our second panel of witnesses, who are Stephen McGowan, Deputy Crown Agent, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service; and Eric McQueen, chief executive, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

I will begin with the same opening question that I asked our earlier panel. During scrutiny last year, both organisations that are here today painted a concerning picture of the state of your budgets, although that was relieved in part by extra funding. I invite the Crown Office and then the Courts and Tribunals Service to tell us briefly what your experience of the financial situation has been for 2023-24 and what, if any, concerns and commentary you have as we approach the 2024-25 settlement.

I bring in John Swinney to ask a quick supplementary.

Thank you very much indeed.

I am going to use the same format that I used in the previous session and hand over to Russell Findlay, after which I will bring in Katy Clark. I should also say that I am looking at giving members eight or so minutes each, but I will bring in supplementaries if we have time at the end.

You have time.