Seòmar agus comataidhean

Amanda, we are having a slight problem with your sound coming and going. I suggest that we bring in a witness who is in the room. We can try and sort things out and come back to you.

We will draw the discussion to a close on that note. I thank the panel members very much for joining us on international women’s day. We will have a short suspension to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

Thank you very much.

I do not think that Amanda wanted to add anything more to her previous response. On that note, I will hand over to Katy Clark.

Thank you very much for making a number of really interesting and relevant points. I note the comments that have been made about the policing response, and I should say that we will be hearing from Police Scotland as part of the next panel of witnesses.

A few members want to ask questions. I will begin with Pauline McNeill, to be followed by Collette Stevenson.

Do you have timescales for that? I know that there are often unforeseen abstractions for divisional officers in particular, but can you comment further on timescales for training?

I ask members to keep questions focused on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, which is what we are considering today.

I would like to pick up on that before I bring in Fulton MacGregor. Moira Price, we have heard that proving a DASA charge requires proof of on-going behaviour. The Crown Office may be waiting for proof of such sustained behaviour, while in the meantime a victim may still be living at quite high risk of harm. Would the Crown Office prioritise single charges over other offences in the interim?

Our next item is consideration of evidence on an affirmative instrument, and I welcome to the meeting Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans. I also welcome Vivienne McColl, policy manager, international justice co-operation unit and—joining us remotely—Ruth Swanson, legal directorate, Scottish Government.

I refer members to paper 1 and invite the cabinet secretary to make a statement.

We will have a brief suspension to allow the room to be set up for our next agenda item.

That concludes our public session. I thank everyone who has joined us.