Seòmar agus comataidhean

I thank the minister very much for attending. That concludes our consideration of the SSI.

We now move into private session. Details of the next meeting will be announced in due course in the Business Bulletin.

The committee will now consider an affirmative Scottish statutory instrument. I refer members to paper 1. The SSI seeks to amend the current advice and assistance regulations to support a sheriff court initiative that seeks to encourage appropriate early resolution of summary criminal cases.

I welcome Ash Regan, the Minister for Community Safety, and her officials to the meeting, and I invite the minister to make a short statement on the SSI.

Absolutely. Are members happy with that?

Members indicated agreement.

The next letter is from the Scottish Prison Service and is about access to fresh air. We have some confirmation of the provision that is in place for that. Do members have any comments?

Exactly. That issue in relation to health boards, as opposed to NHS Scotland oversight, was highlighted a couple of times.

Yes. I agree.

That would be perfect. Are members happy with that approach?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you very much.

The next letter is correspondence from the Crown Agent on centralisation of case marking. Do members have any comments? I think that our colleague Pauline McNeill first raised the issue.

I agree with your assumption that that would not be considered as part of the centralisation process. That issue might come up in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill.

We are getting there. Our next letter is from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which provides an update on its use of naloxone. Again, I am happy to open the floor up to members.