Seòmar agus comataidhean

We move to questions on community justice. I will kick off with Fulton MacGregor, to be followed by John Swinney.

Very quickly.

I want to follow up on the discussion about police officer staff numbers. We know that those numbers have been falling and are predicted to be cut as a result of budgetary constraints. What are your views on that, particularly with regard to the impact on policing in communities, which we know that the public like to see? I am aware that things such as information and communications technology development—with police officers now, for example, having electronic notebooks as opposed to the old-fashioned paper notebooks—and that the investment in ICT has enabled police officers to remain in communities as opposed to having to always come back to police stations to write up notes and details of cases and inquiries.

On policing numbers—police officer and staff numbers—I seek an assurance from the cabinet secretary that, where possible, those numbers will be retained and not cut.

John Swinney would like to come in, and then we will move on.

Before we move on to our final topic—prisons—I will ask the cabinet secretary about some of the evidence that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has given to the committee. It has set out increased costs for developing evidence on commission, a greater number of solemn cases being prosecuted, the additional work that will be required through the changes that the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice (Scotland) Bill will introduce, and the increase in death reports and investigations. What priority does the cabinet secretary give to those individual areas of work and ensuring that the required resources are in place?

Can I have members’ approval for the clerks and me to publish a short factual report on both our SSIs today?

Members indicated agreement.

Do members have any questions or comments? Nothing at all? Thank you. In that case, I invite the cabinet secretary to move motion S6M-10537.

Motion moved,

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2023 be approved.—[Angela Constance]

Motion agreed to.

Good morning, and welcome to the 29th meeting in 2023 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We have received no apologies. Katy Clark will join us shortly.

Our first item of business is to continue our pre-budget scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s 2024-25 budget. I am pleased to welcome Teresa Medhurst, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, and Gerry O’Donnell, its interim director of finance. [Inaudible.]—for their written submission.

We have about 68 minutes for this session. I will begin with some general questions. Will you outline the main challenges relating to spending on prisons in this financial year? What is your view on the budget that you will need for 2024-25?

Thank you very much indeed. I open up questions to other members.

I know that you are very passionate about this but if you could just maybe—