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You are asking professionals to look at their current and former case loads and make a judgment about any individuals that they have concerns about, and for those cases to be prioritised.

Would it not be more sensible to have a pilot with a significant tranche of cases being dealt with in that way and then to evaluate the outcome of that, rather than making a permanent shift to a position where virtual trials are a default, which would be a significant change in the Scottish legal system?

Concerns were first brought to people’s attention on 13 February, although I appreciate that the full extent of the problem might not have been apparent at that point. However, as yet, we have not got to the point at which cases are being looked at by those who deal with this work. Is that right?

I appreciate that somebody might be a dangerous individual but might not have been convicted of any serious offences. However, many of that cohort would have had convictions. Did you ask for that information?

Thank you.

What is the cabinet secretary’s understanding of how prisons differentiate between different types of prisoners? For example, during Covid, children in prison have been subject to the same measures to combat virus infection as adults have. How do the prisons balance those rights and look at individuals, particularly those who might be more vulnerable?

I want to pick up the point that was made about other systems. Have you been able to work out the profile of the cases that we are talking about, particularly some of the more serious offences? How many sexual offenders are involved, for example? Given the huge workload that is involved in reviewing the cases, how have you prioritised them? Have you been able to prioritise some of the cases that would cause the public most concern? Perhaps you can outline your approach in layperson’s language.

For the cases that have been looked at, have you asked for a breakdown of the offences that are involved in that cohort?

You spoke about human rights considerations. I presume that, in particular, you are thinking about article 3 of the European convention on human rights and whether the requirements amount to “inhuman and degrading treatment”. Will you outline what you can do in your role to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service and, in particular, governors take proportionate action? How can more resources be put in to deal with the transparency issues that Jamie Greene spoke about, given that the Scottish Prison Service has raised systems issues, and so that there is an awareness in prisons of the importance of human rights considerations?

We have been given information on how the powers have been used since October 2021. As the cabinet secretary knows, the buck stops with him. To what extent is he advised of the steps that have been taken so that he can give political oversight of the situation and, if he has concerns about how the legislation was being implemented, take action or express those concerns?