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Good morning. Again, there is no need for everyone to answer every question, but I would like to know your views on how clear the bill is about the enforcement and accountability framework for the ask and act duties. Would anyone like to come in on that?

Would it be fair to say that you do not think that it is as clear as it could be?

That is helpful.

The policy aim of the legislation in relation to domestic abuse is to help protect the rights of women and children who are experiencing domestic abuse and financial control and living in social housing to remain in their own home, or be rehoused if that is their wish, and to ensure that arrears accrued because of domestic abuse are not a barrier to accessing social housing in the future. To what extent do the bill’s provisions relating to domestic abuse achieve the stated policy aim?

Professor Fitzpatrick, do you have any concern that these provisions need to be strengthened or that they are not quite right? There seems to be positive feedback.

The policy aim of the domestic abuse provisions is to

“help protect the rights of women and children experiencing domestic abuse financial control living in social housing to remain in their home, or be re-housed if that is their wish, and ensure arrears accrued because of domestic abuse are not a barrier to accessing social housing in the future.”

The previous panel was of the view that those aims will be achieved by the bill. I am interested to know whether the current panel is also of that view.

I also have a specific question for Jules Oldham from Scottish Women’s Aid. Jules, would you like social landlord policies to be included in the bill to strengthen those provisions? You have stated that there is no mention of young women. Will you explain your findings relating to young women and domestic abuse? Do the bill or guidance or regulations need to address that in more detail?

Okay. That is helpful. Would any of the other witnesses like to comment?

Overcrowding has been a massive issue in the Scottish prison estate for many years, and prison numbers have been increasing for a number of years. The cabinet secretary said that early release is the only option that is available. The Government is relying on a clause in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023. In discussions on that legislation, the focus was very much on situations such as a prison fire at Barlinnie or a possible spread of infection. What consideration has been given to other legislative options?

I understand that the Government is looking at home detention curfew for long-term prisoners, which the cabinet secretary has already referred to. Is the Government looking at remand, for example? Scotland is an outlier with the levels of remand within our prisons and the use of it in our system.

Is the Government also looking at specific cohorts, such as women or those who have been convicted of non-violent offences? Within the cohort of those who are being considered for early release, there are people who have been convicted of serious violent offences, including culpable homicide. I will put that question to the cabinet secretary.

Convener, is there time for me to ask a question about victim notification?

That is actually higher than the indication that we were given.

The cabinet secretary is very clear that she does not see early release as a solution but as a measure that will give the Prison Service time and capacity, but we are trying to understand what it will give the prison service time and capacity to do. The measure is clearly a sticking plaster and will not resolve the issues, so are we not going to be back in this place in, say, three or four months? Does Teresa Medhurst envisage that we will be back here in three or four months?