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Is an attempt made to put the person close to where their family live?

Would you say that the person’s needs are being met, by and large, where they have been placed to carry out their sentence?

So the current spending review period is coterminous with the general election cycle.

Good morning. I have a slightly different perspective from that of Jamie Greene on the figures that were announced yesterday. Some of us certainly do not think that a £1 billion cut to Scotland’s capital budget is in any way encouraging, or that it is better news in comparison with the position last week. It represents a huge cut in the Scottish Government’s ability to carry out the programme that we have outlined today.

Alison Cumming said that

“the UK Government has not published ... spending plans beyond 2024-25.”

Why is that?

I turn to Alyson Stafford. Is there any indication of whether we should expect those figures to change in the coming years? It is clear that we are facing a major event—a general election—this year.

As you and I know, and as everybody around the table knows, there are always discussions between current Governments and potential Governments that may be formed by other parties about spending intentions and commitments and so forth. Is there any indication that the picture may change?

You mentioned financial transactions. Did you say that we are not expecting any in the coming period? That will impact on the housing programme, will it not?

Alison Cumming, you set out clearly the way in which you approach changing circumstances. However, should the position change—you mentioned priorities, contractual commitments, health and safety commitments and so on—are we, as a Government, in a position to adapt to such changes in order to bring more projects or programmes into line? Is that the way in which we work, and is that how you advise ministers about what can and cannot be done if the financial picture improves in the coming years?

For the benefit of the committee—and, I am sure, of everyone else—can you say where the financial transaction money comes from? What is the source of that?

How have we hitherto deployed the financial transaction money? What have we done with it? Where has it principally been spent?

My questions were as broad as I could make them, to retain the committee’s interest, with regard to the source of that funding, its impact and the general direction of the spend, as well as the clear impact that there will be if we do not have that funding.

I will leave it there, convener, and invite colleagues to ask their questions.