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Sharon, given what Keith said, is the planning for the implementation of the bill based on the current community justice model?

I am happy with anybody. Perhaps Keith, since he is in the room.

I am aware of the time, convener, so, unless anybody else wants to come in, I am happy to leave it there.

Good afternoon to the witnesses, and thank you for your evidence so far. I was going to ask the same question that Russell Findlay did, but I will instead ask a supplementary. How does the fact that the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill and the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill will go through at the same time impact planning? We have heard that recommendations and decisions have yet to be made about whether justice social work will be part of the national care service. I do not know whether you listened to the earlier panel of witnesses and to some of the questions that I and others asked. That panel talked about the impact on social work staff and how planning could be done on that. How does the situation impact on planning? Is planning for the social work service aspect of the bill based on the current set-up, or is there a parallel plan in case the service goes over to the national care service, which would, obviously, make for a more uniform approach across the country?

Thanks.

Good morning to committee colleagues and the panel. I have a question on the back of the convener’s question and Gillian Booth’s answer. It is about the bill’s potential impact on social workers and their teams. Has Gillian or any other panel member thought about what that impact might be? Criminal justice social work teams tend to be relatively small. Would it take an increase in numbers to fulfil the principles of the bill? Do you think that the functions would be carried out by typical criminal justice social work teams, or do you see them being done more—as you mentioned—by specific bail supervision teams? Gillian, you may be able to answer only for South Lanarkshire Council, but you may have thoughts on how local authorities across the country might set up.

Convener, I should probably refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I was previously a registered social worker with the Scottish Social Services Council. Given that Gillian is the manager of the local authority that I previously worked for, although it was before Gillian’s time, that is more relevant today.

My supplementary question is in the same area. Gillian, you are right to say that, if the bill is passed, the assessments will be a hugely time-consuming and important task. Are there discussions at an advanced stage on how many more workers will be required, whether they will be required in specific teams and where those resources might be pulled from? Or, as a result of the bill’s being passed, would you expect the Scottish Government to provide more funding so that it does not have to come from other parts of the social work service? I am sorry that that is a very broad question. I understand the time constraints.

Convener, is it okay if I ask a supplementary question?

I am happy with that.

A range of civil measures have been proposed, including outreach and education programmes, survivor support measures and a commission to undertake investigations. Could any of the measures be put in place without the need for legislative change?