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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 26 April 2025
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Displaying 888 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee

Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

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?

Criminal Justice Committee

Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

Thanks.

Criminal Justice Committee

Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

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.

Criminal Justice Committee

Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

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.

Criminal Justice Committee

Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

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

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Petitions

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

I am happy with that.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Petitions

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

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?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Petitions

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

Good morning, Sandra, and thanks for your presentation on the history of Makaton. I found it very interesting and helpful. You apologised to the committee a couple of times during your presentation, but there is absolutely no need to apologise. You gave a very clear and concise history, and I thank you for that.

My questions follow on from the convener’s question about how Makaton fits into the legal system. You have spoken a wee bit about the police. Do you have any information—I would not expect you to have data—on how often Makaton is used in court settings, be they civil or criminal? Is that something that you have heard about? Have people asked for Makaton to be used in court settings? If so, is it made available to them?

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Petitions

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

It does, thank you.

Have you come across any examples of an individual—perhaps an advocate—having requested that Makaton be used during court proceedings, where that has not been provided for? We may need to ask the Government or someone who would keep records about that.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Petitions

Meeting date: 13 December 2022

Fulton MacGregor

I could not agree more with what you have said. That shows the importance of the petition.