Seòmar agus comataidhean

Perfect. Thank you.

First, I should declare an interest as a registered social worker, as I want to ask about community justice, which we have already touched on.

From my experience of working in that field—and from my contact with many people who are still in it—I know that, under the Scottish Government, there has been significant funding for community justice, which is only right if we are going to meet the aims of reducing prison sentences and rehabilitating those who are involved in the justice system. Given the Covid situation, is there likely to be any further increase in investment in community justice services? I accept that you might not be able to talk about that if it is going to be mentioned in the programme for government, cabinet secretary, but given all the different aspects that have been discussed today—youth justice, the possible return of unpaid work, the rehabilitation of offenders and perhaps some work on remand and the bail supervision that Neil Rennick mentioned—I was just wondering whether there will be a further increase in funding. Indeed, I ask the question as a former criminal justice social worker who saw his team grow rapidly under a Scottish National Party Government.

I alert members to my voluntary entry in the register of interests to show that I am a registered social worker with the Scottish Social Services Council. I was a practising social worker before my election in 2016 and I have maintained my registration since then.

I am a registered social worker, and I was a practising criminal justice social worker for approximately five years before my election to Parliament in 2016.