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I am not disagreeing with what has been said, because we do need to ask questions, to see whether the Government can shine any light on the issue. The second last paragraph says that the SCTS will

“make information available on their webpages”,

which will include costs and information on how to get transcripts. Although I think that that is a move forward, questions still need to be asked.

Good morning. For clarity, Ms Medhurst, how long has the Prison Service been managing transgender prisoners in Scotland?

What I am trying to get at is whether the individual has the right to appeal against the decision on where to send them.

I agree with all the points that have been made. I am really pleased about the multiyear funding for victims services.

I am also pleased that the modernisation of the prison estate and the new female prison will go ahead. Jamie Greene asks whether it is magic cash or new money. I do not know whether it is either of those but, to be honest, the fact that it will happen is the main thing, from my point of view.

I have a supplementary question. I understand what Jamie Greene is saying, but I think that he is overthinking it a wee bit.

We would need to see the Official Report, but what was said in the committee’s report could have been taken out of context, slightly. It is perfectly reasonable for the cabinet secretary to say that those are operational matters and that he would not take control of them. I think that that is what it is about, but I appreciate that Jamie would like more information about where the money will go. However, that is surely up to the chief constable.

I want to ask you about emergency release. Restrictions were added to the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill during the stage 3 proceedings to restrict the period of early release to no more than 180 days and to prevent the release of prisoners who were serving sentences for domestic abuse offences. Will the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill be amended in any way to reflect that? I wonder why those restrictions are not in the bill.

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I will ask you, as I have asked practically all our witnesses on the bill, about section 23D of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. You spoke about that in your opening statement. I was having difficulty understanding the support for the removal of that section, but after our session with our adviser earlier this morning, I am much clearer about it. He described section 23D as a kind of red flag that is used as a marker. He also said that if bail was refused under sections 23B and 23C, section 23D would be almost redundant.

I put it to our adviser that the message going out to women’s organisations, and to domestic abuse victims in particular, was not a good one and that their perception of the removal of that section would not be good. You spoke about one safety test being applied with the removal of section 23D. Would one safety test apply to the unique nature of domestic abuse, where there is individual risk and not necessarily public risk? I wish to reflect the concerns that there are around the issue.

That is important. It is about getting out the message of reassurance because, at first glance, the perception is that the red flag that I mentioned and the safety net are being removed, but, when you drill down into it, you see that that is not the case. That is helpful. Thank you very much.

Right. Are you in agreement with that?

I will come to Kenny Donnelly first. At the risk of repeating myself, what is your view on the repeal of section 23D of the 1995 act?