The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 907 contributions
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 6 October 2021
Rona Mackay
Will the rise in the number of domestic abuse cases feature in that?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 6 October 2021
Rona Mackay
I think that this question is for James Gray. Last year, the Scottish Government provided a cash injection to eliminate a structural deficit in the policing budget. I understand that the budget has now been balanced. Given all the challenges, what steps will you take to maintain a balanced budget?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 6 October 2021
Rona Mackay
Would that include extra training for officers in any of the areas?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 6 October 2021
Rona Mackay
How much have your staff numbers come down?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 6 October 2021
Rona Mackay
My second question was going to be about efficiency savings, but you explained all that in your first answer. I will move on to the action that you are planning to take in response to your work with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on impact assessments. Does that have budgetary implications for SLAB?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Rona Mackay
That leads me to open up the question to some of the legal experts on the panel.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Rona Mackay
My question is for Gillian Fyfe. Your submission states that the demand for advice on legal aid has risen by 32 per cent during the pandemic. It also points out that
“legal aid is not currently available for many simple procedure cases”
and that the majority of cases that Citizens Advice Scotland deals with are in the civil legal area.
What impact does that have on your ability to help people to gain access to justice? What changes, if any, do you want to propose in that regard?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Rona Mackay
Will you repeat the part about provision not being national? Is it a kind of postcode lottery, and has that always been the case?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Rona Mackay
I have a very brief question. As we know—and as the cabinet secretary confirmed in his letter to us—virtual visits have been really successful. Will they be retained and, if necessary, escalated? If so, will governors take that general approach throughout the estate?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2021
Rona Mackay
Thank you.