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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 19 December 2024
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Displaying 994 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I have a brief question on Kilmarnock. I understand that, when HMP Kilmarnock was privately run, officers there had body-worn cameras and there were dedicated drug sniffer dogs. Was the SPS given a budget to continue to provide those, or have you had to change that provision because you do not have the budget to maintain it?

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

Thank you for the depth of the answer. Is that sufficiently factored into your budget request such that, if you were to get that amount, it would allow you to take those remedial steps, but if you were not to get it, that would provide challenges to addressing the problems that you have raised?

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

That is clear.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

That is interesting.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I have a very quick supplementary, which has just come into my mind. Do you know, off the top of your head, what the capacity of Barlinnie and Inverness prisons is, and what the projected capacity of Glasgow and Highland prisons will be?

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I understand. Thank you very much.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I am very grateful for that. Thank you.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I understand. I am very grateful.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I am grateful for that—I will come to the time bar issue in a moment.

There was a second part to my question. When this committee is looking at the budget that comes out, are you able to give us an idea of how much will be required with regard to the High Courts and the extra trial court?

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Liam Kerr

I am grateful for that.

John Logue, I move to your submission. You heard Malcolm Graham talking just now about the Covid time bar legislation. You mention that specifically in your submission, in which you say:

“The Scottish Parliament has approved an extension of the date for removal of the pandemic extended time bar legislation to November 2025.”

You go on to say:

“The model chosen by Parliament to end the extended time-bars represents a very significant challenge for the criminal justice system with a high risk of disruption to the operation of the courts and increases in the prison remand population.”

For the benefit of the committee, can you explain precisely what you mean by “significant challenge” and “high risk of disruption”?

Given that, as you have pointed out elsewhere, the time bar will not be extended further, what do you need to see in the budget to ensure that the disruption from the backlog does not continue to be felt in November 2025?