Chamber and committees

Okay.

I will go straight to Lesley McAra to pick up on that. Perhaps you could pick up on the points that Fergus McNeill made, Lesley.

Thank you. I will bring in Collette Stevenson and then Russell Findlay.

I hand over to Russell Findlay, and then I will bring in Rona Mackay.

Thank you for raising that point. I am happy with the question and I was happy to give Dr Graham a chance to respond. I do not intend to take any more questions relating to political views. I would like the session to come back to the bill. On that note, we will hear from Rona Mackay.

That is fine.

I concur with the views that have been expressed. It would be helpful for us to seek up-to-date data from the SCTS on the number of fully virtual trials that have taken place since we got the previous figures almost a year ago, when we were looking at the coronavirus legislation. I am happy to take that forward on members’ behalf.

In relation to the concerns about the role of defence agents in opposing virtual trials, there might be an opportunity for us to ask the Lord Justice Clerk why, despite the practice note that they issued, the practical reality is that very few such trials seem to be taking place.

Finally, in relation to the comments that were made about the cabinet secretary, I wonder whether members would agree that we should ask him to refer to the justice board and the governance group that is overseeing Lady Dorrian’s report to get more clarity on why there are still very few virtual trials, despite the fact that there is provision for them.

Do members agree that I should take those tasks away?

Thanks very much. Before I hand over to other members, I will pick up on the risk assessment process that Kate Wallace outlined and which Victim Support Scotland wants to see as part of the consideration process. The proposal in the bill is that criminal justice social work would have a big role in informing bail decisions.

I am interested in your views on who else or which other organisations it would be appropriate to have participate in the process, particularly given the concerns that you have outlined for victims and the importance of their voices being heard in that decision-making process.

That is helpful. Different modes of communication is something that I had not thought about, but I absolutely understand the value of that. Does Emma Bryson want to come in on any of that?

Yes, I am content with that.

That is the back of 11 o’clock, so we will draw the evidence session to a close. I thank Kate Wallace and Emma Bryson for their contribution.

We will have a short suspension to allow the witnesses to leave.