Chamber and committees

Thanks very much, Sandra. Your sound is a wee bit difficult to hear, but I think that we got the gist of that.

Before I bring in Suzanne McGuinness and Sharon Stirrat, I will ask a follow-up question. In the previous sessions this morning and, indeed, in some of the written submissions, a number of practical challenges were highlighted around the provision relating to criminal justice social work. We are considering the practical application of the bill, so how can some of those practical challenges be addressed?

Sandra, we are having problems with your sound. I am advised that it might help if you speak a bit more closely into your microphone.

Welcome back. I welcome our final panel of witnesses: Keith Gardner, specialist adviser with Community Justice Scotland; Suzanne McGuinness, executive director of social work at the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland; and Sharon Stirrat, justice social work policy and practice lead at Social Work Scotland. Keith Gardner joins us in the meeting room, and Suzanne McGuinness and Sharon Stirrat join us online. We very much appreciate your taking the time to join us.

I intend to allow about an hour for questions and answers. Given that we have two witnesses online, it would be helpful if members could indicate who their question is for and if the witnesses could indicate in the online chat function whether they would like to respond to a specific question.

I will start with a general opening question. The bill would require a court to give justice social work the opportunity to provide information relevant to bail decision making. I am interested to know whether, in broad terms, you support that provision. Can you set a bit of context around that? I will bring in Keith Gardner first.

Thanks very much, Suzanne. That was really informative. You will be aware that the bill seeks to ensure that personal release plans for prisoners are developed, too, so the comments that you have made on that will be very helpful.

I wonder whether I can come back to Suzanne McGuinness with a question, given her position in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland. The committee is aware of a recent report by the commission that covered arrangements for release from prison. Can you expand a bit more on the report’s findings and whether you feel that the bill’s proposals will contribute to addressing the problems that you have identified?

Who would you like to come in first, Fulton?

Thanks very much, Gillian. Rhoda or Sandra, would you like to come in on that? I appreciate that this is focusing on bail and that your contribution perhaps relates more to release from custody, but you are very welcome to add anything.

Thanks, Sandra. Rhoda, would you like to comment on that?

Thanks very much, Gillian. I do not know whether either of our other two witnesses would like to come in. I will go to Sandra first and then Rhoda.