Chamber and committees

Pauline McNeill wants to come in with further questions on prisons, and then I will bring in Jamie Greene.

Thank you. Is there any indication around timescales? I do not want to stray off budget, but that obviously correlates with budget, as you have just said.

As there are no other questions from members, we move straight to consideration of the motion. I invite the cabinet secretary to move motion S6M-06291.

Motion moved,

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2022 [draft] be approved.—[Keith Brown.]

Motion agreed to.

Our next item of business is to take evidence as part of our scrutiny of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill, specifically on the provisions that relate to criminal justice social work and community justice. I refer members to papers 4 and 5.

We have apologies from Claire Wilson, who is, unfortunately, unable to join us. I welcome Lynsey Smith, chair of the justice standing committee, Social Work Scotland, and joining us online we have Anil Gupta, chief officer, communities, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and Kate Ramsden, national executive member, Unison Scotland.

We would like to ask the witnesses a number of questions. Given that two members are joining online, I ask members to indicate who they would like to direct their questions to, and I ask the witnesses who are joining us online to indicate accordingly in the chat function if they would like to come in.

We move straight to questions, and I will start with a general opening question. I will come to Lynsey Smith first and then bring in Kate Ramsden and Anil Gupta. What are your general views on the possibility of criminal justice social work being included in the planned national care service? How might that affect criminal justice social work and the services that are currently provided, and how do you see those changing?

I will try to stay on the theme of prisons, and I will bring in Pauline McNeill. We can then move on to another area of questioning.

I beg your pardon. Are there any other questions on prisons before we move on?

I think that Russell Findlay has some further police questions.

I am watching the clock. We have 15 or 20 minutes left, and I know that members would like to come in on other issues—one of which is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Jamie Greene, would you like to open the questioning on that?

In that case, I call Russell Findlay.

Kate, did you want to come in briefly?