Chamber and committees

We have overrun a little. There are a couple of areas of questioning that we would like to have covered, but time has been against us, so we will follow up with you both in correspondence to ask some more questions. Likewise, if you feel that there are any outstanding matters on which you would like to share your views with the committee, please feel free to do so in writing, and we will take that evidence into account. I thank you both for your attendance today.

I suspend the meeting briefly to allow our next panel of witnesses to come in.

Thank you very much. That is helpful, and it is certainly food for thought for members.

I will ask Kate Wallace and Marsha Scott a quick follow-up question before I bring in Katy Clark to ask questions about time limits in criminal cases. On going forward from the perspective of victims, Marsha Scott touched on how well virtual arrangements are working already. It is clear that they have some challenges. What needs to change in early course?

Welcome back, everybody. I welcome to the meeting Ms Emma Jardine, policy and public affairs adviser at the Howard League Scotland; and Teresa Medhurst, interim chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, and Allister Purdie, interim director of operations.

I intend to allow around an hour and 20 minutes for questions and answers. We will move directly to questions, and I will ask the opening question, which is for Teresa and Emma. It relates to developments around court business being undertaken by electronic means. I am interested to know your views on the specific provisions in the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill to allow flexibility for people to attend court proceedings remotely.

I will bring in Jamie Greene, after which we will move on to questions about early release of prisoners.

We agree that the direction of travel looks broadly positive, but that it is too early to evaluate the success or otherwise of the change to the rules. We can follow up with Police Scotland, in writing, the issue about the MOU. Fulton MacGregor mentioned bringing the cabinet secretary back, which we will do in three months, as he offered and we agreed. Continued monitoring is needed, as is evaluation of how the process is working. Colette Stevenson raised an interesting point about personal items.

It seems that we agree that the change has been a positive development and a positive piece of work. If members are happy with that, our clerks can pick up the actions.

That concludes the public part of the meeting.

Marsha Scott wants to come back in, before I hand over to Jamie Greene.

A couple of members want to come in on this subject. I will bring in Fulton MacGregor, followed by Pauline McNeill, and then we will—I hope, if we have time—move on to our next and final area of questioning.

It was about what more needs to be done, if anything. You spoke about things being at an early point and about there being bumps along the road, which is understandable. What, in your view, are the priorities for developing the opportunity that exists on a more permanent basis?

Do you wish to come in on that, Mr Purdie?

Thank you—that is helpful.

I hand over to Katy Clark, after which I will bring in Jamie Greene to ask about statutory time limits.