Chamber and committees

If he is brief, because we have to bring things to a close.

I will now close this session. It has been very informative and helpful. Thank you for your time this morning.

I ask members to note that we meet again next Wednesday from 9.30, when we will focus on policing and mental health. We will hear from staff associations, the chief constable and senior representatives of the Scottish Police Authority.

We will move on. You have asked that question several times—

Good morning, and welcome to the 24th meeting in 2024 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We are joined this morning by Jackie Dunbar, and Fulton MacGregor is joining us online.

Our first item of business is an oral evidence session on an affirmative instrument. We are joined by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. I also welcome to the meeting Jennifer Stoddart, who is head of the parole, release and reintegration unit at the Scottish Government, and Jamie McQueen, who is from the Scottish Government legal directorate. We are also joined from the Scottish Prison Service by Teresa Medhurst, chief executive, and Andy Hodge, governor of HMP Perth. Thank you for joining us.

I refer members to paper 1. I intend to allow around 60 minutes for this evidence session. I invite the cabinet secretary to make some opening remarks on the Scottish statutory instrument.

Thank you, cabinet secretary. I will bring in Teresa Medhurst, if she would like to make some opening remarks as well.

I will come back to you if there is time.

It is helpful to have that clarification. Thank you.

I will now bring in other members, starting with Sharon Dowey and then Pauline McNeill.

On that note, I will bring things to a close. At least we have ended with some smiles on what is a very serious topic.

Thank you all. We will have a very short suspension, to allow Ms Medhurst and Mr Hodge to step back from the table.

Our next item of business is consideration of the motion to approve the affirmative SSI on which we have just taken oral evidence. I remind officials—although I am sure that I do not need to—that only MSPs may speak in a debate on a motion. I invite the cabinet secretary to move motion S6M-13500, which is in her name, and to make any brief additional comments.

I have to bring in other members, because I am conscious of time. I want every member to be able to come in; then, if we have time, we will bring other members back in. I ask for succinct questions and answers, with a focus on the SSI.