Chamber and committees

Mr Greene has a final question. Please be super-quick, Mr Greene.

Before we move on to the subject of prisons, I want to pick up on something that I think you said, cabinet secretary, about the rationalisation of fire stations. Can you expand on what that might mean? The thought that came into my head was that it might include the closure of stations, but perhaps you can correct that for me.

We will move on to questions on policing and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. I will ask about the funding provision for the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP26. We are still in the middle of that unique and, so far, extremely successful event, but it has had a budget implication for Police Scotland.

We recently visited Gartcosh and spoke to the chief constable. Having got the policing budget on track in recent years, he is keen for it not to be unsettled. Can you reassure me that the UK Government will meet its obligation to fully fund the policing of COP26, including any legacy costs? We are aware that there were some lessons learned from the G8 event at Gleneagles. Some UK provision was made for the budget implications of that, but it did not cover the final costs. I am interested in the plan for COP26.

We move on to Jamie Greene, and then we will move to questions on prisons.

I will hand over to Jamie Greene, then I will bring in Collette Stevenson.

That is noted—thank you.

As there are no further comments, I suggest that we note the content of the letter and that the SSI is being taken forward by a different committee, and that we keep under review the timetable for the review of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Are members happy with that?

Members indicated agreement.

If you do not mind, I will pull the session back to staffing issues. We will come back to the important issue of drugs, but that will keep the session on track.

Good morning and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2021 of the Criminal Justice Committee. No apologies have been received.

Under item 1, do members agree to take in private item 3, which is consideration of today’s evidence?

Members indicated agreement.

Item 2 is consideration of the spending priorities in the justice sector for 2022-23. We will focus today on the Crown Office and then the Scottish Prison Service. I refer members to papers 1 to 3.

I welcome our first panel of witnesses, who I am delighted to see in person: Dorothy Bain QC, the Lord Advocate; and, from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, David Harvie, the Crown Agent. We appreciate your taking the time to join us and thank you for your written submissions, which are available online.

I intend to allow about an hour and 15 minutes for questions and discussion. I ask members to indicate which witness they are directing their remarks to. I invite the Lord Advocate to make a short opening statement and, after that, I will ask the Crown Agent whether he wishes to add anything.

Thank you very much. Do you have anything to add, Mr Harvie?