Chamber and committees

I will come back to members who really want to come in, but we are up to time and a couple of members would still like to come in. I ask the witnesses whether they are fine with staying on for a little bit longer.

Witnesses indicated agreement.

Okay. There are some important questions that members are very interested to ask. I will bring in Rona Mackay, then Jackie Dunbar.

Some members would like to come back in. I will give the justice spokespeople their place and will invite Pauline McNeill to come back in, if she would still like to ask questions. I will then go to Russell Findlay.

The report will be published shortly.

I thank our witnesses, the cabinet secretary and her officials, for joining us this morning. We move into private session.

There will be a division.

Mr MacGregor, I ask you to move your hand slightly towards your head, just for clarity. [Laughter.] Thank you.

For

Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)

Against

Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con)
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)

The result of the division is: For 4, Against 4, Abstentions 0.

We have an equal number of votes for and against the motion. With some reluctance, therefore, I will use my casting vote. I vote to support the motion.

Motion agreed to,

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Early Release of Prisoners and Prescribed Victim Supporters (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

Thank you very much, Ms Medhurst.

I will shortly bring in members to ask questions, but before I do so I will ask an initial technical question. I will come to the cabinet secretary to begin with. As you will be aware, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee recently considered the SSI. One of the points that it raised concerned what appeared to be a discrepancy on dates, but I am sure that there will be an explanation for it. I will repeat what the committee highlighted in its report, which was:

“The Explanatory Note and Policy Note state that the first group of prisoners will be released between 26 and 27 June, but the draft instrument does not provide that 26 June is the earliest permitted release date. Therefore, under regulation 3(2) the first group of prisoners could, in theory, be released at any point from 13 June to 27 June”.

Could you provide some clarification on that, cabinet secretary?

That may be something that the cabinet secretary could come back in on. Could I ask you to wind up your remarks?

Before I bring in Jackie Dunbar, Fulton MacGregor wishes to ask a supplementary question.

If you want to ask another question, that is fine. I will then bring in a couple of other members who want to come in.