Chamber and committees

Brendan Rooney mentioned the role of the Lord Advocate. Last week, the SCRA said that, with the rise in age, more serious offences could come to the panels. As my colleague Ruth Maguire has highlighted, victims want to know that justice will be done in those circumstances. Last week, Alistair Hogg said:

“I imagine that there will be consideration of”

the issue and of

“which is the appropriate system to deal with such circumstances.”—[Official Report, Education, Children and Young People Committee, 25 October 2023; c 31.]

Is that being given on-going consideration? What conversations are happening in that area?

Thank you, minister. When you say that something is being considered, are you considering potential amendments in that space?

I will run my questions together, if that is okay, convener.

Thank you very much for the evidence that you gave us in advance and for your answers to our questions so far. First, I want to pick up on the point about it looking as if the target for panel members will not be reached. What is your strategy in that respect? What is the backup plan if that happens?

Of course.

I have one more question on timing, which is for Ben Farrugia, and a question on training.

We have just heard from Stephen Bermingham that, post-commencement, about 12 to 18 months would be required to get the panel members in position. What sort of timescale would be involved for the number of social workers that is required?

I appreciate that, convener, and I thank the witnesses for the evidence that they have given us so far.

The Government proposed that, alongside the bill, a victim contact team could be part of the solution to various issues. Could that be part of the answer, or would that be inadequate?

I am sorry, convener. It is a quick question on the numbers of people who take up the opportunity to get information on victims. Alistair, I note that, in the context of your work, only about 13 to 14 per cent of people do so. Do you know why that is? What have you done to investigate it?

No problem.

I want to continue the conversation about volunteers and to pick up on Ben Farrugia’s point about the change in the profile of the people who will be coming through the system.

Police Scotland figures on domestic abuse suggest that there could be an increase in the number of such cases coming through the system—almost three or four times more. What kind of training do panel members currently get on domestic abuse, the trauma-informed approach and coercive control, and what might they need going forward?

Thank you. It sounds as though quite a bit of work has to be done to get to the capacity that is required.

I appreciate that, convener.

With regard to this strategic change, I heard that colleges were considering using the funding to offer voluntary redundancy packages, if necessary. In the absence of that, some colleges have now pursued compulsory redundancies. What is the cabinet secretary’s response to that?