Chamber and committees

Yes—probationers. Could that programme be compromised?

Would it be possible for the committee to get some concrete examples of where that was going to happen? I realise that I have used up my time, but it would be helpful to know how that delivery is being rolled out.

Good morning. We will not have time to answer all my questions, but I would like to put a marker down to say that you are going awfully fast with the reform, and I plead with you to give the committee some time to understand it. Like John Swinney, I support a lot of the reforms because we need to end the churn, but I have some concerns about some of the human rights issues that are attached to virtual elements. You might have heard me talk about the shambles of virtual custodies at Glasgow sheriff court. The sheriff said that herself, and I agreed with it.

I moved an amendment to some emergency Covid legislation that the Government accepted so that virtual custodies could not proceed, so I do not understand why your written submission says otherwise. Can you explain that to me? How can you proceed against the legislation?

Can we have a further exchange on that? I moved an amendment, as part of Covid emergency legislation, against virtual custodies, because I can assure you that I saw a complete shambles. That is my concern about the reform. Is there going to be some further discussion about that?

Well, I see what you mean when you put it like that, but what is the point if the court proceedings then last twice as long as they used to?

You can understand why I was—

I am genuinely shocked that we are losing two members of the committee. I just want to endorse what Jamie said about how we have worked really closely together. I really valued the work that you both did. You will definitely be missed, because the legislation will be hard. I know that we will get two incredibly good new members, but there is no doubt that we will miss the continuity, because we have had some hard things to do. I wish colleagues the best for whatever committee you end up on.

And you are doing all that with a sense of urgency. Does anyone else want to answer that?

Good morning. I want to come in where Stewart Carle left off. What I am hearing this morning is that the reorganisation was 10 years ago, we have had serious budgetary challenges—I acknowledge that—and personnel changes and a lot has changed. However, in your last contribution, Stewart, you acknowledged that there are quite serious deficiencies in systematic approaches and interventions across quite senior grades. I am concerned by that. Does that not suggest that there needs to be a sense of urgency to fix the issue? I am quite alarmed by what I have heard so far. I am looking for a quick response to that question.

Yes, I am very aware of that.