Chamber and committees

Thank you very much for that and, again, thank you for your openness today. Clearly, one of the groups from which we want to take evidence is a wider group of survivors. We need to do that as sensitively as possible because, although it is great that you have been able to come and speak so openly and give voice to so many people, we know that some people will not be in a position to do that, because of the trauma that they have faced. Rest assured that that is one of the areas that we are considering, and any suggestions that you feed in for that will be helpful.

That has been very helpful.

Obviously, the committee is at the start of a process of gathering evidence. A substantial amount has been submitted in writing by organisations and individuals. Some of that is going through a process before being published. However, we are keen to hear from you as to whether there are any further groups that we should be engaging with and potentially hearing evidence from as we go through our inquiry.

That is very helpful—thank you.

Thank you both. That was a helpful outline of your priorities. The cabinet secretary touched on the potential for backlogs, particularly in the criminal justice system. I am keen to hear about the status of backlogs in the civil justice system as a result of closures due to the pandemic. Can you give us a wee update on that?

That is fine.

Under the next item, the committee will hear from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans and the Minister for Community Safety about their priorities for session 6 in the civil justice area, which is part of the committee’s remit. I welcome to the meeting Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans; Ash Denham, Minister for Community Safety; and Neil Rennick, director of justice, and Denise Swanson, deputy director, civil law and legal system, from the Scottish Government.

I refer members to papers 4 and 5 and invite the cabinet secretary to make a short opening statement.

A couple of questions follow on from that. There is some concern that, for some people—perhaps a minority—virtual hearings provide a barrier, which may partly explain the reduction in business. How are we making sure that folk do not fall through the cracks? Does the reduction in business mean that folk are just not seeking justice, or does it mean that those cases will happen down the line and that we need to be prepared for that?

Welcome to the second meeting of the committee in session 6. Everyone is here today, so there are no apologies. Thanks to everyone for attending.

The first item on the agenda is to decide whether to take items 5 and 6, which are consideration of today’s evidence, in private. Do we agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Blair, do you want to add anything?

The committee would appreciate being kept apprised of any developments in your thinking in that area.