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The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
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Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Agenda item 2 is consideration of the Auditor General for Scotland’s report on the criminal courts backlog. I am pleased to welcome three witnesses. From the Scottish Government, we have the director general for education and justice, Neil Rennick, and the interim director of justice, Catriona Dalrymple. We are also joined by Eric McQueen, who is the chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. We have a number of questions, but, before we get to them, I invite Mr Rennick and then Mr McQueen to make some opening remarks.
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Thank you. I will bring in the rest of the committee shortly, but I will begin by asking about something that Mr Rennick alluded to in his opening comments, which was that the backlog in our criminal courts has had a really significant effect on victims and witnesses who are waiting for justice to be served. What additional support has been given, either directly by the Scottish Government or the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service or through other relevant support and advocacy organisations, to allay some of the impacts that the delays have had on victims and witnesses?
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Do you have anything to add, Mr McQueen?
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
For us as the Public Audit Committee, getting that breakdown is quite important. You mentioned a figure of £48 million, and we need to understand how much of that is additional. What proportion of that £48 million is additional, or is it just transferring from one budget heading into another? You might well, in the light of circumstances, want to reprioritise how you spend your money as a department and through your agencies. Having some transparency around that would be helpful for us.
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Some committee members have questions that will seek to develop on, some of those themes.
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Just to be clear about it, you are the accountable officer for the Scottish Government, and these recommendations are ones made to the Scottish Government.
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
You are not on trial here, Mr Rennick, but I am not sure what a jury would think of your answer to that question. I will bring in Graham Simpson, who has some more questions on this theme.
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
That is very helpful, Mr McQueen.
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Forgive me but, again for my benefit, is that work in progress?
Public Audit Committee
Section 23 Report: “Criminal courts backlog”
Meeting date: 14 September 2023
Richard Leonard
Have those streams advanced by 50 per cent or 100 per cent?
