Chamber and committees

Yes. I was just going to say, first, that I know that my colleagues will want to talk specifically about information sharing. Your answers have covered how conditions might be implemented and monitored effectively. Fiona, please do come in on that.

That is helpful. I will stick with you for a second. At stage 1, Social Work Scotland gave us a lot of rich evidence about the impact on children who are involved in the justice system who are causing harm. We asked Social Work Scotland for its view on safety planning for victims, but at that point you had no information from your membership. Are you able to give us your reflections on that now?

I have a question about movement restriction conditions. First, I want to hear your reflections on the updated costings for the intensive support that accompanies MRCs.

Good morning, panel, and thank you for being with us. The committee wants to turn more attention to the impact on victims. We highlighted that in our stage 1 report, and the Scottish Government’s response stated that it was working with partners to explore what more could be done. Hopefully we will hear a bit about that.

First, I have some questions for Kate Wallace from Victim Support Scotland about reporting restrictions. On 5 September, you wrote to the committee on behalf of the mother of a victim of a very serious crime, asking that, as MSPs, we exercise caution when referring to the case and not use the child’s name. For the record, can you tell the committee what the impact is when a victim is mentioned in the press and coverage of the case is repeated? Once we have heard about that, perhaps we can discuss what we can do about it.

That would be helpful.

Do any other witnesses have a view on the part of the bill that deals with restrictions on reporting? Should that align with the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill?

Sure. I am sorry—that was such a stark example that I am a bit speechless.

Let us turn to movement restriction conditions, perhaps carrying on the theme that we have been discussing. I acknowledge your organisations’ responses to our report about the process perhaps not being trauma informed, which looked at physical and psychological harm and our concerns around that. With that in mind, could you talk about what further clarity is required around the test for MRCs?

When we took evidence at stage 1, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland commented on MRCs, as did Who Cares? Scotland. The CYPCS said that

“intensive support has fallen away in many cases”,

and Who Cares? Scotland told us that support was “patchy”.

Bearing in mind what you have just said about the difficulty in quantifying what is required, will the resources that are allocated in the updated document ensure that that is not the case, and that intensive support will be provided to everyone who has an MRC?

The acknowledgement that there is a balance to be struck is crucial, is it not?

Good morning, cabinet secretary and panel. It is nice to have you with us. As you will see, the committee has been exploring the policy of maintaining and increasing teacher numbers. Last week’s panel gave us some views on that, and members will have heard views from their local authorities, too, but I would like to hear your reflections on two points.

First, this is obviously an input measure. Are such measures the best way of looking at outcomes for children and families? Secondly, I would like to talk about the issue of fairness. What about those local authorities that protected their education budget and have falling pupil rolls? It would be helpful to hear your views on the issue of inputs and outcomes first.

On that specific point, we have heard examples of areas other than teachers where the education budget can be spent. I am not questioning the value of teachers at all; I am just reflecting on the conversation that we have had about attendance and the suggestion that attendance officers, for example, might be helpful to the vulnerable children and families whom we are trying to help. Indeed, what about speech and language therapists? That is another issue that has come to the fore as a result of the pandemic.