Chamber and committees

David Mackie, would you like to comment briefly on that?

We know about the serious rates of mental health and addiction problems for domestic abuse victims.

From a non-legal point of view, I ask: why remove them anyway? What is the point? It does not send out a good message to non-legal people. From what I have heard this morning, if someone asked me why those provisions were taken out, I am not entirely sure that I could convince them why that was done.

The KC who was here referred to a case in Livingston and the introduction of section 23D in 2005. It was a horrific case—you might remember it. The person who was released went on to kill an 11-year-old boy and then hanged himself. He had been given bail, and the case was so shocking that the then First Minister decided that we needed to do something about it. I am unclear why those provisions are being removed.

I understand that.

I broadly agree with what Jamie Greene has said. It is important that we know what the situation is with virtual trials and that we have the data. When was the last time that we asked the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service for that information? I cannot remember.

Earlier last year.

I suggest that we contact the SCTS again and stress that it is really important that we know. The SCTS obviously knows, and we need to know, too.

On the court transcripts issue, I do not know when we last asked for that information. We have been referred back to the SCTS, and we need to press it on that. Presumably, it is not that the SCTS is not getting that data—that is being done; we simply do not have access to it.

Good morning, Kate and Emma. Earlier, you talked about the removal of restrictions on bail in solemn cases. From your submission, I know that you both oppose repeal of section 23D of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, which would mean that the same test would apply for all offences; you talked in that respect about sexual violence and domestic abuse. Could you expand on that a wee bit and tell us about your opposition, what your fears are and whether you would like the exceptions to remain rather than being repealed?

I come to Emma Bryson first.

Okay—that is fine.

Sure.