Chamber and committees

That is fine. Thank you.

Stuart Murray, you talked about the solemnity of the proceedings. We heard from Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland that it is intimidating for victims and witnesses. It might seem like solemnity to legal professionals, but it does not to the people who are in court. Do you take on board the fact that certain victims are looking not for solemnity but for a fair court hearing where they can express what has happened to them without being intimidated?

Good morning. Minister, you said that the measures before us represent “a starting point”, which is quite reassuring. Can you confirm that negotiations and discussions with legal professionals will continue on the issue?

Thank you. I simply add that witnesses are always witnesses.

My question is for Vicki Bell. At last week’s committee meeting, Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland agreed that virtual courts should be the default for domestic abuse cases. What is your opinion on that? Do you agree that domestic abuse is, by its very nature, not a one-off alleged offence, which is why it is so urgent that those cases are dealt with? As we know, there is a huge backlog.

The bill seeks to give the Government powers similar to those that were provided in 2020 to release groups of prisoners earlier than under the normal rules. Certain types of prisoners would be excluded from release. I wonder whether I could have your opinion on that policy. There are some concerns about that happening, particularly from Victim Support Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid.

And here.

Thank you—you have raised an important point.

Good morning. My first question is for Emma Jardine. Are you in favour of continuing on a temporary basis the additional powers to release prisoners early? If so, why?

I have a supplementary to the earlier part of my colleague’s question to Allister Purdie. You get a request from governors to implement measures, which you subsequently give permission to. Is all that information made public?