Report Jun. 04 2024
Committee: Delegated Powers and Law Reform CommitteeFound: Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 and 27B of the V ictims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014, as inserted by the Bail
Formal Minutes May. 29 2024
Committee: Petitions CommitteeFound: public schools 45 Ban the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools 101 Remove right to bail
Formal Minutes May. 29 2024
Committee: Human Rights (Joint Committee)Found: Rossella Pulvirenti RWA0014 Garden Court Chambers RWA0015 M édecins Sans Fronti ères RWA0016 Bail
Formal Minutes May. 29 2024
Committee: Science, Innovation and Technology CommitteeFound: , in the Chair Dawn Butler Chris Clarkson Dr James Davies Katherine Fletcher Rebecca Long Bail
Asked by: Greene, Jamie (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service to the Public Audit Committee that the entire prison estate may shortly reach maximum capacity and present significant risk of potential disorder.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
In my statement to Parliament on 16 May, I set out that there is now a critical risk to the continued safe and effective operation of the prison estate, and that urgent action is needed.
If the legal test for use of emergency release is satisfied when section 11 of the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 comes into force on 26 May, then I intend to bring forward a proposal for Parliament’s consideration for the emergency release of prisoners.
This is not a decision I have taken lightly. But we must ensure the safety and wellbeing of Scottish Prison Service staff and those people in their care, and that our prisons continue to function effectively to accommodate those who pose the greatest risk of harm.
Members will have the opportunity to scrutinise and debate the approach and, in this instance, we will not release a single prisoner without Parliament’s consent.
I also intend to carry out a short consultative exercise over the summer, and to return after recess with a proposal for a Bill for Parliament’s consideration to change how long-term prisoners are released and managed.
Finally, I intend to bring forward secondary legislation to amend the eligibility criteria for use of Home Detention Curfew (HDC), increasing the period of time individuals can spend on release under licence conditions. These regulations will be subject to scrutiny under the affirmative procedure.
Report May. 29 2024
Committee: Delegated Powers and Law Reform CommitteeFound: Committee on 28 May 2024, 39th Report, 2024 (Session 6) 2No points raised Criminal Justice Committee Bail
Correspondence May. 29 2024
Inquiry: Prison PopulationFound: bring forward regulations to use the emergency release power provided for under section 11 of the Bail
Written Evidence May. 28 2024
Inquiry: Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UKFound: release of individuals at risk 14.The Bill seeks to remove the right of detainees to apply for bail
Written Evidence May. 28 2024
Inquiry: Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UKFound: PLP, BID and Medical Justice, Every Move You Make: The Human Cost of GPS Tracking in Immigration Bail
Formal Minutes May. 28 2024
Committee: Work and Pensions Committee (Department: Department for Work and Pensions)Found: February Members present: Sir Stephen Timms, in the Chair Debbie Abrahams Shaun Bailey Siobhan Bail