The Criminal Justice Committee is undertaking pre-budget scrutiny in advance of the Scottish Government’s 2026-27 budget.
In recent years, in line with the recommendations of the Budget Process Review Group (BPRG) report, Scottish Parliament subject committees have undertaken pre-budget scrutiny, in advance of the publication of the Scottish budget. The intention is that committees will use pre-budget reports to influence the formulation of spending proposals while they are still in development.
In order to facilitate this, committees are required to publish pre-budget reports (or letters) at least six weeks prior to the Scottish budget. The date of the Scottish budget has not yet been confirmed but is normally in December.
The key focus for the Criminal Justice Committee’s scrutiny is on the financial pressures facing organisations in the criminal justice sector and the main priorities for 2026-27.
Of particular interest to the Committee is the pressure on capital budgets and investment in policing, the fire and rescue services, prisons, courts, community justice, criminal social work and the third sector.