Item 2 on the agenda is a convener's report. There is only one item that I wish to raise, which members will already have noticed. We have secured a debate on our response to the prison estates review on the morning of Thursday, 10 October. We have a two-hour slot.
I am conscious of the recent leaking of the Justice 2 Committee's report on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. Our report on the prison estates review was also leaked which, if I recall correctly, was referred to the Scottish parliamentary standards commissioner or someone of that ilk.
Yes, it was referred to the Standards Committee.
I cannot recall receiving its report.
The Standards Committee asked the Justice 1 Committee to conduct its own investigation, because we could not provide it with anything other than what we had. It appears that it is impossible for us to carry out our own investigation, because we know no more now than we knew then. I think that when we discussed the matter previously we were not clear whether the report had been leaked, or whether two and two had been put together by an imaginative reporter to make five, because—as Maureen Macmillan may be able to clarify—it was not apparent that the newspaper report contained information from our report. Am I right?
I recall that some bits of the newspaper report were erroneous, but that other bits hit the nail on the head. I suspect that conversations had taken place with the reporter, not that the reporter had seen the document. I spoke to the reporter about it, but he would not say anything.
The leaking of the Justice 2 Committee report reminded me that our committee had had a similar problem, although it appears that that might not be the case. It has been at the back of my mind and I meant to mention it a few weeks ago.
I am content to bring the letter to next week's meeting so that members can find out what the situation is regarding the Standards Committee, but I think that we are chasing our tails.
It was just at the back of my mind.
Thank you for raising the matter.
All the hard bits.
Arriving slightly late does not absolve you from asking questions.