Members may have read in the press that Audit Scotland has published an initial report on youth justice. It will undertake a full performance audit of the sector over the next year or so and will produce an in-depth report, which will be useful for the work of the committee. It has been suggested that we appoint a reporter. I suggest that we ask Scott Barrie whether he would take on that role, as he has a background in this area and an interest in youth issues.
I would be more than happy to do it. As the briefing note says, I am a member of the Audit Committee, which is meeting this afternoon; I hope that it will concur with the Auditor General that we should take the matter forward. The Audit Scotland report highlights many pertinent and important issues, not least the fact that in Scotland there are distinct criminal justice processes for under-16s and over-16s. The workings of the system vary locally and it is difficult to talk about the youth justice system, as there are so many local variations. It is time to have an overview. Although that would not be the remit of the Audit Committee, as it would consider the matter from a different perspective, it is incumbent on the Justice 1 Committee and Justice 2 Committee to take a keen interest. I am more than willing to update the committee on the progress of the report over the next year.
Thank you. It had not occurred to me that you also sit on the Audit Committee. It will be doubly useful to have you as the reporter.
That is an important point. I am well aware that the children's hearing system is under tremendous pressure in certain parts of Scotland, yet some brilliant work is being done locally in the same areas. In my professional life, I was frustrated by how hit or miss youth justice is. Imaginative and innovative things can be done for certain young people, then the worker who had those skills or ideas moves on and it is necessary to reinvent the wheel. That point will come out from the performance audit. A weakness in the current system is that good practice is not continued or built on to any great extent. Although it is important that things are done at a local level, we must have a national strategy.
There will be a timely briefing from the Auditor General at 2 pm today.