Chamber and committees

The consultation concludes on 13 October, which is very soon. This is a year 1 bill and a manifesto commitment. We committed to starting the consultation within our first 100 days of office, which we have done, and we are moving at pace. Some aspects will be for the Parliament to decide and will therefore be outwith our control. It is being delivered as a priority because it has the scope to make a system that has been in operation for some years fit for the present and the future.

Year 1 simply refers to the first year of the parliamentary session, which is when the bill will be introduced.

That work is under way, Mr Kerr.

It is not straightforward in the way that Mr Kerr and I would perhaps like it to be. It is very important that we deal with the realities of the situation, so that we can appropriately—

That is a fundamental point of the training. That is a really important question to pose, and, indeed, perhaps an even more important question for us to pose to ourselves. The purpose of the training is to improve the experience of people who are travelling through the justice system; it is not just an end in itself. It is designed specifically to ensure that people have the knowledge, the skills and the understanding to make a difference to those who are in the system.

It is really important to reflect on what we mean by a trauma-informed approach. There might be a really snappy description of that, but until people understand what it means—and that speaks to the training to which you referred—they will not be in a position to deliver a service that is trauma informed in a meaningful way for people who are travelling through the justice system.

On the metrics that sit within that, I would be happy to seek more detail and write to you. However, the principle of genuine trauma-informed practice is a very welcome development, and I am very encouraged by the fact that significant training is being provided and that there is a pivot towards trauma-informed practice across the justice system.

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It is absolutely a real live conversation as well. I recognise the focus that you are putting on the issue. Those conversations are under way. I referenced the Deputy First Minister being engaged in that conversation, which speaks to the importance that the Government places on the issue. These are pressing matters, and it is important that we get this right.

To push back on that, the Government has acknowledged that we will take action where it is necessary to put in place resources, to ensure that support is there at the key point when people are in the most difficult of situations.

From your question, I can see your focus on the area; it is obviously also a significant focus for the First Minister and the Government. Looking at the area in general, I reflect on the sheer breadth of work that is under way. The very significant—potentially generational—shift in how we are dealing with this is not to be downplayed. That is because we are dealing with a significant issue and, as the cabinet secretary has alluded to, there are social changes that amplify the concerns. There is a need for practical action to enable us to move forward.

I am sorry, but could you say that again? I did not hear the final bit of your question.

Thank you for having me attend the committee. That is a crucial question. Victims have to be at the heart of everything that we do in this space. That point in victims’ lives is of significant stress and pressure to them, so we want to do all we can to make sure that their experience in that very pressured time is as untraumatising and straightforward as possible. The committee will be aware of the significant work that is under way to support victims through that journey. It is a priority for us.

A number of factors are worth considering in relation to timeframe. It is important to think about it in the round, as we are in a challenging situation. The increased number of cases in which we are prosecuting sexual offences, domestic abuse and organised crime has a significant impact on the courts system. In many ways, the increase is positive, but we cannot shy away from the challenge that it creates for victims, and we would not want to.

We recognise that there is an increase in the volume of serious cases. That is why there is increased investment in court capacity, which is important for victims. We also recognise the impact that the increase in complexity and volume has on the people who are going through the most challenging times. It is important that we have the voices of people with lived experience in our minds as we work on this.

We are working significantly with partners across the justice sector and with those who have direct experience to look at reforms that could help to reduce delays and to consider ways in which we might better support victims and witnesses. Some of those ways might be technological, but some of the work is very victim focused. As I said, the committee will be aware of the significant work that is under way.

I will add detail on the ongoing work. The consultation on legal aid reform is ongoing. It closes on 13 October. Various pieces of significant work are under way with groups with an interest in the area, from practitioners to those who provide support services to victims groups. It is profoundly important that people contribute to that consultation.

The current system was conceived a long time ago. The requirements today and in future will be very different. On the specifics of what Mr Merrick is asking about, I hope that it is helpful to say that there is a recognition that there are challenges that cause concern to those who are looking to access legal aid. It is a comparatively generous system, and it does what it is meant to do, but there are pinch points.

Some of the action that the Government has undertaken includes funding legal aid trainees, which I hope will have a positive impact on areas where there is a lack of provision. It is important to recognise that you do not have to be in the same area as your solicitor. However, I acknowledge that there is a challenge there, and I hope that the trainees will be of assistance with that. There is also agreement on fees for those who work in the system, which should take some pressure off in relation to continued availability and capacity.

The final thing to say is that different models are possible. We have an opportunity to develop a framework that will allow us to do what people need, both now and in the future. I am sure that the committee will contribute to the consultation, and we very much welcome people doing so.