Chamber and committees

Arrangements for the efficient disposal of business in the courts is the responsibility of the senior judiciary. As set out in Sheriff Principal Pyle’s report, the pilot of virtual summary trials in Aberdeen and Inverness involved cases deliberately chosen by the Crown and defence as being less complex trials suitable for the pilot. The report recommends that, in order to maintain momentum, the rollout of such trials should continue to use this model with defence agents and the Crown co-operating to identify suitable straightforward cases where virtual proceedings can take place. Sheriff Principal Pyle acknowledged that the success of the virtual trials in Aberdeen and Inverness was down to all the parties involved embracing the concept of virtual courts and that this approach should be replicated as the model is rolled out. While the operation of the courts is a matter for the senior judiciary, the progress of virtual summary trials is being considered as part of wider work to support the recovery of the justice system being overseen by the collaborative Justice Board for Scotland.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report by Sheriff Principal Pyle and also recognises the importance of stakeholder engagement in the development of virtual summary trials, in particular the engagement of defence agents, the Crown and third sector organisations. The successful completion of these ground breaking virtual trials is a testament to the hard work and collaborative approach taken by those working in Scotland’s courts and throughout the wider justice system. We will continue to work with our justice partners and stakeholders to ensure that progress is made both in terms of tackling the backlog of summary cases which has built up as a result of COVID-19 and also in respect of the overall modernisation of the court system.

The published Financial Memorandum which accompanies the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill details the Scottish Government’s estimates regarding the number of additional prosecutions that may take place should the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill be enacted.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days”

The responses to the, ‘ One Scotland: Hate Has No Home Here ’, consultation and public awareness events yielded valuable information both from individual and organisational perspectives.

Subsequently the Scottish Government contracted independent external analysts who undertook the analysis of the consultation responses and produced a report , which was then published on the Scottish Government website in June 2019.

Contained within Annex A of the report is a list of all the organisations who responded to the consultation broken down into four categories: third sector bodies, public sector and partnership bodies, faith groups and other organisations .

These responses can also be viewed individually on the Scottish Government’s Consultation website unless the organisation requested that their response remain anonymous.

I announced on 3 July that the Scottish Government is establishing the Performing Arts Venues Relief fund – a £10 million fund to support Scotland’s performing arts venues to be administered by Creative Scotland so that organisations across Scotland are able to access this much-needed money as quickly as possible. On 5th of July, the UK Government announced a £1.57 billion support package, with £97 million for Scotland which the First Minister has confirmed will be used for the arts, culture and heritage.

We welcome this announcement and we are pleased that the UK Government has listened to our calls for significant funding for the arts, culture and heritage sectors and is using its borrowing powers, which we don’t have, to deliver this level of support. The Scottish Government is currently establishing the best means and the criteria to provide additional support to those in the arts, culture and heritage sectors who have been so badly affected by Covid-19.

We continue to take forward a range of initiatives to strengthen victims’ rights and ensure support and information is available to them. The Victims Taskforce is leading the development of a victim-centred approach to put victim’s needs at the heart of the justice process and provide more compassionate and trauma-informed support at every stage. The Taskforce is also directly informed by victims’ voices and experiences through the work of reference groups set up by Rape Crisis Scotland and Victim Support Scotland. All Taskforce papers, including a detailed work plan, have been published on the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot/groups/victims-taskforce/

We are investing £18.7 million during 2020-2021 to support victims of crime, including funding for victims’ organisations who provide practical and emotional support. This includes increasing Victim Support Scotland’s victims fund to £100,000 to help meet immediate financial needs of the most vulnerable victims. We’re also investing in specialised services for families bereaved by crime and have consulted on plans to give more victims of serious crimes the right to explain to courts how it has impacted on them.

In addition, since April 2019, under the Victim Notification Scheme, victims of prisoners who are serving a life sentence have been given the opportunity to make representations in person, orally or in writing before any decision is taken on the first occasion that the prisoner is considered for temporary release.

Progress has also been made on parole. We are discussing with the Parole Board options for victims attendance at hearings, improved communications and greater use of electronic monitoring, including GPS technology. We have also recently commenced work to rewrite the Parole Board for Scotland Rules.

The Scottish Government will continue to listen to the lived experiences of victims and their families in helping to shape our victim-centred approach within the justice process. If the Stewart family wish to meet with the Scottish Government again my office can facilitate a meeting.

A major milestone in delivering the Laurencekirk Junction Improvement was reached on 19 December 2019 when draft Orders for the scheme were published. In response to the publication of draft Orders Transport Scotland received four statutory objections to the proposed scheme.

As with all trunk road schemes, it is only right that those affected have an opportunity to express their views and this is a statutory obligation that cannot be ignored or simply swept aside. Accordingly effective engagement with affected parties is something that Transport Scotland takes very seriously.

Transport Scotland is currently negotiating with objectors to try and resolve objections where possible. However, should Transport Scotland be unsuccessful in removing all objections a public local inquiry may be required. As with all trunk road projects this is the statutory forum for considering objections received and not withdrawn.

As confirmed in my answer to question S5W-26809 on 8 January 2020, progress of the scheme is dependent on the public reaction to the published draft Orders and whether a public local inquiry is required to consider objections received and not withdrawn. Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence when the scheme is approved under the statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for construction can be determined.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .