Question reference: S5W-35948
- Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the re-opening of the justice system will be fully reflected in future revisions of its COVID-19 Strategic Framework.
Answer
The Strategic Framework update published on 23 February outlines the government’s strategic approach to managing the pandemic. Within the protection levels system, including the Stay at Home instruction, courts and tribunals are able to open and operate within public health guidelines. There are exemptions built into the levels to allow people to attend court. The protection levels are regularly reviewed to ensure any restrictions are appropriate and proportionate. SCTS have recently announced plans to restart Sheriff Court summary trials from 19 April and for Justice of the Peace business to resume from 7 June, therefore easing court restrictions that have been in place since January which have reduced the number of trials taking place by around 75%.