Chamber and committees

The following table shows the number of criminal cases reported to COPFS that were marked for no further action in the period 1 April 2019 - 31 March 2024. The count is by case.

The Scottish Prosecution College delivers a variety of training courses including online and in-person training which is available to all staff within COPFS. This encompasses a wide range of topics, and case types, ranging from domestic abuse and sexual offence case training through to High Court and Sheriff and Jury case preparation. Specialist units within COPFS also provide additional training to staff within those units.

The following table details the average times taken to complete a FAI, up to the conclusion of evidence. This does not include the average time of issue by the court of any determination, following an inquiry, the issue of which is the statutory definition of its conclusion in terms of Section 30(4) of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016.

All figures are drawn from Table A.02 set out in Annex A of the 2025-26 Budget publication. The around 1% real terms increase figure quoted is in relation to the change in real terms in Resource Barnett Block Grant between the latest 2024-25 figure and the 2025-26 figure. All figures reconcile to the agreed HM Treasury aggregates. HM Treasury aggregates include some non-Barnett elements in the overall total which are excluded from the year on year comparators (these are disclosed elsewhere in the funding position at table A.02 - specifically within the Migrant Surcharge and Other/Budget Cover Transfer lines).The GDP deflator values used in calculating the real terms movement are as published by the Office for National Statistics.

Methodology for calculation.

Figures –.

• 2024-25 core Barnett settlement is £39,635 million (made up of the £38,202 million total UK Settlement plus £1,433 million of additional consequentials received at UK Budget Statement.
• The 715 million ringfenced funding has been baselined in 2025-26 so is included in 41141 figure.
• £41,141 million is the is the core Barnett Settlement for 2025-26.
• GDP deflator is 1.0239

Calculating the % increase in real terms 2024-25 to 2025-26;

Real terms figures are quoted in 2024-25 process. The GDP deflator is used to put the 2025-26 funding in 2024-25 terms.

41141 / 1.0239 = 40180.68171

You then calculate the % increase by;

(2025-26 funding in 2024-25 real terms – 2024-25 funding) / 2024-25 funding * 100

( 40180.68171 – 39635.254 ) / 39635.254 * 100 = 1.38% increase to 3 significant figures.

The passenger safety, especially women and girls’, is one of the Scottish Government’s priorities. The Scottish Government expects that, once ScotRail’s plans have been implemented, the improved staff visibility and ScotRail having ability to deploy staff more flexibly will not only improve feeling of safety for all passengers, including women and girls, but also maintain an environment, which helps to deter any potential anti-social behaviour.

Public Health Scotland publish information on drug-related hospital admissions. Data from 1996-97 to 2022-23 is available at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/drug-related-hospital-statistics/drug-related-hospital-statistics-scotland-2022-to-2023/. The release of data covering 2023-24 is expected in the spring. The accompanying Data Explorer Dashboard provides a more comprehensive breakdown of the statistics, including by location, and provides information for both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

The Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland do not currently publish information on the outcome or discharge status of admissions and are therefore unable to provide information on hospitalisations specifically attributed to non-fatal drug misuse.

The subsidy for rail services has been published in Transport Scotland accounts. These can be found here: Annual Accounts | Transport Scotland

The following table details the number of criminal cases marked no further action - now insufficient admissible evidence in the financial year 2023-24. The count is by case.