Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 June 2026 [Draft]
10 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Prison Estate (Staffing Pressures)
Given that staffing shortages can lead to reduced access to education, rehabilitation programmes and purposeful activity for those in custody, has the cabinet secretary considered the long-term effects of the issue, and will he outline what plans are in place to address those issues in the Prison Service and across the wider public sector?
In the same item of business
Mark Simpson (North East Scotland) (Reform)
Reform
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address staffing pressures across the prison estate through its programme of public sector reform....
The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform (Ivan McKee)
SNP
The prison estate is currently facing unprecedented pressures due to the record-high prison population, and our prison staff are working with dedication and ...
Mark Simpson
Reform
Given that staffing shortages can lead to reduced access to education, rehabilitation programmes and purposeful activity for those in custody, has the cabine...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I recognise that my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is working on those steps, but, as I have indicated, the Prison Service is significantly incr...
Dawn Black (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for the detail that he has already given, but could he also outline what more can be done to use the public service reform agen...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Public service reform gives us the tools to better match staff to where they are most needed, and the strategy includes commitments on strengthening leadersh...