Hansard

As Roderick Campbell eloquently said, we must build on the evidence. The only scheme of which we are aware is in Peterborough and I am happy to look at it, although it is fair to say—especially in a justice debate—that the jury is out. I give the member a commitment to look at the scheme with an open mind. I do not want to give a commitment on the timescale, but I am happy to look at the scheme. Given that it was started by Labour and supported by the coalition, we take no ideological view of it; we will look at what has worked, which is why we will also consider the concept of public-social partnerships.

The fundamental ethos of the debate has been about recognising the good reasons for tackling reoffending. There are financial challenges and questions about how best to use our public funds, as the cost of keeping someone in prison is significant and the cost of constructing prisons is even greater. However, as members have pointed out, there is also a moral obligation to deal with people with fundamental problems, whether with dyslexia and literacy, which Graeme Pearson and other members mentioned, or with drugs and alcohol, which Christine Grahame mentioned. We have a moral duty to help people who face challenges, although it is accepted by members around the chamber—perhaps more by some than by others—that prison will always be the right place for some people. Those who pose a danger to our communities must go there, and there must be imprisonment for serious offending. In other cases, however, we must consider other ways.

This is a common cause and there are good schemes out there, which have been commented on. The 218 centre was mentioned, first by Christine Grahame and then by Dr Richard Simpson. I visited the centre a few weeks back and had a cup of coffee with 15 or 18 of the women there. It was quite challenging but very thought provoking. I look forward to Elish Angiolini’s report but, having not seen it, I am not in a position to comment on it. Nevertheless, the Government looks forward to building on it. I have no doubt that Elish Angiolini, Dr Linda de Caestecker and Sheriff Danny Scullion will have given great thought to it. That may mean building on the 218 centre, as I cannot believe that they would take anything other than the same supportive view of it. When I visited the centre, I was told that Elish Angiolini had been there in her role as chair of the commission.

There is a need to reduce reoffending and, as Roderick Campbell said, the reducing reoffending change fund is about working together to do what we can. Some of the work must be in other portfolios, as it is not just prison officers, prison governors and criminal justice social workers who have a role. There is recognition from members around the chamber of the outstanding contribution that the third sector makes—whether through Sacro, the 218 centre or Turning Point, all of which play a great role.

Equally, we must make common cause across portfolios and we seek to do that at a governmental level. Some of the problems are to do with the lack of educational or work opportunities for individuals, and there are health issues, such as low-level mental ill health, for example. We must tackle those problems.

We know what works in reducing reoffending and getting people back on the straight and narrow. They need a home to go to and some contact with family, whether it be mum, a granny, an auntie or whatever. They need someone who takes an interest in them when they are in prison and when they come out. There should also be, I would hope, some opportunity for employment and, if not, something participatory and constructive that they can do during the day. We have to put in more resources for those things. Questions have been asked and we must check against delivery on literacy, for example. The SPS is putting in place appropriate monitoring of that.

I am grateful to Alison McInnes for raising the issue. I hope that the Liberal Democrats will accept the spirit of the amendment. I am more than happy to undertake to look at the good work that is being tried in Peterborough. If it works and can be replicated here, we will be more than happy to use it. In the interim, whether we are talking about public-social partnerships or the on-going good work that is being done the length and breadth of Scotland, it has the Government’s full support.

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