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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 06 January 2016

06 Jan 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Short-term Sentences (Consultation)
Justice and the Law Officers
Matheson, Michael SNP Falkirk West Watch on SPTV

The consultation on proposals to strengthen the presumption against short sentences closed on 16 December. We received 63 responses in total, and I record my thanks to everyone who took the time to submit their views on that important issue.

We are carefully considering those responses and will publish a formal analysis in the coming weeks. That analysis will inform our approach to strengthening the current presumption against short sentences, and I intend to set out our plans in due course.

The consultation forms part of our wider commitment to shifting the emphasis of penal policy from ineffective short sentences to a greater use of robust community sentences. That commitment is backed by an additional £4 million for community justice services in the 2016-17 draft Scottish budget.

In the same item of business

7. Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the consultation on the presumption against short-term sentences. (S4O-05210)
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson) SNP
The consultation on proposals to strengthen the presumption against short sentences closed on 16 December. We received 63 responses in total, and I record my...
Annabel Goldie Con
The nub of the issue is that Governments must neither obstruct nor compromise the freedom of judges to impose a custodial sentence of any length where the ju...
Michael Matheson SNP
A presumption is exactly that: it is a presumption. It will be open to sheriffs to determine these matters when the issue is laid before the court. That is t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Con
That concludes questions on the justice and the law officers portfolio. My apologies to those members I have not been able to call.