Meeting of the Parliament 12 February 2026 [Draft]
Before I come on to the important point that Mr Findlay has raised, I record my sadness at the death of Jeane Freeman, who was one of my Cabinet colleagues when she was the health secretary. She served the Parliament and the country with distinction through many difficult and challenging moments during the Covid pandemic. She also contributed to enhancing Scotland through the design of our social security system.
I express my sympathies and those of the Government to Jeane’s partner, Susan, and her friends and family on the loss of a magnificent woman, who was taken from us all too suddenly and all too early in her life.
I express to Russell Findlay my understanding and appreciation of the depth of concern about the issue that he has raised on behalf of Sue Rollinson. I know that Mr Findlay met the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and Richard Lochhead, who is Mrs Rollinson’s local MSP, earlier this week. I understand the concern that has been expressed.
What happened to Mr Rollinson was absolutely and completely unforgivable and unspeakable. The courts considered the issue and have taken the decisions that they have taken. A parole hearing on the case was held on 11 February, and a decision was postponed to a future oral hearing. The Parole Board for Scotland is responsible for considering the length of a sentence and how much time is spent where as part of that sentence.