Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
I lead a Government that believes in and follows the rule of law. So, when issues are of a legally contested nature, we do the proper thing, which is to allow the legally contested debate to take place and then, at the conclusion of that debate, to follow the legal ruling. Lady Ross’s ruling is crystal clear. It has already been implemented in full in relation to the Scottish Prison Service, and the necessary amendments to custody have taken place. I do not intend to talk about individual cases, because it is inappropriate for me to do that.
In relation to the circulation of guidance materials, those must be compatible with the law as it stands, and that is exactly why the Scottish Prison Service withdrew its guidance at the earliest opportunity. The development of further guidance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ruling by Lady Ross.