Motion
Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population
S7M-00469.5 · Amendment · lodged by Kerr, Stephen
Lodged on
24 Jun 2026Heard / answered on
25 Jun 2026Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 25 Jun 2026
As an amendment to S7M-00469, in the name of Neil Gray (Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population), leave out from “acknowledges the underlying drivers” to end, and insert "recognises that the current pressures on Scotland's prison estate were repeatedly highlighted by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and were described as 'not unexpected'; notes that prison overcrowding did not emerge suddenly but follows years of warnings regarding prison capacity, rehabilitation, safety and prisoner welfare; rejects any suggestion that the current situation is unavoidable; notes with concern that more than a quarter of Scotland's prison population is comprised of remand prisoners awaiting the conclusion of court proceedings; believes that persistent court backlogs and delays across the justice system are significant contributors to prison overcrowding and are preventing victims, witnesses and accused individuals from obtaining timely justice; notes that over 1,300 foreign national offenders are currently held within Scotland's prison estate and believes that greater use should be made of appropriate repatriation arrangements; expresses alarm at the record number of deaths in custody, including a record number of suicides; recognises the impact that overcrowding is having on rehabilitation, purposeful activity and public protection; agrees that public safety, justice for victims and confidence in the rule of law must remain paramount; believes that Scottish Ministers must set out the reasons why repeated warnings regarding overcrowding, remand levels, deaths in custody and prison conditions were not acted upon sooner; further believes that achieving a sustainable prison population requires action to reduce court delays, address the high remand population, improve access to rehabilitation and offender programmes, increase the effective repatriation of foreign national offenders where appropriate, and provide sufficient prison capacity to meet operational demand, and believes that the long-term sustainability of Scotland's prison population depends upon addressing the underlying causes of overcrowding rather than relying on the early release of prisoners as a substitute for effective management of the justice system."
Backed by
Supported by 1 additional MSP
Con 1
Lodged by
Kerr, Stephen
(Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party).
- Adams, James (Con)
Amendment division result
25 Jun 2026
Defeated
Show MSPs
For
26Against
78Abstain
15Not voted
10In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 7 contributions reference this
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Last updated 19:12]
I remind members that there should be no interruptions or interventions during a first speech. To make his first speech, and to move and speak to amendment S7M-00469.5, I call James Adams.15:08
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James Adams (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Last updated 19:12]
I am proud and honoured to have been elected to represent the north-east of Scotland, the area where I was born, grew up and still proudly call home. I am deeply grateful for the trust that voters ha…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Last updated 19:12]
The next question is, that amendment S7M-00469.5, in the name of Stephen Kerr, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
I remind members that there should be no interruptions or interventions during a first speech. To make his first speech, and to move and speak to amendment S7M-00469.5, I call James Adams.15:08
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James Adams (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
I am proud and honoured to have been elected to represent the north-east of Scotland, the area where I was born, grew up and still proudly call home. I am deeply grateful for the trust that voters ha…
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
The next question is, that amendment S7M-00469.5, in the name of Stephen Kerr, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
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The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 25 Jun 2026 · Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
The result of the division on amendment S7M-00469.5, in the name of Stephen Kerr, is: For 26, Against 78, Abstentions 15.Amendment disagreed to.
Amendments and how the chamber decided
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S7M-00469Original motion23 Jun 2026 · Motion For Debate · Gray, NeilThat the Parliament recognises the scale and complexity of the current prison population, which is above the design and operational capacity of the estate and causes significant associated operational and safety risks for prison staff; notes that Scotland has one of the highest prison populations in western Europe; acknowledges the underlying drivers, inc...
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S7M-00469.5Selected itemDefeated 26/7824 Jun 2026 · Amendment · Kerr, StephenAs an amendment to S7M-00469, in the name of Neil Gray (Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population), leave out from “acknowledges the underlying drivers” to end, and insert "recognises that the current pressures on Scotland's prison estate were repeatedly highlighted by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and were described as 'not unexpected'; ...