5. To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated from its 2023-24 budget to community justice services for the purpose of supporting women with a history of offending and substance abuse. (S6O-02468)

The Scottish Government is investing around £134 million in community justice services in 2023-24. That is made up of around £123 million to local authorities with the remainder being direct funding for third sector services. Local authorities have the autonomy to direct funding according to local needs and that might include supporting services for women with a history of offending and substance abuse.

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am a member of Unite the union.

Turning Point Scotland’s 218 service in Glasgow is a lifeline service for women, but, today, Unite the union has called for an urgent review of an £850,000 budget cut by the Government and Glasgow City Council that could force the centre to close and make 30 workers redundant. Will the cabinet secretary agree to review the community justice services budget and this funding crisis with a view to saving the service, saving lives and saving jobs, and to keep the Parliament updated?

We have not reduced the overall funding that is available for community justice services across Scotland, nor have we asked local authorities to reduce any specific funding within that. Decisions about the commissioning of individual community justice services are for local authorities. Community justice funding is primarily based on a local model whereby we provide the funding to local authorities, which then commission the services according to local needs.

If services are reviewed and changed, that is a matter for the local authority. Even when aspects of that funding are targeted at more specific needs, as is the case with the funding that is currently provided to the 218 service, the commissioning and management of those services, including any retendering, are matters entirely for the local authority. We do not get involved in those decisions.

I am sure that Glasgow City Council will be able to discuss with the member the detail and the reasons for that change following the review of that service, if she wants to take up that opportunity.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Question 6 has not been lodged.