To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards implementing its “The Vision for Justice in Scotland” delivery plan. (S6O-03430)

Good progress has been made across the justice sector to meet our vision of

“a just, safe resilient Scotland.”

Our delivery plan provides an overview of work that is being done across the sector to the end of this parliamentary term.

We have launched the violence prevention framework for Scotland, we are rolling out digital evidence-sharing capability following its successful pilot, and we have expanded summary case management for domestic abuse cases into Glasgow.

Progress continues to have tangible effects on the people of Scotland, with statistics showing recorded crime remaining at one of the lowest levels since 1974.

I welcome the substantial improvement in many areas across the justice system.

What further action could the Scottish Government take if it had the full range of policy and operational tools that are needed to keep the people of Scotland safe in order to build on its strong record of reducing crime and keeping people safe from harm?

Although justice in Scotland is predominantly devolved, the recent “Justice in an independent Scotland” paper sets out opportunities that could be taken with independence. Having the full range of policy and operational tools would provide new choices and new chances for Scotland to take a different approach in areas such as serious organised crime, firearms and human trafficking. Independence would, for example, allow us to extend our public health approach to violence reduction, in which we focus on prevention, into currently reserved areas, such as drug policy reform and gambling.

Rejoining the European Union would, of course, ensure that Scotland could enjoy the benefits of access to the systems and networks that were lost following Brexit, including access to the European arrest warrant and the Schengen information system.

Every single police officer across the United Kingdom, except in Scotland, has the protection of a body-worn camera as standard. That remains a shameful failing of the Scottish National Party Government. “The Vision for Justice in Scotland” delivery plan sets out a timeline for cameras. Is that on track? When will Scottish officers get the protection that they deserve?

I am very pleased to say that there will be some good news on that front imminently—within the next week. I would not like to spoil that experience for Mr Findlay at the start of next week.

The delivery plan refers to the modernisation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service but not to the state of the fire estate, although a national review of the service has been published. Nearly half of the fire estate has been assessed as being in either bad condition or poor condition. What priority is the Scottish Government giving to the lack of adequate decontamination facilities available to many firefighters, given the serious medical consequences of contact with toxins?

Ms Clark has raised a crucial point with respect to the fire estate, some of which is somewhat aged and affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. That was one of the reasons why, despite the new age of austerity in which we are operating, the Scottish Government increased the resource and the capital budget available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

I know that the Minister, along with other partners—in particular, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service—is looking to progress the work around contamination, because the health of our firefighters must be of the utmost importance.

Question 4 was not lodged.