The Lord Advocate:

I have been involved in discussions about the issue with a variety of sources. On the timing of the statement, as I have pointed out, I have been regularly briefed by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service about pressures relating to the prison population, including the impact of the Government’s early release scheme. The chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service has been in communication with the Crown Agent about those challenges, and there have been regular meetings with relevant policy officials, the Scottish Prison Service, the Scottish Government and senior members of the Scottish prosecution service.

Over and above that, individual prosecutors have visited Barlinnie and seen for themselves, at first hand, the challenges that are faced because of the growing pressure from our prison population. It is in that context that I have been informed of the position by the Government and, separately, by the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service.