Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 8 October 2025.
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of sustained overcrowding in prisons on suicide and self-harm prevention. (S6O-05039)
Angela Constance
Scottish National Party
I recognise the profound impact that overcrowding is having on those living and working in our prisons. That is why I set out last week the immediate action on early release that we intend to take in response. The Scottish Prison Service and the national health service continue to prioritise prisoners experiencing heightened distress levels or thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and the SPS remains committed to meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of those in its care.
The SPS is also working at pace on the overhaul of the “Talk to Me: Prevention of Suicide in Prison Strategy”. By understanding the high risk and complex environment of a prison, that improved strategy will enhance holistic support and, ultimately, save lives.
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat
Since 2021, more than 4,000 incidents of self-harm have been reported in Scottish prisons, with more than 1,000 in the past year alone. At the same time, our prisons are operating at unsustainable levels of overcrowding, with reconviction rates remaining above pre-pandemic levels and remand numbers stubbornly high. If we are serious about reducing incarceration sustainably and avoiding the sort of emergency releases that we have had in recent months, we must ensure that prisoners have access to proper mental health support, which is vital to achieving rehabilitation and securing public safety.
Will the Cabinet secretary give an update on the timeframe for replacing the suicide strategy, which was supposed to be replaced back in 2023? What progress has been made on boosting the mental health experts who are present in our prisons around Scotland?
Angela Constance
Scottish National Party
Mr McArthur is correct to highlight and underscore that our rising prison population is the most critical operational and strategic challenge that is currently faced by our Prison Service. As recently highlighted by the Prison Governors Association, there is also a human cost to overcrowding. The member will recall the commitments that I made in response to the fatal accident inquiry recommendations and the statement that I made in Parliament in response to the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay.
On the overhaul of “Talk to Me”, the final report from an independent specialist, Professor Towl, will be published in October. By the end of this calendar year, the Scottish Prison Service will publish its suicide prevention pathway.
Annabelle Ewing
Scottish National Party
Question 7 has been withdrawn. I can squeeze in question 8 if I have brief questions and succinct replies.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
