To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been achieved on fast-track hearings.

Fast-track hearings in the three pilot areas – East Lothian and Scottish Borders; Dundee, and North, East and South Ayrshire – will begin operating tomorrow. The pilots will run for two years and are designed to address the behaviour of around 8% of young offenders who account for just over one third of youth crime in the pilot area communities.

Extra services have been put in place across the pilot areas to ensure that programmes are available to tackle offending behaviour. The Executive has funded extra intensive support places, specialist foster care support, educational support places, and additional programmes in residential and secure accommodation. The pilots will be subject to independent evaluation. Guidance has been issued, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 26222). This has been developed by all partners – pilot authorities, reporters, police, children’s panel representatives and the voluntary sector.