MSPs debate Brexit, after Theresa May's statement

Summary

The Justice Committee takes evidence on the role of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Air pollution and the Scottish Ambulance Service are raised during topical questions
The government lead a debate on protecting Scotland's interests in negotiating our future relationship with Europe, following Theresa May's statement.
SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson leads this evening's member's debate entitled 'A Sea of Opportunity'

Live Reporting

Colin Bell and Craig Hutchison

Postpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Postpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Postpublished at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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It is important to make the system better for all those it servespublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Image caption,
Lord Advocate James Wolffe
SNP MSP Ben Macpherson says there is a real appetite for the use of video evidence in trials.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe says there is an appetite from the justice system as a whole for significant change.
Mr Wolffe says it is important to make the system better for all those it serves.
Postpublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Postpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Issues with sick leave and morale need to be addressed - Lord Advocatepublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
SNP MSP Ben Macpherson asks if people consider a move away from the Crown service for experience in defence law.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe says he can not speculate why people leave, this can come down to an individual's career choice.
Mr Wolffe says there is an issue with sick leave and morale which needs to be addressed.
Postpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Postpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Postpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Meanwhile..... what does Brexit mean?published at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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All three deputy crown agents are former traineespublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Crown Agent David Harvie says there is absolutely no doubt that training by the crown remains "highly desirable".
Mr Harvie says all three of the deputy crown agents are former trainees.
He says he is not a former trainee but the three deputes are.
'You can't knit deputes' says Lord Advocatepublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Lord Advocate James Wolffe
SNP MSP Ben Macpherson asks about staffing levels and asks about the importance of the trainee process in the COPFS and the need to retain talent.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe says he is very committed to recruiting able, young, enthusiastic trainee solicitors.
Mr Wolffe says: "You can't knit deputes."
And we're back......published at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
The Justice Committee, external continues its Inquiry into the role and purpose of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, with:
- Rt Hon James Wolffe QC, Lord Advocate
- David Harvie from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Time for a short break but don't go away..... there's more!published at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Image source, COPFS
Image caption,
COPFS
We'll be back in five minutes when the evidence session on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), external continues.
16,000 backlog of casespublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Committee convener Margaret Mitchell asks if there is a backlog of cases currently.
Crown Agent David Harvie says there are four weeks of work and the latest figure is just under 16,000 cases.
Ms Mitchell says: "Is that not a staggering amount of cases?"
Mr Harvie says It has been higher in the past.
Diversionary options different in remote areaspublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Mr McArthur asks if it remotely realistic to have the same amount of diversionary options in Orkney than there are in Glasgow.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe says circumstances are different in different parts of the country.
Postpublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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Postpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
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is there a gap between centralised and local case marking skills?published at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2017
Image caption,
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says if efforts are focused on building up skills in central locations then there will be a gap between centralised case marking and local case marking.
Crown Agent David Harvie says all staff receive the same training.
Mr Harvie says training is initially given to one group but then is rolled out to others.