Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks if Mr Wolffe envisages a limitation in training opportunities in light of changes being made.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC says COPFS traineeships are highly sought after and he envisages that these will continue to be offered.

Scotland's Lord Advocate says he is committed to working with others to change the system for the better.

He says the service will continue to work with those outside and inside the service to do this.

Image source, SCOTTISH COURT SERVICE

Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC says he recognises the committee's report has highlighted challenges facing COPFS.

The Lord Advocate says there is no room for complacency but says he is confident the service will rise to the challenges.

Mr Wolffe says the service values its staff, which is why it has sought to protect staff numbers.

He says the service has sought to reduce the number of staff on fixed term contracts and has introduced a fair futures project.

Tory MSP Douglas Ross intervenes to ask if continued cuts to his budget will result in cuts to staff.

Lord Adovcate James Wolffe QC says it is important to put staff numbers in context and the service has sought to protect staff despite budget restraints.

Scotland's Lord Advocate says the service recognises the challenges in the reduction to resources overtime and says it has been able to make choices to protect the front line.

Mr Wolffe says the service has had to deal with financial restraint.

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Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC says for a lawyer there is no job as demanding or rewarding as the job of prosecuting.

Scotland's Lord Advocate thanks everone who gave evidence to the inquiry.

Mr Wolffe says the effective, rigorous and fair prosecution of crime is crucial.

He says he was pleased to read the evidence about the quality of the prosecutors and the staff who support them.

Mr Wolffe pays tribute to the COPFS staff.

Ms Mitchell says the loss of local autonomy has not been acknowledged by COPFS and says this is "disappointing".

The Justice Committee convener says the responses from the Scottish government and COPFS have not answered some of the committee's concerns.

She says the committee heard concerns about the inspectorate drawing so many of its staff from the COPFS.

Ms Mitchell says this is a substantial report on a matter of public interest.

Image source, Thinkstock

Ms Mitchell says the bulk of evidence heard gives an impression of the COPFS , externalas "just about managing" with diminishing resources.

The Justice Committee convener says a stark warning has been given which highlights the strain the COPFS is under.

She says this strain is being increased by historic sexual abuse cases and domestic abuse cases.

Ms Mitchell says changes must reflect inefficiencies into the prosecution system.

The Justice Committee convener says if the NHS routinely updates patients by text then the Crown could do the same if jurors are not required.

She says it is clear the Lord Advocate is personally committed to reform.

Ms Mitchell says the committee expressed concern that ongoing projects seem to be open ended.

The Justice Committee report called on the COPFS to find "more effective methods for passing on accurate up-to-date information about trials in real-time to all stakeholders, victims especially".

The report continued: "Victims can be re-traumatised by what can come across as a mechanistic process that does not always appear to have their interests at heart.

"Victims and witnesses are sometimes made to feel like an afterthought.

Image source, bbc

Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said: "It is gratifying that the committee has concluded that COPFS is an effective, rigorous, fair and independent public prosecutor.

"It states that, in general, the public in Scotland is fundamentally well-served by the COPFS in that core role. That is, in large part, a tribute to the professionalism and commitment of the staff of the service.

"The committee has made a number of recommendations and I will wish to take time to reflect on all of those recommendations."

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Justice Committee convener Margaret Mitchell says no amount of listening exercises can address concerns about funding resources.

Ms Mitchell says the COPFS funding has seen a decline and this year there has been a further decline in real terms.

She says there are concerns 30 staff members may have to be let go.

The Tory MSP says the staff's resilience should not be tested until to breaking point.

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The Justice Committee heard evidence that it "was commonplace for prosecutors to have to work late or at weekends, and to take work home" in what was regarded as being "an increasingly difficult job".

The report warned it "would be unreasonable for the COPFS to continue to rely on the resilience of its staff indefinitely".

Meanwhile, witnesses have a perception of a prosecution service which is "just about managing" and which is "lacking the time and resources to always get things right".

MSPs said they were "concerned by evidence as to the lack of contact between victims and prosecutors during trial preparation, leading in some cases to a perception from victims that the Crown was not well prepared when it came to the trial".

The committee concluded "the evidence taken from victims of crime set out serious failings by the criminal justice system, of which the COPFS is a key component, to provide the confidence necessary for these victims to participate in court proceedings".

Justice Committee convener Margaret Mitchell says the committee agreed an inquiry into this service is "long overdue."

Ms Mitchell says the committee took evidence over four months and visited courts and spoke to key stakeholders including judges and victims.

The Justice Committee convener says the resourcing of the COPFS was the first issue looked at and there were key concerns.

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Scotland's prosecution service is operating under "considerable pressure", according to MSPs.

A report by the Justice Committee found that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) , externalwas facing more complex cases while budget cuts were reducing staff.

But it praised the professionalism of the "dedicated, hard-working staff".

And it stated: "On the whole, the public should have confidence that it is a rigorous and fair prosecutor."

The COPFS budget has been falling from a peak of £118.3 million in 2009-10 with the FDA trade union claiming that if funding remains the same next year, the service will be facing a real-terms budget cut of 21.5%.

The number of prosecutors employed by the COPFS has also been in decline since 2009-10 when it stood at an all-time high of 558.

Read more here.

The Justice Committee will now lead a debate on its inquiry into the role and purpose of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, external.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks the justice secretary to confirm if the Conservatives lodged any amendments calling for the retention of the Inverness control room to the Police and Fire Reform Bill.

Mr Matheson says he does not recall any and says the Conservatives had proposed a single police force themselve.s

Green MSP John Finnie says "this is a backward step for communications".

Mr Matheson says the national database inquiry unit will be largely based in Inverness.

The justice secretary says some of the provision will be based in Inverness.

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Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says a decision on the transfer of staff will be made on 24 August 2017.

Mr Mountain says he is not convinced the risks have been eradicated.

Mr Matheson says an updated report highlighted improvements by Police Scotland in their call handling.

The minister says the HMICS is part of the assurance process and their updated report confirms the significant improvements.

Mr Mountain asks how Caithness and Sutherland can be dealt with by a control room in Dundee.

The justice secretary says very significant progress has been made in all these areas.

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The closure of the Police Scotland control room in Inverness could be given the go ahead in August.

Police Scotland has been planning the move since last year with the operations in Inverness being transferred to a site in Dundee.

A control room in Aberdeen closed earlier this year and its functions moved to Dundee.

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) is to be asked to consider the change in Inverness at a meeting in August.

Read more here.