Image source, Police Scotland

The teenager who abducted, raped and murdered Alesha MacPhail has been given permission to appeal against his sentence.

Aaron Campbell was ordered toserve a minimum of 27 yearsof a life sentence for killing the six-year-old on the Isle of Bute on 2 July last year.

During his trial, Campbell, who turned 17 last week, denied that he had ever met Alesha.

However, before sentencing it emerged that he had confessed to the killing.

The appeal will be heard in Edinburgh on 7 August.

Read more.

Ms McNeill queries whether any thought has been given to the impact this proposal would have on prisons in terms of resources.

She goes on to highlight that supporting the move means you do not believe in rehabilitation.

The Labour MSP highlights the need to ensure safety inside prisons as well as outside.

The way forward is to review sentencing guidelines and await the Law Commission's review on the definition of murder, she concludes.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says this is an attempt to make people who do not support this proposal look weak.

Judges can already extend punishment to beyond the end of an offenders life, she explains.

The Labour MSP says all judgement are open to appeal, to whole life sentences would not change this.

She goes on to suggest that revised guidelines would equally solve the problem of any perceived weakness in the system.

The Conservatives are pushing for a change in the law that would allow judges to keep Scotland's worst criminals in prison until they die.

The party's leader, Ruth Davidson, had said it would introduce a member's bill to Holyrood making the case for the introduction of whole-life sentences.

It comes after the shop owner who murdered schoolgirl Paige Doherty had his sentence reduced by four years.

John Leathem will now serve at least 23 years in prison rather than 27.

Read more here.

Ms Denham hopes that parliament agrees that an evidence based approach is taken.

The minister is not persuaded whole life sentences would make a real and practical difference in helping the court to deal with the worst offenders.

She moves the amendment in Humza Yousaf's name.

Image source, SP

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham says it is vital the public have confidence in the justice system's ability to deal with the most terrible crimes.

The appeal court has confirmed the punishment part of the sentence can exceed the rest of an offenders life, Ms Denham points out, citing the case of Angus Sinclair who committed the1977 World's End murders.

The minister points out anyone who is considered a risk to the public will remain in prison.

She says of the 342 life sentence prisoners referred to the Parole Board, only in 35 cases did the Board direct release.

The minister declines repeated efforts by Liam Kerr to intervene.

She argues she is not persuaded by Mr Kerr's call for whole life sentences.

Too many people ignore the strength of public feeling on this says Mr Kerr.

But the families impacted - like Paige Doherty's - are completely right to demand that "life means life", he adds.

The Tory MSP says it is right that many criminals are released in pursuit of rehabilitation - but he insists this pursuit is "fruitless" for the "most despicable offenders".

He highlights his support for whole life sentences for those who kill police officers.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says we need to give judges the power to put down whole life sentences.

When a judge in Scotland hands down a "so-called" life sentence, there is no power to mandate that the worst criminals will never get out, he states.

The longest punishment ever given in court in Scotland is 37 years and even that is not necessarily the rest of a person's life, he adds.

Mr Kerr says the European Court of Human Rights found whole life sentences in England do not breach human rights.

Image source, Getty Images

Tory MSP Liam Kerr last week proposed legislation to give judges the power to sentence criminals to custody for the rest of their lives.

Judges in England and Wales already have this power.

The proposed bill would not mean that the perpetrators of a particular crime will always receive a whole life sentence, but courts will have the power to impose one where there is sufficient justification.

The proposed Whole Life Custody (Scotland) Bill, external is open for consultation under 30 August.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr is calling for judges to have the power to impose whole life jail sentences.

He proposed a member's bill to do this last week.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Ms Denham goes on to say there are 180,000 movements undertaken in cellullar vehicles, but non-celluar vehicles can be used for pregnant women and children.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks why staff don't have body worn cameras, to which Ms Denham says the Scottish Prison Service has heard no complaints from staff about incidents.

Green MSP John Finnie calls on the Scottish government to review this provision and take it back in-house.

The escort contract has freed up frontline staff in the SPS replies the minister.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur calls for FOIs to include private companies with contracts like these.

The minister says she does not have the information to reply to that.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham says GeoAmey - the firm which provided prison escort services - carries out robust risk assessments about transport.

Ms Denham says in the example of ordinary cars cited by Mr Johnson, children and pregnant women are sometimes being transported.

Mr Johnson says a convicted murderer was being transported in one vehicle and he struck staff.

The Labour MSP calls for a barrier to be put in these cars.

The minister reiterates her point about the risk assessments in place.

The Sunday Post reported at the weekend..., external

"Some of the country’s most dangerous criminals are being ferried around Scotland in family cars, we can reveal.

"Offenders, including murderers and other high-risk prisoners, are being driven between jails and courts in ordinary cars after the escort service was privatised.

"Custody officers have revealed a series of violent incidents have taken place inside the cars which endangered their lives and risked crashes."

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks about reports that prisoners are being transported in family vehicles.

Mr Greene asks what action the government is taking to address the systemic shortages of GPs across Scotland.

Ms Haughey tells the Tory MSP she shares his concerns and says GP workload and numbers are being looked at.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks if salaried GPs could be used and Ms Haughey replies Sir Ritchie will look into this.

Her colleague Anas Sarwar asks if the minister recognises the impact on patients and NHS staff who are already overworked in A&E.

The minister reiterates she expects the board and the health and social care partnership to look at the problems Glasgow faced.

Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey replies she expects all integration authorities to provide a safe out-of-hours service.

Mr Greene says only one out-of-hours service was open on Sunday.

He asks what action the Scottish government is taking to address GPs opting not to provide this service.

Ms Haughey says arrangements were put in place between Glasgow and NHS24 to deal with the closures.

But she adds: "I am not happy with the level of service."

She expects the board to take every step possible to address this issue and she adds Sir Lewis Ritchie will meet with the board to discuss it.

Image source, PA

A shortage of GPs in Greater Glasgow was expected to affect overnight out-of-hours health care.

NHS Greater Glasgow said it did not have enough doctors "willing to work" between midnight and 07:59 on Sunday.

Only one of its five GP out-of-hours centres was open to patients but a home visiting service remained in operation.

A spokeswoman for the health board said they had "no choice" but to take the decision due to the GP shortage.

Read more.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks what action is being taken to improve out-of-hours GP services in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, in light of reports that only one in five centres were open on Sunday.