According to 'People, not profit, external' the first credit union in Britain began trading in 1964, and over the last 50 years, credit unions have grown to provide loans and savings to more than 1.2 million people across England, Scotland and Wales.

Credit unions have a proven track record across the world. In fact, 217 million people are credit union members in 105 different countries.

A credit union is a financial co-operative which provides savings, loans and a range of services to its members. It is owned and controlled by the members.

Each member has one vote and volunteer directors are elected from the membership, by the membership.

Credit unions are owned by the people who use their services, and not by external shareholders or investors. So the emphasis is always on providing the best service to members – not maximising profits.

Membership of a credit union is based on a common bond. This can be working for a particular employer or in a particular industry, or simply living or working in a specified geographical area which could be as small as a village or as large as several local authority areas.

Credit unions come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re looking for a credit union with online and phone banking, a payroll partnership with your employer, a local branch or service point you can walk into – or a combination of all three – there’s a good chance you’ll find the credit union you’re looking for to meet your needs.

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MSPs will now debate investing in credit unions.

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Tory MSP Oliver Mundell asks if the minister regrets that his colleagues at Westminster voted against Theresa May's deal causing this uncertainty.

Mr Lochhead replies he wishes Mr Mundell would get his head out of the sand and oppose any Brexit.

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Richard Lochhead says a no-deal remains completely unacceptable.

The higher education minister insists the UK government is not ready for a no-deal Brexit on 31 October and must take it off the table.

He welcomes the return of the post-study work visa and pays tribute to the campaigning by the higher education sector in Scotland.

Mr Lochhead insists Brexit has already impacted universities in terms of staff, students and research projects.

Any kind of Brexit is deeply damaging and a no-deal would be a body blow, he adds.

SNP MSP Gillian Martin asks what the Scottish government's response is to the newly-released Universities UK survey, external, which claims that Scotland's universities will lose staff and students in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

According to a Universities UK press release the majority of universities are well-prepared for a no-deal Brexit; but continue to fear negative impact.

More than three quarters of surveyed UK universities are 'very' or 'extremely concerned' about the negative impact a no-deal Brexit will have on their institution

Solicitor General Alison Di Rollo says the number of criminal cases which have not yet received an initial decision is 17,342.

This is on target for ensuring initial decisions are taken within four weeks for 75% of cases by the year end, she adds.

Mr McArthur asks if COPFS has the resources it needs, pointing to some people saying they are hesitant to prosecute due to delays with the system.

Scotland's prosecution service is on track to have its highest ever number of staff, replies Ms Di Rollo.

It will take some time for the full benefits of the increased resource to come through but interim benefits are expected, she adds.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks how the government will address the reported backlog of unresolved criminal cases.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says he has heard about a recategorisation of new psychoactive substances to unknown substances.

Might this be the reason why there is reporting of a 1% fall in drug use he asks, and he says prison officers fear manipulation of the figures.

The minister says he will look into this recategorisation and he insists nobody has once downplayed the damage psychoactive substances is doing in our prisons.

Green MSP John Finnie says the auditor general's report builds on the inspectorate's annual report, which both raises the impact of private prisons.

How will the government stop a situation where private companies are profiting from public sector failures, he asks.

The justice secretary says there are no plans to build further private prison estates.

He says he is looking at how to ease tensions in prisons which may include the use of private estates, but he adds such decisions are not taken likely.

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Tory MSP Liam Kerr says assaults in prisons have "rocketed" and asks if there will be a review of this.

One of the reasons for this is the increase of psychoactive substances in prison, replies Mr Yousaf.

They are very difficult to detect for a variety of reasons, he adds.

The justice secretary says a reduction in the number of prisoners would help address the levels of violence.

Mr Kelly highlights the suspension of the prison throughcare service and asks when this will be re-established.

Mr Yousaf confirms the third sector is meeting with the Scottish Prison Service tomorrow to discuss an interim service while throughcare is temporarily suspended.

That's hopefully a temporary measure while efforts are made to reduce the prison population and thus put officers back into throughcare, he adds.

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James Kelly says the report is stark, highlighting overcrowding in prisons, budget shortfalls and the availability of fit and healthy prison officers.

Mr Kelly argues the government are short on answers and asks what the government is doing about the budget shortfall and prison officer sickness absences.

Mr Yousaf replies he will have conversations with the finance secretary about the budget and explains the root cause of the high level of prisoners must be addressed.

He points out the pay deal aims to address issues around sickness absences.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf says the rising prison population and other issues are being taken seriously.

The most recent annual report by the prisons inspectorate said staff and prisoners felt safe despite the rise in numbers, he adds.

He points to additional capital funding for the prison estate.

The justice secretary urges the parliament to back "progressive justice reforms".

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Stephen Sandham from HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland, external told MSPs this morning he was "extremely concerned" about the dramatic rise in the prison population.

It rose by 709 in the year to the end of March, from 7,413 to 8,122, a 9% increase.

Mr Sandham told the Justice Committee: "We think it's got quite a profound and quite a worrying impact."

Phil Fairlie from the Prison Officers Association Scotland, external was also concerned highlighting increasing violence levels, with a doubling of serious violent assaults and a 60% increase in sickness/absence levels.

• Warning over prisoner numbers 'exceeding capacity'
• Barlinnie prison operating at more than 40% over capacity
• Scottish prisoners forced to double-up in cells

Labour MSP James Kelly asks the Scottish Government what its response is to the Auditor General's comment that “the Scottish Prison Service faces a combination of severe pressures on many fronts; this poses a threat to operational safety, effectiveness and financial sustainability”.

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Last week Auditor General Caroline Gardner said “the Scottish Prison Service faces a combination of severe pressures on many fronts; this poses a threat to operational safety, effectiveness and financial sustainability”.

Ms Gardner said the deep cuts in day to day spending and historically-high overcrowding meant Scotland’s prisons were running “well over operating capacity”.

She told the Scottish parliament the service’s problems were due largely to repeated cuts in government funding, which had fallen by 12.5% in real terms since the 2014/15 financial year, falling from £395m to £345m.

Prisoner numbers increased by nearly nine per cent in 2018/19, to 8,212, and are set to rise further.

Stress-related sickness among staff rose by nearly one third in 2018/19, and additional payments to staff working longer hours increased by 65% to £4.25m.

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Queries about pressures on the Scottish Prison Service, unresolved criminal cases and Brexit's impact on universities will come up during topical questions.

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The Reverend Canon David Richards from St Paul's and St George's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh delivers today's time for reflection.

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This afternoon, topical questions will also focus on problems within the Scottish Prison Service, as well as unresolved criminal cases and the impact of Brexit on universities.

Then the Scottish government is leading a debate on credit unions...

...followed by one on the impact of UK government's family migration policy.

Finally, SNP MSP Clare Adamson will lead a member's debate on 'Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning'.

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