Convener Margaret Mitchell wonders that if there was an increase in resources, would prisoners officers be available given difficulties around recruitment.

The biggest problem in recruitment is in HMP Grampian, replies Mr Fairlie, though there are are problems right across the country.

He also says that often the role is not being seen as a career but just a secondary income for families.

We want to make it more attractive but that is difficult with headlines focusing on increased capacity and violence, he adds.

Image source, bbc

Stephen Sandham refers to the Audit Scotland Section 22 report published 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.

Mr Sandham says there is disparity between opportunities for prisoners and those kept on remand.

SPS does encourage those on remand to take part in activities but we would like to see more proactive steps taken on this, he adds.

SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor asks about the increase in assaults involving staff.

Phil Fairlie says this is happening across the estate and is not specific to one prison or group of prisoners.

Asked about staff numbers, Mr Fairlie tells the committee that staff tasked with delivering purposeful activities are being taken off that role to assist in accommodation areas due to short staffing.

Image source, bbc

Phil Fairlie from the Prison Officers Association Scotland, external agrees, saying the violence levels against staff and prisoners have gone up quite substantially.

He cites sickness/absence levels in prison staff rising by 60%, creating two very stark issues affecting what is going on in prison.

Mr Fairlie says serious assaults have doubled and the usage of psychoactive substances is increasing.

Mr Sandham concurs, saying 14,000 days have been lost due to stress, which means they are running with a shortage of staff.

When sickness and annual leave, prison population and other issues like maternity are factored in, it is the equivalent of being around 200 staff down to provide the regime they would wish to.

Green MSP John Finnie kicks off questioning, asking about the impact of occupancy on the safety and wellbeing of staff.

We are extremely concerned about the dramatic rise in the prison population, Stephen Sandham from HMIPS replies.

Over 500 more prisoners are having to be accommodated within the prison service than is planned for, he explains.

He tells the committee that this is impacted on things like dispensing medication for prisoners and getting people to work shed and other activities on time.

"We think it's got quite a profound and quite a worrying impact."

Image source, Getty Images

The chief inspector of prisons has said she is "very concerned" that the number of inmates in Scotland is starting to exceed capacity.

The prison population rose by 709 in the year to the end of March, from 7,413 to 8,122.

Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, said this 9% increase is equivalent to one additional large prison.

She warned the rise in inmates is putting extra pressure on the system.

In her report for 2018/19, Ms Sinclair-Gieben said planned investment in key infrastructure must not be delayed.

• Barlinnie prison operating at more than 40% over capacity
• Scottish prisoners forced to double-up in cells
• Plans to restrict 12-month prison sentences published
• Self harm in Scottish prisons 'skyrockets'
• Throughcare support scheme suspended by prison service
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

The Justice Committee begins its pre-budget scrutiny of the Scottish government’s 2020/21 budget:

Committee convener Margaret Mitchell introduces:

• Stephen Sandham from HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland, external
• Phil Fairlie from the Prison Officers Association Scotland, external

Image source, bbc

The committee approve the ScottishTribunals (Listed Tribunals) Regulations 2019 [draft], external, unanimously, following a brief speech by Community Safety Minister Ash Denham.

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Margaret Mitchell welcomes:

• Community Safety Minister Ash Denham
• Lauren Keillor from the Scottish government
• Heather McClure from the Scottish government

They will give evidence on the ScottishTribunals (Listed Tribunals) Regulations 2019 [draft], external.

The purpose of the Regulations is to amend the 2014 Act to include a bus lane adjudicator in the list of tribunals whose functions may be transferred to the Scottish Tribunals under that Act.

Image source, bbc

The Justice Committee will begin its pre-budget scrutiny of the Scottish government’s 2020/21 budget:

The committee will take evidence from—

• Stephen Sandham from HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland
• Phil Fairlie from the Prison Officers Association Scotland

and then from—

• Professor Nancy Loucks from Families Outside;
• Tom Halpin from SACRO;
• Alastair Muir from the Violence Reduction Unit;
• Sean Duffy from The Wise Group.

Image source, bbc

First though, Community Safety Minister Ash Denham will give evidence on the ScottishTribunals (Listed Tribunals) Regulations 2019 [draft], external.

The purpose of the Regulations is to amend the 2014 Act to include a bus lane adjudicator in the list of tribunals whose functions may be transferred to the Scottish Tribunals under that Act.

Read the committee papers here., external

Welcome to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 17 September 2019.

10 am: The Justice Committee begins its pre-budget scrutiny taking evidence from among others HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland, Families Outside and the Violence Reduction Unit

2.05 pm: Topical questions

2.20-3.40 pm: Scottish government debate: Investing in our Credit Unions

Image source, PA/Getty/Reuters/ Macmillan Cancer Research

3.40-5.00 pm: Scottish government debate: The Impact of the UK Government’s Family Migration Policy on Scotland

5.00 pm: Decision time

5.00 pm: Members’ business: Clare Adamson – Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning