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That concludes our business in public. Next week, I expect the committee to consider several statutory instruments relating to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022. We will also consider a draft report on the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill and have an initial discussion about our approach to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which has just been introduced.

The next agenda item is consideration of correspondence that we have received in relation to policing and mental health. I refer members to paper 2.

Before I open the discussion to members, I thank the Scottish Police Authority and all the attendees at last week’s conference on workforce trauma. It was a worthwhile event that included contributions from a range of stakeholders. There were some very powerful lived experience contributions. It was reassuring to hear about the level of commitment to make positive and lasting change for officers and staff. We heard about what is already in place and a bit about the work that is under way to effect the change that is needed. There was quite a lot of honesty in the room, particularly around the role of supervisors and leaders, which led to a constructive session.

We have received correspondence from Police Scotland, the SPA and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland. Members will find a summary of each of the responses at the beginning of paper 2. I will open the discussion to members.

Does anyone else want to come in? Russell Findlay can come back in, and then I will wind things up.

I agree. The information that we have in relation to the blue-light collaboration is light. That is possibly because it is at an early stage and work is still under way to really focus on which projects and work the collaboration will support. I might come to that under the next agenda item, but your comments are noted.

In relation to your point, Jamie, I agree that SPICe is probably our first port of call in order to get more clarity on the accounting side of the police budget with regard to the slippage that you reference. I am happy to take that away.

Would anybody else like to come in?

That is a good suggestion. Our challenge might be around fitting in that discussion but, given that we have taken a lot of time to explore the issue, I am sure that we could fit it into our work programme along the way.

Thanks for that, Fulton.

Okay—thank you.

To pull together members’ comments, I probably agree with everything that has been said. There is a very challenging financial climate for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. It has been helpful to hear your comments, in particular on the information that we have received about body-worn cameras, and I will come back to that.

I have just a couple of points. I noted with interest the discussion that took place at the 23 March meeting of the Scottish Police Authority, where it discussed its budget. I have to say it was a comprehensive discussion, with a lot of probing questions for the chief constable and a helpful overview of the approach that Police Scotland will take in extremely challenging circumstances. It certainly acknowledged the hard choices and the prioritisation of resources that will be required.

Obviously, there is the issue of the pressure of pay awards. Jamie Greene is right to point out the additional funding that was provided by the Scottish Government, around 50 per cent of which has gone to pay awards.

The budget was approved. Police Scotland presented a balanced budget, which was approved by the resources committee at that meeting. I was interested in a comment by the chief constable that, to a certain extent, the difficulties and the challenges that the budget presented this year led to the budget almost never having been so informed. I am not at all saying that it is a bed of roses; nonetheless, it is obvious that a lot of work has been undertaken.

As members have pointed out, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is facing very challenging circumstances in relation to property assets, such as vehicles, and pay awards. It is a very difficult environment. I took time to look at the Audit Scotland report that the service referenced in its response and at the challenge that is posed by the legacy of the financial circumstances that the individual fire services faced at the time of their amalgamation. If anything, I would be keen to observe and monitor developments around the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service budget.

As Rona Mackay said, the budget process is now complete, and I am sure that organisations are now thinking about next year’s budget. I am pleased that we have had some helpful contributions on the budget issue, and I am happy to keep budgetary issues under review.

Finally, on body-worn cameras, I always try to strike a balance in progressing work and not getting into ping-pong correspondence. Nonetheless, on this issue, maybe we can do some follow-up work to get a bit more clarity around the context of where we are with timescales and funding. I am happy to take that away and correspond with members on how we can take forward that work, given that we have quite a busy work programme coming down the track.

Jamie, do you want to come back in?

I agree with all the points that have been made. Work is under way, which is welcome. We should continue this piece of work. It has gained some traction and I am keen that we support it going forward.

On looking more closely at issues around suicide, I am happy to suggest that we insert something further down the line as part of our continuing work on mental health and policing. As I said earlier, I suspect that, under the forthcoming police complaints and misconduct bill, we will consider some of what we have covered.

I had another point in my head, which I have completely forgotten. [Interruption.] The clerk has reminded me that we can circulate the correspondence from the Lord Advocate on her position. In it, she helpfully outlines the Crown Office’s role and explains fatal accident inquiries regarding police officers and staff.

Are members happy with that proposal?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. Do you want to come back in, Russell?