Criminal Justice Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Overview

The Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on its pre-budget scrutiny ahead of the Scottish Government’s 2026-27 budget.

Those views will inform the Committee’s scrutiny.

About this call for views

As part of its pre-budget scrutiny of the 2026-27 Scottish budget, the Criminal Justice Committee wants to hear your views.

The focus for the Committee is again a general one, looking at the main financial pressures facing organisations in the criminal justice sector and views on the main priorities for 2026/27.

Of particular interest to the Committee is the pressure on capital budgets and investment in policing, the fire and rescue services, prisons, prosecution service and the courts, community justice, criminal justice social work and the third sector.

Who we would like to hear from

We welcome responses from a wide range of individuals and organisations who have an interest in the Scottish Government’s budget allocation to the Scottish criminal justice system for 2026-27.

How to contribute

Please answer the call for views by completing the submission form linked to below.

You don’t have to answer all the questions. If you would prefer to send in a statement which does not cover any of the questions, please get in touch with the Committee at justice.committee@parliament.scot.

Questions Questions

The Criminal Justice Committee would like to hear views on the following:

What are the main financial pressures facing organisations in the criminal justice sector?
What should be the main priorities for 2026/27 in terms of spending in the criminal justice sector?
In particular, what are the pressures on capital spend and what should be prioritised?
What opportunities are there for further efficiency savings and/or further investment on a ‘spend to save’ basis within the sector?
Any other views you have on the 2026/27 budget process which you wish to comment on?

Important notes

Your views and expertise are essential to the working of the Scottish Parliament’s committees. When you provide information to us, we will use this as evidence to help it make decisions. Please make sure you read our advice on making a submission. It contains important information on the content of your submission and when we may be required to ask you to make changes to what you propose. This advice sets out the times when we may not publish your views.

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language.

The call for views closes on 9 September 2025.

Give us your views

Click here to complete the submission form

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