§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the development of reparation and mediation between victims and offenders in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn this financial year the grant offered to Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (SACRO) for reparation and mediation was increased by just over 25 per cent. from £16,720 to £21,000. Following discussions with SACRO272W this grant will enable the director of the Edinburgh scheme to continue to develop the concept of reparation and mediation and to produce a document of guidance for the development of other such schemes.
Two new schemes, one in Hamilton and the other in Aberdeen, have recently received urban programme support. Reparation and mediation has a significant contribution to make within diversion from prosecution policies and research has been commissioned into the operation of the Edinburgh scheme. I will examine carefully the findings of this research and determine how best we can take forward the development of this useful alternative to prosecution.