SNP minister Annabelle Ewing '˜unprepared' over tagging figures
SNP minister Annabelle Ewing was prevented from moving legislation on the electronic tagging of offenders after being rebuked by the convener of a Holyrood committee.
The legal affairs minister was appearing in front of MSPs yesterday to ask them to pass subordinate legislation which would overturn a ban on tagging those who have previously breached community sentences. But she was unable to provide statistics which were said to support the proposals.
Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell, the committee’s convener, said: “Minister, I’m going to ask you not to move this at this time. I would very much like to see the statistics, which the committee should have had. You and your officials have come today unprepared without statistics referred to in the report – I find that unacceptable.”
Ms Ewing said it had been up to MSPs to carry out their own research into the matter.