When it will confirm the future of the Glasgow Domestic Abuse Court and the Assist support service.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1296 on 16 July 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
I set out then thevarious factors I would take into account in reaching a view about how the ScottishGovernment can best support the courts in dealing with domestic abuse cases. I reaffirmedour commitment to developing a range of complementary and mutually supportive measures,within and beyond the justice system, for combating domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse isa serious crime. The Scottish Government will uphold a zero tolerance policy towardsit. Our criminal justice partners are firmly committed to investigating all allegationsof domestic abuse and to bringing all appropriate cases before the courts. We alreadyhave a powerful framework of national policy and operational guidance in place forthe pursuit of this crime.
I have carefully consideredthe evaluation of the domestic abuse pilot court in Glasgow, which was published in the spring. The court has clearly brought benefitsto victims and families. Yet the research does not recommend replication of thepilot model across Scotland: it proposes that local solutions should bedeveloped to meet local needs. To this end I propose to take two specific actions.
First, I want to extendour thinking about the range of options for handling domestic abuse cases from thepoint they enter court until disposal. We will prepare, consult upon and publisha guide to research and practice across Scotland. We will put this at the disposal of sheriffs principal and local criminaljustice boards in order to support self-assessment and innovation at local level.I do not expect to see specialist domestic abuse courts in all parts of the country.I do expect to see criminal justice partners in each area examining their own practiceand pursuing new approaches where appropriate.
Secondly, I will takepractical steps to further the aim of the sheriff principal for Glasgow and Strathkelvinto ensure the vigorous and sensitive handling of domestic abuse cases across thecity. The current pilot only serves cases arising in G Division of Strathclyde Police.There is a need for new capacity to deal with the heavy caseload arising acrossGlasgow. My officials will convene a short-life workinggroup with relevant interests including the police, Glasgow City Social Work Departmentand providers of victim support services. I have asked for a report by January 2008to enable me to decide how the Scottish Government can best support a domestic abusecourt serving the whole of Glasgow. This is not simply a matter of extendingthe work of the current pilot. We will need to develop a new and cost-effectivemodel, including for the provision of support services to victims and witnessesand family members, that is sustainable in the longer term.
In addition, I amkeen to use the opportunities of summary justice reform to improve the handlingof domestic abuse cases right across the country and irrespective of whether thereis a specialist court. Many of the efficiency gains reported in the evaluation of the Glasgow pilot should be attainable across the boardas we implement changes to streamline summary business and move cases more quicklythrough the system.
To provide continuityduring the transitional period whilst the Glasgow feasibility study is underway, the government will extend until the endof March 2008 the funding provided to the pilot specialist court.
These initiativesare part of the Scottish Government’s wider programme of work to combat domesticabuse. We will make further announcements on this in due course.