What measures it plans to take to ensure that victims of all crimes are kept informed of legal proceedings.

I want to ensure thatvictims of crime receive the information they need about legal proceedings thataffect them. Significant numbers of victims, particularly victims of serious crime,already receive information from the Victim Information and Advice service, an integralpart of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), and through theoperation of the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS). COPFS will respond to requestsfor information from any other victim within 20 working days. The Scottish Children’sReporters Administration provides information to victims of youth crime throughits Victim Information Service(VIS), which is currently available in a number of areas across Scotland. Rollingout the service will be given full consideration once an evaluation of the currentVIS, and other alternative options, has been carried out.
Provision of informationto victims through all these means is kept under review and any opportunity to improveor extend provision will be given serious consideration. For example, followinga recent evaluation of the VNSI indicated a willingness to extend the terms of the scheme to include more victims.A final decision on the extension will depend upon the availability of resourcesand is therefore subject to the outcome of the Spending Review.