Chapter 8 Justice & Veterans
Portfolio Responsibilities
The purpose of the Justice portfolio is to keep our communities safe, and to support the administration of justice. As set out in our Vision for Justice, by enabling our communities to be safe and resilient, reducing crime and offending, by supporting victims and witnesses, and working to shift societal attitudes and circumstances which perpetuate crime and harm, we aim to improve the wellbeing and life chances of all who engage with the justice system. Through this the portfolio plays its part in tackling inequalities, protecting and promoting human rights and contributing to a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous economy.
The Justice portfolio has responsibility for the civil, criminal and administrative justice systems. This includes Scotland's prisons, courts, tribunals, the legal aid system and criminal justice social work services as well as the contribution of third sector services. The work of the portfolio is underpinned by the principle that everyone should have the right to access justice. The portfolio also works to ensure person-centred and trauma-informed services for the victims or crime, to reduce victimisation, and to tackle and prevent violence against women and girls.
It supports the police and fire and rescue services to not only fulfil their crucial role as responders to emergencies but also to have an integral role in supporting and strengthening Scotland's communities.
The portfolio supports work to build safe, secure and more resilient communities and works to enhance Scotland's resilience and preparedness against a range of hazards and threats, including cyber-attacks and serious and organised crime.
The Justice portfolio provides a range of vital public services in which powers are largely devolved to the Scottish Parliament. It also works closely with the UK Government and its agencies to ensure that powers reserved to the UK Government, such as firearms regulation, counter terrorism and defence, properly serve and protect Scotland and its communities. The portfolio leads on support for our country's veterans so that Scotland is a positive destination following military service.
The portfolio budget lines also include funding for the collaborative Justice COVID-19 Recover, Renew and Transform programme.
Justice and Veterans
Table 8.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)
| Level 2 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Community Justice |
47.4 |
48.4 |
49.6 |
| Judiciary |
37.3 |
38.8 |
40.8 |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation |
15.6 |
15.6 |
15.6 |
| Legal Aid |
138.0 |
151.9 |
156.1 |
| Police Central Government |
36.4 |
78.3 |
73.8 |
| Safer and Stronger Communities |
12.6 |
14.4 |
15.2 |
| Police and Fire Pensions |
350.6 |
350.6 |
400.6 |
| Scottish Prison Service |
460.2 |
476.4 |
540.8 |
| Miscellaneous |
55.0 |
116.7 |
112.5 |
| Scottish Police Authority |
1,327.8 |
1,368.3 |
1,449.3 |
| Scottish Fire and Rescue Service |
343.2 |
352.7 |
363.7 |
| Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service |
129.7 |
134.0 |
147.6 |
| COVID-19 Funding |
75.0 |
– |
– |
| Total Justice & Veterans |
3,029.0 |
3,146.1 |
3,365.7 |
| of which: |
| Total Fiscal Resource |
2,724.9 |
2,841.0 |
3,006.3 |
| of which Operating Costs |
28.0 |
32.1 |
34.3 |
| Non-cash |
137.5 |
139.0 |
156.0 |
| Capital |
166.5 |
166.0 |
203.4 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs) |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
| Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval |
| Legal Aid (NDPB Non-cash) |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
| SPA (NDPB Non-Cash) |
(50.0) |
(50.0) |
(51.0) |
| SFRS (NDPB Non-cash) |
(26.0) |
(26.0) |
(27.0) |
| PIRC (NDPB Non-cash) |
– |
(0.2) |
– |
| Police Loan Charges |
3.8 |
5.1 |
3.7 |
| Judicial Salaries |
(35.3) |
(36.3) |
(36.3) |
| PPP/PFI adjustments |
1.2 |
1.6 |
1.2 |
| SCTS - shown separately |
(129.7) |
(134.0) |
(147.6) |
| Central Government Grants to Local Authorities |
86.5 |
86.5 |
86.5 |
| Total Justice |
2,878.9 |
2,992.3 |
3,194.6 |
| Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) |
39.7 |
|
|
Table 8.02: Community Justice Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Offender Services |
44.2 |
45.1 |
46.4 |
| Miscellaneous |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
| Total Community Justice |
47.4 |
48.4 |
49.6 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
47.4 |
48.3 |
49.6 |
| Non-cash |
– |
0.1 |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.03: Judiciary Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Judiciary |
2.0 |
2.5 |
4.5 |
| Judicial Salaries |
35.3 |
36.3 |
36.3 |
| Total Judiciary |
37.3 |
38.8 |
40.8 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
37.3 |
38.8 |
40.8 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.04: Criminal Injuries Compensation Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| CIC Scheme |
13.8 |
13.8 |
13.8 |
| Criminal Injuries Administration Costs |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
| Total Criminal Injuries Compensation |
15.6 |
15.6 |
15.6 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
15.6 |
15.6 |
15.6 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.05: Legal Aid Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Legal Aid Administration |
12.2 |
13.6 |
14.8 |
| Legal Aid Fund |
125.8 |
138.3 |
141.3 |
| Total Legal Aid |
138.0 |
151.9 |
156.1 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
137.3 |
151.2 |
155.4 |
| Non-cash |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
| Capital |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.06: Police Central Government Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| National Police Funding & Reform |
36.0 |
77.9 |
72.4 |
| Police Support Services |
0.4 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
| Total Police Central Government* |
36.4 |
78.3 |
73.8 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
33.9 |
73.3 |
61.3 |
| Non-cash |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
| Capital |
– |
2.5 |
10.0 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
*Prior years restated to reflect baseline transfer to Scottish Police Authority in 2023-24.
Table 8.07: Safer and Stronger Communities Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Safer Communities |
12.6 |
14.4 |
15.2 |
| Total Safer and Stronger Communities |
12.6 |
14.4 |
15.2 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
12.6 |
14.2 |
15.2 |
| Non-cash |
– |
0.2 |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.08: Police and Fire Pensions Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Police Pensions |
278.4 |
278.4 |
291.4 |
| Fire Pensions |
72.2 |
72.2 |
109.2 |
| Total Police and Fire Pensions |
350.6 |
350.6 |
400.6 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
350.6 |
350.6 |
400.6 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.09: Scottish Prison Service Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Scottish Prison Service |
460.2 |
476.4 |
540.8 |
| Total Scottish Prison Service |
460.2 |
476.4 |
540.8 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
354.6 |
369.6 |
398.6 |
| Non-cash |
32.8 |
34.0 |
45.2 |
| Capital |
72.8 |
72.8 |
97.0 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.10: Miscellaneous Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Safe and Secure Scotland |
8.4 |
11.2 |
11.5 |
| Victim/Witness Support |
18.2 |
20.2 |
22.7 |
| Other Miscellaneous |
28.5 |
85.4 |
78.3 |
| Total Miscellaneous |
55.0 |
116.7 |
112.5 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
52.0 |
116.6 |
111.4 |
| Non-cash |
– |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Capital |
3.0 |
– |
1.0 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.11: Scottish Police Authority Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Scottish Police Authority |
1,327.8 |
1,368.3 |
1,449.3 |
| Total Scottish Police Authority* |
1,327.8 |
1,368.3 |
1,449.3 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
1,227.7 |
1,268.2 |
1,348.2 |
| Non-cash |
50.0 |
50.0 |
51.0 |
| Capital |
50.1 |
50.1 |
50.1 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
*Prior years restated to reflect baseline transfer from Police Central Government in 2023-24.
Table 8.12: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Operating Expenditure |
343.2 |
352.7 |
363.7 |
| Total Scottish Fire and Rescue Service |
343.2 |
352.7 |
363.7 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
284.7 |
294.2 |
304.2 |
| Non-cash |
26.0 |
26.0 |
27.0 |
| Capital |
32.5 |
32.5 |
32.5 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.13: Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service |
129.7 |
134.0 |
147.6 |
| Total Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service |
129.7 |
134.0 |
147.6 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
96.1 |
100.4 |
105.4 |
| Non-cash |
25.6 |
25.6 |
29.6 |
| Capital |
8.0 |
8.0 |
12.7 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 8.14: Central Government Grants to Local Authorities Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Criminal Justice Social Work |
86.5 |
86.5 |
86.5 |
| Total Justice Central Government Grants to Local Authorities |
86.5 |
86.5 |
86.5 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
86.5 |
86.5 |
86.5 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Justice intended contributions to the National Outcomes
Primary National Outcomes
Secondary National Outcomes
- Children and Young People
- Economy
- International
- Poverty
- Education
- Fair Work and Business
- Health
- Environment
For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.
