REDUCING drug use in prisons is among 60 requests MSPs made in an “action plan” for the justice sector.

Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee has published a series of reforms it wants to see.

They include avoiding any slippage in the timescale for clearing the extended courts backlog created by the pandemic, which is not expected to be done until 2025.

The committee held a number of roundtable meetings in September and November and has submitted its conclusions to the Scottish Government.

Its report, titled Judged on Progress, says there is a high number of prisoners on remand inside Scottish jails.

The report says: “A priority issue this parliamentary session should be addressing the problem of substance misuse in prisons.

“It is clear that the misuse of drugs in prisons is rife and more needs to be done both to prevent drugs from coming into prisons and to rehabilitate prisoners who use drugs.”

READ MORE: Lorna Slater is right: drugs aren't inherently dangerous but demonising them is

The committee says it is “vital” steps are taken quickly to prevent drug-soaked letters being mailed to prisoners.

Tackling Scotland’s drugs deaths crisis will be “one of the defining challenges in this parliamentary session”, the report says.

It also recommends making changes to support for victims of crime, including reviewing the victim notification scheme.

Committee convener Audrey Nicoll said: “Our inquiries into the Scottish justice sector have exposed once again many deep-rooted problems.

“We know these cannot be solved overnight and there are few easy solutions.

“However, our committee is determined to see progress made in this parliamentary session.

“As a critical friend to the Scottish Government and its justice partners, we want them to use our recommendations to drive forward progress and implement changes.

“We believe we have set out a balanced and proportionate action plan which may go some way to improving the criminal justice sector.

“We’ll be taking stock of progress at regular intervals.”

READ MORE: Heads of Scotland's drugs deaths task-force hand in joint resignation

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We welcome publication of the Committee’s Report and will give it careful consideration before responding formally.

“Alongside measures to mitigate the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are already addressing many of the issues raised by the

committee through public consultation and by engaging with key stakeholders.

“This includes improving the experience of victims and witnesses, particularly in relation to sexual offending and domestic abuse, addressing Scotland’s high use of imprisonment and remand and ensuring ongoing access to justice.

“We will keep the committee updated on progress.”