Liam McArthur

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information (a) the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network and (b) Police Scotland has provided regarding the financial impact on local authorities of providing services under the Appropriate Adult scheme.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: During the passage of the Criminal Justice Bill (now Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016), evidence was provided by the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network (SAAN), Police Scotland and others on the current operation of appropriate adult services in Scotland. …

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost each local authority to provide services under the Appropriate Adult scheme in each year since 2010-11.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is a matter for local authorities.

7 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next update to the report, Equality and Diversity in Police Scotland 2013 will be published.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Equality and diversity within Police Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable. We understand, that in line with the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, Police Scotland will publish their next report into Equality and Diversity…

7 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has had with each local police commander since 2013.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and other senior officers from Police Scotland to discuss a range of policing and public safety matters.

7 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support and guidance it provides to local authorities prior to them setting their local policing priorities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The collaborative statement of Good Scrutiny and Engagement provides guidance for local authorities on their responsibilities under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, including the scrutiny of local police plans.

7 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the policing priorities have been in each year since 2013, broken down by division.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Local policing priorities are set out in local police plans, prepared by local police commanders in partnership with the relevant local authority.

7 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local police commanders since 2013 regarding policing priorities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The setting of local policing priorities is a matter for local police commanders in partnership with the relevant local authority.

7 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Prison Service’s plan to deliver smoke-free indoor prison facilities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The National Tobacco Strategy Work stream has recommended that all Scottish prisons should be smoke-free within a timescale of up to five ye…

5 Sep 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address concerns regarding the recruitment and retention of crew members in retained fire stations in rural and island areas.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: I fully appreciate and value the essential service and vital role Retained Duty System firefighters play in keeping the rural and remote communities of Scotland safe. However, the recruitment and retention of retained firefighters within Scotland’s Fire Ser…

5 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the response to the chair by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform on 24 February 2016, what action it is taking to implement the recommendations of the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Programme for government announced on 6 September 2016 confirmed that the Scottish Government will take forward the implementation of the recommendations of the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group as set out in the Scottish Government response: http://w…

5 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will complete the review of data relating to satellite-tagged golden eagles, hen harriers and red kites.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government review of data relating to satellite-tagged birds of prey is expected in Spring 2017. This will involve a substantial amount of statistical analysis which will examine information from over 200 tagged golden and white-tailed eagles, h…

5 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not made any formal assessment of the impact of the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. There have been two successful prosecutions under these provisions so far. It is likely…

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of suspects of crime waived their right for legal assistance at the interview stage in each year since 2013-14.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Police Scotland do not currently hold this information centrally. However, in June 2013 Police Scotland completed a custody data exercise which captured the solicitor access waiver percentage over a one month period. They were then able to extrapolate for a 1…

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has revised the Solicitor Access Recording Form and, if so, what changes have been made, and when the revised form will available at suspects of crime interviews.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Solicitor Access Recording Form has not been recently revised, but the process is currently under review and will continue until Part one of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 is commenced in summer 2017. The Solicitor Access Recording Form will not…

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of suspects of crime have been offered the Solicitor Access Recording Form in each year since 2013-14.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Police Scotland do not currently hold this information centrally. However the Solicitor Access Recording Form is provided to every individual detained under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, or is arrested but not charged with an offen…

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate has developed guidelines in relation to suspect interviews, in line with recommendations in the Post-corroboration Safeguards Review.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The requirement on the Lord Advocate to issue a code of practice will be commenced in the summer of 2017, along with the other provisions within Part one of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. The code of practice will come into effect, once a full revi…

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to inform and engage the public regarding the use of conductive energy devices by British Transport Police officers at major rail stations in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made in The Press and Journal on 2 September 2016 by David Hamilton that “if we [police officers] had something (a taser) that did not look like a gun, it might be more acceptable", what plans are there to introduce tasers that do not resemble a firearm.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The deployment of tasers is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. The specific make and model available must be approved by the Home Secretary.

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when operational deployment of conductive energy devices to British Transport Police officers at major rail stations in Scotland will commence.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training and guidance will be provided to British Transport Police officers equipped with conductive energy devices at major rail stations in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many British Transport Police officers will be equipped with conductive energy devices at major rail stations in Scotland, broken down by policing division.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.

2 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gave British Transport Police (BTP) prior to the decision to deploy officers with conductive energy devices at major rail stations in Scotland; on what dates it met BTP, and whether it will publish the minutes of those meetings.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The decision to deploy Taser conductive energy devices at railway stations in Scotland was an operational policing decision for the British Transport Police Chief Constable. Ministers have been briefed on the changes, which are intended to strengthen security…

1 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the review of the role of the Scottish Funding Council.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The current review of enterprise and skills is considering the support offered by our enterprise and skills agencies, including the Scottish Funding Council, with a view to ensuring that they provide the joined-up support that young people, universities, coll…

1 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the appointment of an independent review panel for the i6 programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority. I have alerted the Chief Executive to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

31 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it attributes all of the increase in fuel poverty since the introduction of the fuel poverty target to above-inflation energy prices, as reported in Holyrood on 30 August 2016, and, if not, what other factors it believes are the reason for this.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: If fuel prices had only increased in line with inflation since 2002, the fuel poverty rate in Scotland would have been 9.5 per cent in 2014, instead of 35 per cent. Other factors such as an increased ageing population or those with limiting long term illnes…

31 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming programme for government to set an objective for a national infrastructure programme that supports every home to reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2025.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The programme for government reaffirms our commitment to develop a very significant energy efficiency and low carbon heat generation programme and includes a commitment to make available over half a billion pounds to Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme ove…

31 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for it to publish a delayed consultation on the regulation of energy efficiency in private sector.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We recognise that action is needed to stimulate demand for energy efficiency improvements, and the programme for government sets out our intention to consult this winter on the regulation of private rented sector housing to increase energy efficiency standard…

31 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call on 30 August 2016 from the Existing Homes Alliance for the forthcoming budget to significantly increase public investment in home energy efficiency measures.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This Government has allocated almost £650 million since 2009 and, as announced in the programme for government we will make available, through Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme, a further half a billion pounds over the next four years, meaning over £1 bi…

30 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01402 by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2016, whether it has had discussions with senior officers of Police Scotland concerning public information about its policy on armed policing since 12 July 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02233 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

30 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01402 by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2016, whether it has received representations from any (a) MPs and (b) MSPs on armed policing since 12 July 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02233 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx