Liam McArthur

12 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to inform and engage the public regarding the use of armed police and what its response is to the suggestion made on Radio Scotland on 12 July 2016 that “we have got to have an informed debate" regarding the operation of armed officers.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s position on armed policing was made clear in my statement to Parliament on 16 June. That statement followed a Police Scotland briefing for opposition justice spokespersons to explain the basis for the uplift in armed police officer n…

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Police Scotland automatic number plate recognition standard operating procedure document published in March 2015 made reference to the amount of archive data held.

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

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when information held by Police Scotland's automatic number plate recognition system dating back longer than two years will be deleted.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, with the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce specific legislation to improve the management of automatic number plate recognition data held by Police Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government keeps these matters under review but has no current plans to introduce legislation relating to Automatic Number Plate Recognition.

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland (a) has consulted or (b) will consult the Information Commissioner's Office on its automatic number plate recognition retention policies and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

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

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether senior Police Scotland officers were aware in 2013 of the legal requirement to delete all automatic number plate recognition data over two years old; whether they did so, and what the reason is for their position on this matter.

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

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what bodies have access to information collected by Police Scotland via the automatic number plate recognition system.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, with the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you. Information from Automatic Number …

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who has been appointed to Police Scotland's short-life working group to tackle automatic number plate recognition issues, as reported in The Ferret on 7 July 2016; when it will meet, and what will be discussed.

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

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) parliamentary scrutiny and (b) legislative approval there was for Police Scotland's automatic number plate recognition system.

Answer · Michael Matheson: a) Automatic Number Plate Recognition has been the subject of a number of parliamentary questions, including: S2W-29947 and S2W-29948 answered on 17 November 2006 and S3W-28482 answered on 29 October 2009, as well as the more recent questions from Alison McIn…

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, as reported in The Ferret on 7 July 2016, officials told Police Scotland “We do not want you to provide us with detailed answers to all of the questions Ms McInnes asks" and, if so, for what reason and what action it will take.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A number of the Parliamentary Questions asked by the former MSP Alison McInnes in March 2016 sought information on the governance and regulation of policing activity whilst others sought detailed information on the delivery of operational policing activity. R…

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what statutory basis Police Scotland has collected a reported 852,507,524 number plate records and whether this process was debated by the Parliament.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There is no specific statutory power for the collection of number plate records by Police Scotland. However, Police Scotland is required to comply with all relevant legislation in the collection, use and retention of data.

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have (a) accessed and (b) successfully completed the government-supported SACRO diversion from prosecution programmes in each of the last five years, broken down by age.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to keeping people out of the criminal justice system whenever possible. Diversionary schemes are designed to prevent the re-occurrence of offending through early or intensive intervention outwith court. Decisions to refer …

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment in paragraph 5.28 of the Annual Report of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to the Prime Minister and to the Scottish Ministers for 2015-2016, that “We are concerned that one police force in the United Kingdom finds itself in a different position to its counterp…

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: A process for authorising the acquisition of communications data in accordance with the requirements of the Acquisition and Disclosure of Communications Data Code of Practice has been agreed between the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Sc…

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what occasions between 2011 and 2016 it met the Chief Surveillance Commissioner and what was discussed.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice met the Chief Surveillance Commissioner once, on 19 January 2016. This was an introductory meeting at which a number of general investigatory powers issues, such as appointment of commissioners and the Investigatory Powers Bi…

8 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to paragraph 2.14 of the Annual Report of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to the Prime Minister and to the Scottish Ministers for 2015-2016, whether the appointment of the Scotland-based Commissioner has been made.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Right Honourable Lord Bracadale accepted appointment as a Surveillance Commissioner, in accordance with the terms of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act, on 20 June 2016.

7 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to protect the status of EU citizens in Scotland.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is exploring all options to protect Scotland’s relationship with the European Union, which includes the right of all EU citizens resident here to continue to live and work freely in this country. The First Minister has made representa…

23 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is Police Scotland procedure to detain in custody children under the age of 16 overnight in cells and under what circumstances this would occur.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Children will only be kept in police custody as a last resort. When very minor crimes are committed it is common for children not to be taken to a custody centre but rather taken home and, if deemed necessary, cautioned and charged in front of their parents…

23 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the longest period a child under the age of 16 was held in custody for during (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16; for what reason; how old the child was, and whether they were subsequently charged.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland and is not held centrally. However, the implementation of a new custody system in 2017 will enable Police Scotland to provide this information in the future. Children will only be kept in police custo…

23 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children under the age of 16 were detained in custody and held overnight in cells during (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16, broken down by (i) Police Scotland division, (ii) age and (iii) how long each child was held for.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland and is not held centrally. Police Scotland is working towards the implementation of a new custody system in 2017 and this should enable Police Scotland to provide data regarding the detention of childr…

23 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Police Scotland should, for the purpose of scrutiny, routinely collect data regarding the detention of children under the age of 16 overnight in cells.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. The data is not currently held centrally but I understand that Police Scotland is moving towards a policy of collection and retention. Children are detained for the minimum period necessary.

14 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that community health posts in remote and rural areas are protected.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government remains committed to the delivery of sustainable high quality healthcare in remote and rural areas. However, it is important to ensure that community health workers serve all our communities, which is why we have provided funding for 5…

14 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many community health posts have been relocated (a) in and (b) from (i) Orkney and (ii) the Highlands and Islands in each of the last five years, and how this compares with the rest of the country.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. Specific local information may be available from NHS Scotland health boards.

14 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to encourage joint working between NHS boards and local authorities in (a) Orkney and (b) the rest of the country.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is providing a broad range of support – financial and practical – to health and social care partnerships. In agreement with local government and the NHS, Scottish Government officials have begun a programme of direct engagement with h…

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00175 by Roseanna Cunningham on 31 May 2016, whether it remains committed to its plan set out in Aileen McLeod's letter to the convener of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee on 26 November 2015 "to lay a draft setting out [R…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Climate Change Act (Scotland) 2009 requires that, as soon as reasonably practicable after setting a batch of annual targets, ministers publish a report detailing proposals and policies for meeting those targets. Targets in the period 2028-32 require to be…

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00174 by Roseanna Cunningham on 31 May 2016, by what date it will (a) set and (b) announce the emissions targets.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires that annual emissions targets for the years 2028 to 2032 are set by 31 October 2016, or as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards. A statement in relation to the level of these targets will be published once…

3 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00142 by John Swinney on 2 June 2016, which (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) stakeholders had pre-release access to the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, and on what date this access was provided.

Answer · John Swinney: In addition to professional and production staff the following post holders were given pre-release access: First Minister Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Special Advisers, Private Office Head of the First Minister’s Po…

3 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00142 by John Swinney on 2 June 2016, on what date the responsible statistician advised ministers that the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy would be published more than one month later than in previous years, and whether the statistician was…

Answer · John Swinney: Each month ministers are notified of statistical report publication dates pertaining to the next two months. Ministers were advised of the SSLN 2015 publication date on 23 March 2016.

3 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00142 by John Swinney on 2 June 2016, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding (a) the reason for the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy being published more than one month later than in previous years and (b) what …

Answer · John Swinney: Timing of publication reflected the need to ensure full analysis of the data was possible with the resources available, as is usual. Stakeholders are not consulted in the setting of publication dates.

3 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00142 by John Swinney on 2 June 2016, whether an earlier date was initially identified for the release of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy and announced 12 months in advance and, if so, what action it took to ensure that the subsequent c…

Answer · John Swinney: An earlier date was not identified for the release of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the findings in the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Audit and Assurance Review of the use of the Facial Search functionality within the UK Police National Database (PND) by Police Scotland, whether it will (a) introduce legislation regarding the retention …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomed HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland's review and is currently considering how best to implement its recommendations.