Liam Kerr

2 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22259 by the Lord Advocate on 2 April 2019, whether it will provide details of the improvements to the system of recording and tracking physical evidence; when these were put in place, and how it is monitoring their effectiveness.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has strict processes in place in relation to the handling of physical evidence and how they are stored. Recent improvements to the system of recording evidence have been made. These are:Storage areas for CCTV an…

1 Apr 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the approval of the Scottish Police Authority budget, in light of reports that capital funding shortfalls have left Police Scotland using patrol cars that are over a decade old.

26 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NFU Scotland and what was discussed.

26 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the NHS to ensure there are sufficient amounts of medication and other supplies in stock to cover the next six months, and what contingency planning it has carried out to ensure that enough will be in place to cover all foreseeable circumstances.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The UK Government has overall responsibility for EU exit contingency planning and in particular for entry and any customs control at the UK Border. Since August 2018, the UK Government has been leading on plans to secure supplies of medicines, medical devices…

25 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will make it mandatory for local authorities to adopt care and risk management practices, in light of reports that some councils are not monitoring children and young people who display harmful behaviour.

19 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is taking to avoid losing or destroying video and photographic evidence, in light of reports that this has happened in relation to prosecuting offences committed in football grounds.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service handles over 40,000 pieces of physical evidence every year. There are strict processes in place in relation to the handling of these labelled productions including how they are accounted for and stored. Followin…

11 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average length of time has been nationally for a summary case to progress from caution and charge to verdict in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The available information is provided in the following table: Financial Year Average length of time from caution and chargeto verdict (days) Financial Year Average length of time fromcaution and chargeto verdict (days) 2007-08 163.6 2013-14 146.4 200…

11 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of summary cases nationally took over 52 weeks to progress from caution and charge to verdict in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The available information is provided in the following table: Financial Year % of cases taking over 52weeks from caution & charge to verdict Financial Year % of cases taking over 52weeks from caution & charge to verdict 2007-08 9.0% 2013-14 7.4% 2008…

11 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of prosecution reports have been submitted by the police to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service within 28 days of the accused being cautioned and charged in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The available information is provided in the following table: Financial Year % of cases received by COPFS within 28 days Financial Year % of cases received by COPFS within 28 days 2007-08 84.3% 2013-14 82.6% 2008-09 81.8% 2014-15 83.3% 2009-10 8…

11 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to collect and report management information on the time taken from first diet to verdict in sheriff and jury cases.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

11 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what percentage of cases did the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (a) reach and (b) act on a decision within 28 days of receiving a prosecution report in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: COPFS has a published national target to take a decision on the appropriate course of action and implement that decision in at least 75% of cases within 4 weeks of the date on which the report is received from the reporting agency. This target applies to all …

5 Mar 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authority providers in the north east provide 1,140 hours of funded childcare.

4 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent since May 2016 pursuing full integration of the British Transport Police and Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In August 2018, I announced that we would re-examine all options for the devolution of railway policing. Estimated costs therefore apply to work carried out assessing all options for delivering enhanced accountability and a stronger role for the Scottish Poli…

20 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many former police stations and premises Police Scotland has (a) put up for sale and (b) sold, and whether it will provide a list of these.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Scottish Police Authority has responsibility for the police estate. I have asked the Chief Executive, Hugh Grover, to write to you with this information.

14 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers are working in administrative roles, and whether it will provide an update on Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland's (HMICS) independent oversight of the removal of officers from corporate support functions.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested data on police officers working in administrative roles is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. HMICS continues to work with the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland to provide independent assurance on the measurement and deli…

14 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Police Scotland staff will have a reduction in their salary from April 2019 as a consequence of the current pay offer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Police Scotland and the SPA confirm that the pay and reward modernisation package recently agreed with trade unions will directly benefit the majority of police staff. More than 70% of police staff will …

14 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland staff pay negotiations, and whether it expects a deal to be agreed prior to the beginning of the financial year.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Trade Union members have recently voted in favour of a pay and reward harmonisation package for police staff, which will be implemented from 1 April. This will benefit more than 70% of police staff. We expect unions will now work towards making a pay claim f…

14 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12111 by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017, whether it now holds this data and, if (a) so, whether it will publish the information that was requested, and (b) not, whether it will confirm which agency collates this.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally. I also refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21679 on 1 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found …

14 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12110 by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017, whether it will provide an update on the (a) status of the consultation and (b) the work that it has carried out with the justice and third sector partners.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in Programme for Government we want to have restorative justice services widely available across Scotland by 2023 and will publish a Restorative Justice Action Plan by Spring 2019 that will set out how we will deliver this aim. We are working in c…

14 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-12112 and S5W-12113 by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017, whether it is now in a position to list the types of restorative justice processes that are available, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) when the availability commenced.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The following report, which was published in June 2018, details the results from a questionnaire completed by local authorities to establish a baseline of how restorative justice practices are being delivered across Scotland. (https://www.gov.scot/binaries/c…

11 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the NRAC funding formula for NHS boards.

11 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for the Scottish Ministers to release a prisoner on compassionate grounds.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Release on compassionate grounds generally applies where individuals have a terminal illness and death is likely to occur soon, where the prisoner is severely incapacitated or where continued imprisonment would endanger or shorten his or her life expectancy. …

8 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve community payback order completion rates.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Local authorities are responsible for delivering community sentences and national completion rates for Community Payback Orders (CPOs) are 70%, as reported in the Criminal Justice Social Work statistics for 2017-18. The Scottish Government is working with na…

8 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the change to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's funding was in real terms between 2018-19 to 2019-20.

Answer · Ash Denham: In 2018-19 the Scottish Government provided the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) with a total fiscal budget i.e. resource and capital of £296.9 million which included additional spending capacity of £15.5 million. This comprised of £5.5 million extra d…

8 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward measures to improve the input that victims and their families have into the temporary release process.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the information and support available to victims and families when prisoners are released. We recognise that the release process can be unfamiliar and distressing for family members. That is why we have estab…

8 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Police Scotland will publish its research into the amount of time that police officers spend at A&E departments.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Decisions about the publication of internal research are a matter for Police Scotland. You can contact Police Scotland by writing to Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM, Police Scotland Headquarters, T…

15 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a higher level of fixed penalty notices for more serious antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Ash Denham: All the evidence on antisocial behaviour points towards a long-term, sustained reduction in Scotland. For example the nationally representative Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows that the percentage of adults who think people behave in an antisocial mann…

10 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20569 by Humza Yousaf on 9 January 2019, whether it will confirm if any testing is now carried out in the prison estate for new psychoactive substances, in light of it setting out the then position in response to question S5W-05991 on 24 January 201…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Testing of suspected Psychoactive Substances, for the purpose of identification, does not take place within the prison estate. Testing is undertaken in Police Sco…

10 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20570 by Humza Yousaf on 9 January 2019, whether it will list the strategic, tactical and technological responses that the Scottish Prison Services uses to reduce drug use in prisons.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. SPS has established a Strategic Risk and Threat Group (SRTG) which is responsible for providing an overview of any emerging threats and for the deployment of reso…

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it would rule out full British Transport Police (BTP) integration with Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: My letter of 13 December to the Justice Committee advised that my officials have been working with stakeholders to explore further options for enhanced accountability of railway policing in Scotland. As part of this on-going work both the Scottish Police Auth…