Liam Kerr

26 Mar 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that more than £400,000 was spent on consultants to oversee the British Transport Police merger.

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be required for the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, and how these will be funded.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government expects that transitional costs for SPA and Police Scotland will be funded from the police reform budget. This will not be an additional burden on the operational policing budget or rail operators, and the costs of railway policing in …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, to alleviate any concerns regarding public safety, what its position is on the go-live date for the merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland being subject to the approval of the Office of Rail and Road.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Office of Rail and Road is a key stakeholder in ensuring that the seamless integration takes place when it is safe to do so. They have been engaged at Ministerial meetings over the past two years on these issues and most recently with Police Scotland and …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there is a lack of railway policing experience among (a) the Scottish Police Authority and (b) Police Scotland's senior officers.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland are analysing training needs to ensure the railway policing specialism is future proofed and preserved. In the course of the Railways Policing (Scotland) Bill, Police Scotland confirmed the intention would be to maintain a specialist railway p…

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of the ICT architecture required to run railway policing in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland, however we expect that the re-planning exercise currently underway will provide further detail on future plans and on any costs.

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation of the Justice Committee in its 11th report 2017, Stage 1 Report on the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill (SP Paper 132), whether it will confirm Police Scotland’s training needs analysis regarding its merger with the British Transport Police in Scotland, a…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland, however as part of the re-planning exercise currently underway, Police Scotland are analysing training needs to ensure the railway policing specialism is future proofed and preserved.

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14860 by Humza Yousaf on 26 February 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether it will provide a list of consultants involved in the British Transport Police merger with Police Scotland and what (a) their rem…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Further to the meeting of the JPB on 20 February 2018 a detailed re-planning exercise is now underway to ensure robust delivery plans are in place for all of the key elements of the programme and to establish a new delivery date. Resourcing will also feature …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a proper basis in law to support the transfer and integration of British Transport Police officers with Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017, passed by this Parliament, forms the legislative basis for the integration of the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland. Section 90 of the Scotland Act 1998 will allow the transfer of BTP officers …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Authority will be liable for the (a) setup and (b) administration costs of the segregated pension scheme for British Transport Police Officers in Scotland and, if so, how much has been set aside to meet this, and from which budget line it will be drawn.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As the sponsoring employer, the Scottish Police Authority will be liable for associated set-up costs. Up to £400,000 funding for this liability has been earmarked from Scottish Government budgets. Arrangements for ongoing administration costs are still to be …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Audit Scotland regarding any risks associated with the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The BTP integration is being managed in line with the SPFM guidance on risk, project and programme management. Audit Scotland are not part of this process and have an independent assurance role that is separate from risk management arrangements.

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the Urgent Question regarding the merger between the British Transport Police in Scotland and Police Scotland by Michael Matheson on 21 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 1), in light of the comment in the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland (HMCIS) report,…

Answer · Michael Matheson: I would like to advise the member that during my answer to the question on the integration of British Transport Police into Police Scotland on 21 February I inadvertently mixed up the dates of the publication of the HMICS report and the documents the Scottish…

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances would an identified level of risk to (a) public safety, (b) logistics and (c) value for public money cause it to reconsider the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, and how it would define this level.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our aim is to integrate BTP into Police Scotland safely and effectively, providing an enhanced service to both the rail industry and travelling public. The BTP integration programme has a risk register into which all partners contribute. If an issue should ar…

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported risks that have been identified by the Joint Programme Board, for what reason it remains its policy to merge the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has outlined the clear benefits of integration: the legislation on railway policing has twice been approved by a Parliamentary majority and will have a strong and robust future that delivers high safety standards for passengers, staff …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a legally-binding guarantee to British Transport Police officers in Scotland that there will be no detriment to their pension provision following the merger with Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government's proposal from the outset has been on the basis of no detriment; under the proposal made to the Fund Trustee, they will include provisions in the scheme trust deeds that enable continuing access to the existing arrangements for those …

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it or (b) the Scottish Police Authority will provide indemnity for the liability associated with the British Transport Police pension fund transfer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Discussions between the Scottish Government and Scottish Police Authority on this matter are ongoing.

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the recommendations of the report by the Independent Advisory Group on Biometric Data within the next two years and, if so, what the timescale is for each recommendation to be implemented.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government response, which sets out next steps for taking forward each of the recommendations, is available at http://www.gov.scot/About/Review/biometric-data/sgresponse . We will now work closely with Police Scotland and other stakeholders to…

20 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals there were in relation to the 2017 business rates revaluation, and how many have been resolved.

12 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on linking the Police Scotland firearms licensing system with the command and control system.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland.

12 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any gender inequality in policing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Equality and Diversity within Police Scotland are matters for the Chief Constable and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland's latest Equality and Diversity Mainstreaming Progress Report and Equality Outcomes can be found on their web site at: http:/…

12 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what is position is on Police Scotland checking social media use as part of the firearms licensing process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However the recent HMICS report notes that Police Scotland have indicated social media will be used as a source of information in the future.

12 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the impact of the police mental health triage pilot in Dumfries and Galloway, and whether it will consider rolling the initiative out across the country.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Police Scotland and NHS Dumfries and Galloway will evaluate the impact of mental health triage arrangements being piloted across Dumfries and Galloway. The Scottish Government supports initiatives that bring justice and health partners together to improve out…

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding to pay for any extra criminal justice social work that is carried out if a presumption against 12-month prison sentences is introduced and, if so, how much.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This Government has already made clear its commitment by increasing ring-fenced investment in community sentences from £4 million per annum in each of the last two years to £5.5 million in the 2018-19 budget. This is to help build capacity in advance of exten…

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact introducing a presumption against 12-month prison sentences will have on the number of (a) fiscal work and (b) community payback orders that are issued.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This Government is committed to shifting the emphasis from ineffective short-term imprisonment to greater use of robust community sentences, with the aim of reducing reoffending. Our move towards more community sentencing, including the introduction of Commun…

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on fiscal work and community payback order work placements being used to carry out task that were previously carried out by local authority employees.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The nature of the unpaid work placements carried out under the Fiscal Work Order (FWO) and Community Payback Order (CPO) schemes is determined by the local authority Criminal Justice Social Work team responsible for overseeing the case. However, both the Nat…

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) has been and (b) will be paid to the outgoing finance director of NHS Tayside as a result of the termination of his employment, broken down by (i) pension, (ii) ex gratia, (iii) notice, (iv) holiday and (v) any other payments.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15139 on 19 July 2018 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .  

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial management it is providing to NHS Tayside, and what action it will take to support the board’s financial management in the future.

Answer · Shona Robison: Responsibility for the financial management of NHS Tayside’s business remains with the Accountable Officer. The discharge of these responsibilities is underpinned by existing systems of internal control within Scottish Government and by internal and external …

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to (a) take direct control of any of NHS Tayside’s financial operations and (b) move (i) control or (ii) management of any matter, whether financial or otherwise, that is currently controlled or managed by NHS Tayside to another body.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are no current plans to transfer the control or management of any aspect of NHS Tayside’s responsibilities to another body. We have instructed a thorough independent external review by Grant Thornton UK LLP and will take account of the recommendations i…

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any form of settlement agreement, confidentiality agreement or similar post-employment contract has been put in place for the outgoing finance director of NHS Tayside.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Please accept my apologies for the significant delay in this response. The former NHS Tayside Director of Finance took early retirement in accordance with the relevant terms and conditions. There were no other arrangements made between the departing staff me…

7 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support NHS Tayside following the departure of its finance director; whether the board will recruit a new finance director, and from which budget the costs of (a) recruiting and (b) paying them, whether through direct employment, agency cover or back-charged secondment from t…

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials continue to work closely with NHS Tayside on the implementation of its Transformation Plan, focusing on returning the Board to financial sustainability. The NHS Tayside Board will take a decision on the Director of Finance role …

23 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the recommendation by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland, published in August 2017, to carry out a detailed analysis of the benefits, disbenefits and risks of the transfer of railway policing has been discharged.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Joint Programme Board continues to implement the key findings of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland’s report that was officially released and published on 8 December 2017. The JPB is also overseeing key risks and delivery of benefits related to t…