Liam Kerr

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of the key performance indicators that the British Transport Police is assessed against it considers will be improved by the merger into Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Joint Programme Board partners are working together to understand the current performance measures for railway policing to ensure they can be replicated and developed post integration. Integration will provide a single command structure, with seamless access …

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a business planning exercise was carried out to consider each of the available options regarding how it would oversee the British Transport Police following its functions being devolved and, if so, who carried this out and whether it will publish the findings.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The integration of BTP in Scotland into Police Scotland is the long-standing policy of the Scottish Government. The case for integration was submitted to the Smith Commission in 2014 with subsequent all party agreement for the devolution of railway policing. …

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current running cost is of the merger of British Transport Police (BTP) into Police Scotland, and what the projected final cost is, also broken down by the cost per BTP officer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: 19 December 2017 and are continuing to be tracked and developed as part of the work of the Joint Programme Board.

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of the merger of British Transport Police into Police Scotland and whether it will publish the findings, including what potential (a) benefits and (b) threats to services the analysis concluded.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The supporting documents to the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill provided an analysis of the integration of the BTP in Scotland into Police Scotland, including benefits and potential disbenefits identified by stakeholders. There was also further Parliamentary…

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it plans to have railway policing agreements in place between Police Scotland and each relevant train operating company; when negotiations for each agreement commenced, and what its position is on the length of time the negotiations have taken.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Arrangements for railway policing agreements are a matter for the Scottish Police Authority under the terms of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017. The Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland last met with the railway industry on 29 November 2017 t…

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who would be responsible for the continued funding of the policing service on railways should the merger of British Transport Police into Police Scotland not be completed by April 2019.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Funding for railway policing comes primarily from rail operators and that will not change following integration. The Joint Programme Board is closely monitoring the progress of the programme and will provide advice to Ministers on any issues that arise.

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and (b) Minister for Transport and the Islands last met the British Transport Police Federation; what was discussed, and whether it will publish the minutes

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Minister for Transport and the Islands held meetings with the British Transport Police Federation (BTPF) on 10 March 2016; 10 August 2016; and 6 December 2016. There has also been correspondence in December 2016, June…

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether marches and parades fall within the definition of “events” described under the (a) Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and (b) Road Traffic Regulation (Special Events) Act 1994; whether multiple temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs) may be issued for the same stretches of pub…

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 defines a “relevant event” as “any sporting event, social event or entertainment which is held on a road”. It is for the relevant traffic authority to reach a view as to whether or not a particular event fal…

8 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported ambiguity regarding the (a) use of and (b) need for temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs) for marches or parades; what guidance it (i) can provide, (ii) currently provides and (iii) considers should be provided to local authorities regarding whe…

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is aware of the concerns raised by Police Scotland in relation to traffic regulation for pre planned events. We recognise that any change in Police Scotland’s approach to traffic regulation for such events could have an impact on event…

20 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the integration of the British Transport Police (BTP) and Police Scotland will move retired BTP officers who are in receipt of their police pension into a new segregated and protected group and, if so, (a) for what reason it reached this decision and (b) whether it will offer a c…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is engaging with the Trustee of the BTP pension schemes to reach agreement on how the pensions of transferring staff can be managed without detriment to them. The finalised agreement will also ensure there is no impact on the payment o…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial modelling it has carried out to assess the impact on state schools of eligibility for charitable relief being removed from independent schools.

Answer · John Swinney: 10 January 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing the recommendation in the report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, Strategic overview of British Transport Police in Scotland including the proposed transfer to Police Scotland, that (a) performance measures specific to railway pol…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is working closely with other partners on the Joint Programme Board to consider the key findings of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland's report.

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average (a) S1, (b) S2, (c) S3 and (d) S4 class size is in (i) English and (ii) Maths in Aberdeen City Council schools. 

Answer · John Swinney: Statistics on class sizes at secondary schools are not collected centrally by the Scottish Government.

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average class size is in Aberdeen City Council primary schools. 

Answer · John Swinney: The average class size across Aberdeen City Council primary schools is available on the Scottish Government website in the pupil census supplementary data (Table 6.6): http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teaching posts are (a) unfilled and (b) filled by temporary staff in Aberdeen City Council (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

Answer · John Swinney: Teacher vacancy information as at 20 September 2017 can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education/Schools/Teaching/Staffing/TWPAG/KeyFactsandFigures This information is not formal statistics and was collected for the purpose of informing the annual …

11 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the internal report of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) into the abandoned procurement process for structural fire kit and personal protective equipment to be completed and submitted to the SFRS Board and Audit Scotland, and whether the report will detail all o…

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: SFRS has acknowledged that the performance of its procurement and asset management departments have, in this instance, fallen below an acceptable standard. A comprehensive investigation into the abandoned procurement process, led by an experienced Senior Offi…

11 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to date is, including litigation costs and settlement sums, of the abandoned Scottish Fire and Rescue Service procurement process for structural fire kit and personal protective equipment.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: To date the Scottish fire and Rescue Service has incurred costs of £610,000.00 in relation to the abandonment of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) .

8 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland will offer a similar service to the British Transport Police 61016 text number for reporting crime after it assumes responsibility for railway policing.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland.

8 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing each of the recommendations set out in the key findings section of the report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, Strategic overview of British Transport Police in Scotland including the proposed transfer to Police Scotland.

28 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to replace the personal track safety card for officers on railways after the merger of the British Transport Police and Police Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the letter dated 27 March 2017 from Police Scotland to the Convenor of the Justice Committee in which Police Scotland confirms that Transport Policing specialism will be retained and the position with regards to personal track safety cer…

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12516 by Humza Yousaf on 22 November 2017, whether any collective agreements which will transfer and, if so, whether the dynamic or static interpretation of changes to those agreements will be applied post-transfer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Joint Programme Board is progressing work to map out all of the current BTP terms and conditions including collective agreements. The BTP Federation and Scottish Police Federation have been invited to take part in this process.

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12516 by Humza Yousaf on 22 November 2017, for how long the terms and conditions of transferring officers will be protected from any detrimental change.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Any proposals for changes to terms and conditions after the date of transfer will be subject to negotiation with staff associations and unions, as they are for other officers and staff of Police Scotland.

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12516 by Humza Yousaf on 22 November 2017, whether post-transfer continuity of service will be preserved and, if so, whether this will be statutory or contractual continuity.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Joint Programme Board are working on the requirements of secondary legislation to ensure that employment contracts for transferring BTP officers and staff will transfer to the Scottish Police Authority on 1 April 2019 with continuity of employment.

22 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consider the sand engine scheme to tackle coastal erosion in Montrose and, if so, what the process would be for introducing this; how much it would cost, and who would be responsible for meeting this cost, broken down by the proportion to be paid.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In Scotland, land owners are responsible for protecting their land from coastal erosion. Under the Coast Protection Act 1949, local authorities can carry out coast protection work to safeguard land against erosion and encroachment by the sea. However, the Sco…

21 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12393 by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017, whether it will publish the minutes or informal note of the (a) Central Belt Reference Group's meeting on 10 October 2017 and (b) discussions on 6 November 2017.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In accordance with the Terms of Reference for the Aberdeen to Central Belt Reference Group and the Memorandum of Understanding (for the additional investment for the Aberdeen City Deal), the Scottish Government ensures that all relevant parties are regularly …

21 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12394 by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017, whether the dualling of the track at Usan is classified as an identified rail initiative.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported gap in the availability of advocacy or court-based support for children.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent National Scoping Exercise of Advocacy Services relating to the criminal justice system for victims of violence against women and girls in 2016 to identify the gaps in services for all victims of gender based…

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve communication with victims during sexual crimes investigations, in particular the frequency of contact by the Victim Information and Advice service.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: Earlier this year the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service introduced a new Victim Strategy. Since September 2017, all Victim Information Advice (VIA) staff who work on High Court sexual offences cases have a geographic responsibility, and accordingly …

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the time taken to conclude preliminary investigation of sexual crimes.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: The length of time taken for sexual offence cases to get to court is often too long. There has been a significant increase in the number of serious sexual offence cases. These now account for 75% of High Court cases; this indicates that more victims have the …

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the format of community payback order review courts, including the time of day when these take place.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The scheduling of court business is a matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service acting in consultation with Sheriffs Principal, who have responsibility for the efficient disposal of court business. In practice, Community Payback Order review heari…