Police Service of Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/1)
Item 2 is consideration of one negative instrument. Do members have any comments on the regulations, which amend police constables’ public holiday entitlement?
Although the agreement has clearly been reached between the Scottish Police Federation and the Police Negotiating Board, I have heard that some officers feel that they have not been adequately consulted on the matter. I am not moving against the regulations; I simply note that there appears to have been a problem with consultation.
That is nothing to do with the regulations, but I have let you put your comment on the record.
Again, this does not really have anything to do with the substantive issue of the instrument itself but I note that in his letter Calum Steele seems to think that the United Kingdom Government sets the justice budget when it is actually a matter for the Scottish Government. I just found that bit of his correspondence misleading.
Where is that?
I am referring to the first bullet point in Calum Steele’s letter.
It seems to be more of an inference rather than anything specific. The fact is that budgets are being cut by the UK Government.
As someone who has found themselves in a consulting position, I can assure the committee that the Scottish Police Federation has very robust consulting procedures in place. That does not mean, of course, that all 17,500 officers will have availed themselves of the information in the consultation, but they will have been consulted.
We now have that on the record. The fact is that, if the Police Negotiating Board has agreed it, it has been agreed, and it is now up to the members what they do with it. As far as this technical matter is concerned, are we content not to make any recommendation?
I am happy with that, convener.