Chamber and committees

The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws.

The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they are not and have no plans to use live facial recognition technology/cameras at this time.

In line with the Scottish Government's commitment to the legal, ethical and proportionate use of technologies in policing, an Independent Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies, whose membership includes policing, human rights and data protection stakeholders, is currently developing recommendations and is due to report to Ministers later this year.

We continue to carefully consider the report and recommendations made by the previous Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee as regards regional marine planning in the context of the emergency budget review and the recently announced development of a new Scottish National Marine Plan. We are working to finalise our formal response, which will be published early next year.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner (SBC) Act 2020 establishes the office of the SBC and provides for its functions in relation to the acquisition, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes. Therefore, biometric data collected from schools or prisons by Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner for these purposes, would already fall within the oversight of the SBC.

I would also refer the member to the Scottish Government’s letter to the Criminal Justice Committee dated 19 August 2022 which is published at Annex B to the Committee paper CJ/S6/22/26/1 . This outlined the Scottish Government’s position on extending the SBC’s functions to include oversight of biometric data collected in prisons and other sectors such as education. In relation to schools, I would also refer the member to the Scottish Government’s response to question S6W-06534 on 1 March 2022 raised on such matters.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

On 6 October 2022, the Scottish Government committed to extending the Nursery Rates Relief Scheme. Subordinate legislation to deliver that commitment is expected to be laid in early 2023 and come into effect on 1 April.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS do not record information on the number of staff who may have been hospitalised as a result of assaults by prisoners.

As outlined in response to question S6W-11944 on 21 November 2022 , NatureScot, as the licensing body, will be responsible for the issuing and monitoring of licences. They will work closely with Police Scotland and other key stakeholders to address any suspected breach of licensing conditions.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

NatureScot, as the licensing body, will be responsible for the issuing and monitoring of licences. They will work closely with Police Scotland and other key stakeholders to address any suspected breach of licensing conditions.

The figure quoted in answer S6W-11465 represents the percentage of final post mortem reports received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). It is not related to a specific target for toxicology or pathology providers, but demonstrates the continued efficacy of the improvement plan put in place to reduce the timescale for completion of toxicological analysis, and thereafter a final post mortem report in each case.

Once received by COPFS, each report then requires to be considered by a Procurator Fiscal (and the nearest relative made aware of any change to the cause of death) before determining whether the death investigation can be closed, or whether further inquiries are necessary. Performance continues to improve in that respect and in this reporting year to date (as at 7 November), in 65% of deaths which require further investigation, the investigation was concluded and the nearest relative advised of the outcome within 12 weeks of the death being reported to COPFS.

Given the nature and content of post mortem reports, nearest relatives do not automatically receive a copy but COPFS will provide one to them or their general practitioner if they wish and will, if relatives find it helpful, facilitate a meeting with the relevant pathologist(s) to discuss the findings and answer any further questions that relatives might have.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11670 on‎ 9 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS does not record this information.