Chamber and committees

Sentencing in any given case including decisions relating to the publishing of sentencing statements is a matter for the court.

In general terms, a judge will often give reasons for imposing a particular sentence in court at the time of sentencing, or where the disposal is under challenge, in a subsequent report to the Appeal Court. The sentencing of convicted persons is usually announced orally. In certain cases a sentencing statement may also be published thereafter. The decision whether or not to publish a sentencing statement is at the discretion of the independent judge in the performance of their judicial function.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12983 on
12 December 2017. 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

The Scottish Government continues to make it clear to all Health Boards, including NHS Lothian, that there should be a zero tolerance approach and that everything must be done to eradicate bullying and harassment in the workplace, and, where concerns are raised, that they must be fully investigated.

We recently asked Health Boards to remind staff of the policies and support available for anyone in our NHS who has any concerns about bullying in the workplace.

The national Dignity at Work Survey ran from 6-11 December 2017 providing staff with an opportunity to share their views on organisational culture. The results will provide an insight on bullying and harassment issues both nationally and locally and will allow the Scottish Government and Health Boards to further consider any actions that need to be taken.

A lot has been done over the past few years to tackle workplace bullying and harassment through the policies and arrangements we`ve developed for staff in our NHS. The Scottish Government continues to work in partnership to further develop and promote an open culture in all Boards, including NHS Lothian, where staff have the confidence to speak up if they have any concerns about bullying and harassment, and importantly, where all staff feel valued and supported.

The national Dignity at Work Survey runs from 6-11 December 2017 providing staff with an opportunity to share their views on organisational culture. The results will provide an insight on bullying and harassment issues both nationally and locally and will allow the Scottish Government and Boards to further consider any actions that need to be taken.

We have a well-established national policy for staff in our NHS to support them in raising concerns about bullying and harassment. As with all policies to support our workforce in the NHS in Scotland these have been developed in partnership with trade unions and other key interests, including trade union representatives from NHS Lothian.

The national Dignity at Work Survey, which was welcomed by the trade unions, runs from 6-11 December 2017 providing staff with an opportunity to share their views on organisational culture. The results will provide an insight on bullying and harassment issues both nationally and locally and will allow NHS Lothian, in discussion with local trade union representatives, to further consider any actions that need to be taken locally.

The Scottish Government has made it clear to all Boards, including NHS Lothian, that there should be a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment in the workplace, and, where any concerns are raised, that they must be fully investigated.

We recently asked Health Boards to remind staff of the policies and support available and to encourage anyone who has any concerns or may be affected by this issue to seek support and report their concerns.

The costs of the fire training facility will be market tested by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) prior to commencement of the works. The SFRS estimate that the cost will be between £11m and £12m.

Planning permission for this project has not yet been fully granted by the City of Edinburgh Council but SFRS anticipate that the facility will be operational by the summer of 2019.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has 21 training facilities.

National

SFRS National Training Centre, Westburn Drive, Cambuslang, G72 7NA.

North Service Delivery Area

SFRS College Perth, 401 High St, Perth, PH1 1PL.

Dundee Airport Training Facility, Riverside Drive, Dundee DD2 1UH.

Blackness Rd Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Dundee DD1 5PA.

MacAlpine Rd Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Dundee DD3 8SA.

Kingsway East Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Dundee DD4 7RX.

Arbroath Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Arbroath DD11 1EU.

Fort William Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Fort William PH33 6FB

Invergordon Training Facility, Academy Road, Invergordon, IV18 0LB.

Sumburgh Airport Training Facility, Sumburgh, Shetland Islands ZE3 9JP.

Stornoway Airport Training Facility, Stornoway, Western Isles. HS2 OBN.

SFRS Training College, Portlethan, AB12 4RR.

East Service Delivery Area

SFRS Training Facility - Strathore Road, Thornton, KY1 4DF.

Newcraighall Fire Station & Local Training Facility, E821 8QS

Stirling Fire Station & Local Training Facility, KF8 1TH

West Service Delivery Area

Oban Training Facility, Soroba Rd, Oban, PA34 5SB.

SFRS Garroch Training Facility, Cargenbridge, Dumfries, DG2 8PN.

Maryhill Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Glasgow, G20 7TL

Cowcaddens Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Glasgow, G4 0ES

Kilmarnock Fire Station & Local Training Facility, KA1 4HL

Draghorn Training Facility, 7 Corsehill Mount Rd, Dreghorn, KA11 4JZ.

The Scottish Government has not provided any direct financial support to organisations that support intersex people/people with differences of sexual development.

In 2014, the Scottish Government added intersex (I) to its sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBT) equality approach. In each of the years 2015-16, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018, funding of £45,000 per annum has been allocated to the Equality Network for their intersex equality project. Rather than providing direct support to intersex people/people with differences of sexual development, this funding supports national work to facilitate engagement between intersex people, equality organisations, the NHS and other service providers to help inform and develop a shared understanding of intersex equality, rights and inclusion priorities as well as supporting intersex people to engage in equality policy and good practice development.

Scottish Ministers have no direct role in the support of children and young people with differences of sexual development. The medical treatment or support of children, adolescents and adults with differences of sexual development is an operational matter for NHS Scotland. NHS National Services Scotland facilitate a national managed clinical network of healthcare professionals specialising in differences of sex development, and there are several specialist multi-disciplinary clinics across Scotland. The network aims to ensure equity of high quality care is provided across Scotland.

My answer to S5W-12802 on 29 November 2017, explains that we will shortly publish a consultation seeking views about the actions needed to address the issues experienced by intersex people/people with differences of sexual development and their families. 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