- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 28 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Police Scotland can sufficiently monitor the workings of live facial recognition systems, as proposed by the Chief Constable, in relation to any stereotyping or harmful assumptions, in light of the so-called black box problem affecting some AI systems.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30309 on 28 October 2024. 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
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 28 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its understanding is regarding how images used by live facial recognition systems will be stored, under the reported proposals by Police Scotland's Chief Constable.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30309 on 28 October 2024. 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
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to consult on reforming the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland.
Answer
Development of the consultation will be informed by an initial phase of expert research, which is currently underway.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the report that it commissioned on the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland has been completed.
Answer
Work is progressing towards publication of the report to develop a detailed baseline understanding of the distinct roles and functions of the Law Officers and how the functions of law officers operate in other countries.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when its last correspondence with Police Scotland was regarding the contents of the 2023 report, Review of emerging technologies in policing.
Answer
The adoption of any new technology for policing purposes must be done in a way that secures public confidence. It is important to have clear governance frameworks which take account of ethical and human rights obligations in this area, which is why the Scottish Government commissioned the report into emerging technologies. The report confirmed that Scotland is in a strong position to become world-leading in adopting a rights-based, ethical approach to the adoption of emerging technologies in policing.
The Scottish Government last wrote to the Chief Constable in February 2023 enclosing a copy of the Review of emerging technologies in policing report.
It should be noted that the monitoring of progress to address the report’s recommendations is being taken forward through the Scottish Police Authority. Progress was to be reported and tracked through the Police Scotland Change Board and a short life working group was to task sub-forums across the organisation with activities for specific workstreams where appropriate. The short life working group was to provide an update to the SPA Audit & Risk Committee on a quarterly basis. This is referred to in the note of the Policing Performance Committee - 15 June 2023 | Scottish Police Authority (spa.police.uk).
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether reform of the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland should be carried out; if it considers that such reform should be carried out, what its position is on whether this should be carried out via an Act of the UK Parliament, or via an Act of the Scottish Parliament, subsequent to the devolution of the requisite powers, and whether it would oppose its dispreferred option.
Answer
We have committed to consulting on the role of the Law Officers. To further that commitment research has been commissioned to develop a detailed baseline understanding of the many distinct roles and functions of the Law Officers and will provide information on how the functions of law officers operate in other countries.
The role of the Law Officers is secured by the Scotland Act 1998, and reflects the system in place prior to devolution. What any changes to that role would require by way of an Act of the UK or Scottish parliament would depend on any changes proposed.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what Police Scotland's response was to the recommendations in the 2023 report, Review of emerging technologies in policing.
Answer
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the report that it commissioned on the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland is subject to peer review, and, if so, how long it anticipates that this will take, and whether the report's author is able to release a pre-print of the report before the review stage is completed.
Answer
The report has been proposed for peer review, which will take some weeks. Release of a draft of the report is not proposed before the review stage is completed.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government since July 2024 regarding potential reform of the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland.
Answer
I wrote to the then Secretary of State for Scotland on 29 February and made a commitment to keep the UK Government appraised of progress on this matter as it develops.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns regarding potential ethnic and racial bias, what its position is on whether the use of live facial recognition technology in public spaces is compatible with the position stated in the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) that "successful places" must be designed for "accessibility and inclusion for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ability and culture".
Answer
The fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) sets out the Scottish Ministers’ policies and proposals for the development and use of land. If an application for planning permission is necessary for any development associated with the use of live facial recognition technology, it is for the relevant planning authority to consider that application. When making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities must consider the development plan as a whole, comprising NPF and local development plans, alongside all other material considerations.