Chamber and committees

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have given the Scottish Government assurances that as part of the new South Glasgow Hospitals development there is a well-established staff advisory transport group comprising of managers and trade union representatives that staff can take any safety and security issues to.

The Scottish Government is aware that some concerns have been raised and has taken this issue very seriously. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have responded to the following concerns:

1. Personal safety (especially in the evening) when walking to/from their vehicles parked off-site:

Glasgow City Council have made (or are currently in the process of making) a number of improvements in respect of street lighting and general improvements to various underpasses that would be used by staff. Furthermore, the introduction of community warden services throughout the area and specifically concentrating on known ‘hotspots’ has resulted in demonstrable improvements.

2. Personal safety regarding waking to/from, and within car parks on the new South Glasgow Hospitals campus:

Car parks will be well lit and will be covered by CCTV. In addition, pathways from the new hospitals and the existing retained site buildings will also be illuminated and, given the size of the campus, are likely to be busy for the majority of the time. Furthermore, the site will have a dedicated security team.

3. Personal safety if cycling to work - notably through Clyde tunnel and areas of Govan:

In addition to the comments noted at point (1), there have been a number of significant improvements in the Clyde tunnel thoroughfares, including controlled access, extensive CCTV coverage, enhanced communication links and various cosmetic improvements. We have also organised specific events inviting staff to collectively view the improvements first hand and take the opportunity to walk through the tunnel routes.

4. Personal safety using public transport - especially late at night:

CCTV coverage is extensive in all Strathclyde Partnership for Transport infrastructure.

The Scottish Government is satisfied that the maximum number of car parking spaces, as determined in the planning consent process, will be provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

These spaces, combined with the enhancements to public transport, including improved public transport routes, targeted investment in communities with poorer public transport and the Scottish Government’s investment in the new Fastlink scheme, which will introduce direct links from three main sites in the city centre (Buchanan Bus Station, Queen Street Station and Central Station) to the new South Glasgow Hospitals campus, will collectively provide a range of travel options for staff, patients and visitors.

The board recognises that public transport connections are crucial – for example, people in the west of the city will connect via Partick Interchange to Govan Underground where they will connect with the Fastlink to the main door of the new hospital.

This combination of arrangements balances ease of access to the new hospitals with encouraging sustainable transport and managing pollution and congestion in the local area.

Yes there is a workforce travel plan for the new South Glasgow Hospitals campus and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is investing a further £5.2 million in this plan. The detailed travel plan includes close working with service providers to increase the frequency of public transport services and promote the use of travel hubs/mini interchanges for staff travelling by car from outwith the city. The board are working in partnership with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Glasgow City Council to ensure that investment is targeted at communities where there are poorer public transport links and with Renfrewshire Council to ensure that the Fastlink scheme is extended to Braehead to support better public transport connectivity for staff who reside in that area.

Staff can access up to date information via the staff side travel advisory group and the board have undertaken roadshows and drop in sessions for staff on transport issues.

The Scottish Government has corresponded with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on a number of occasions regarding the provision of parking for staff, patients and visitors. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have outlined the provision of 3,500 car parking spaces following completion of a third multi-storey car park in the summer of 2016 – the maximum number of spaces permitted by the planning consent for the new hospitals and laboratory facilities. In allocating these spaces the board will take account of the following:

The balance of allocation of space between staff permit holders and patients, the process to allocate permits to staff, a small number of unallocated, first come first served spaces which can be access by staff without permits, a car sharing programme and a number of travel information and support arrangements for staff.

The board is in continued dialogue with planners to look at whether there is any scope to increase the number of spaces from 3,500 to 4,000 as part of the final master planning of the site.

Parking provision is being considered as part of a range of travel options, including investment in public transport. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are working with local authorities and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to improve accessibility and frequency of services to this site. The board will encourage car sharing and a switch to public transport alternatives to take pressure off parking space availability. Loan schemes are in place to save staff costs on travel tickets and on enhanced transport links such as the new Fastlink.

The provision of information about conviction information is essential for prosecutors so that the full offending picture of the accused can be assessed when making decisions in cases that are reported to them. This ensures prosecutors can consider how best to ensure the public is protected.

The exchange of criminal conviction information within the EU is provided for in Scotland by Section 71 and Schedule 4 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 which in turn amended the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. These provisions came into force on 13 December 2010.

The Police Service of Scotland is responsible for requesting conviction information from the EU through the United Kingdom Central Authority for the Exchange of Criminal Records.

Outwith the EU countries, there are other mechanisms for the exchange of conviction information. Firstly, for conviction information from non-EU Interpol countries the police can obtain the information through the non-EU exchange of criminal records.

There is also the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters 1959 which provides for the transfer and recovery of previous criminal history in those states that are signatories to the Convention, namely those states that are parties to the Council of Europe as well as Chile, Israel and Korea, making a total of 50 states.

Finally there are bilateral and United Nations treaties which allow the exchange of conviction information between the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions, such as the United States of America. In such cases letters or requests would require to be issued through the International Co-operation Unit at the Crown Office.

The anticipated spend by Transport Scotland on the tendering process, including design of the tender documents by Transport Scotland for the future Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, from 2016 onwards, has not yet been estimated.

The anticipated spend by David MacBrayne Limited on their bid for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract is considered to be commercially sensitive by David MacBrayne Limited.