Chamber and committees

There are three deaths of individuals who died in prison custody during the financial year 2014-15 (1 April to 31 March), where fatal accident inquiries have yet to be held. Dates have been scheduled for two of these to take place in August and November 2018 respectively.

The progress of a death investigation depends on a variety of factors. While most death investigations conclude once a cause of death is known, other cases require further investigation, which may include complex technical and medical issues requiring the instruction of experts. Equally, where a FAI is to be held, the speed with which it proceeds to the conclusion of evidence, and, thereafter, to issue of the sheriff’s determination depends on a variety of factors, including the scale and complexity of the inquiry and the other demands on court and judicial time.

(a) Table A indicates for individuals who died in prison custody during the financial years (1 April to 31 March) from 2010-11 through to 2017-18, the longest time taken from the date of death to conclusion of evidence in the FAI.

It is important to note that there are investigations ongoing in relation to deaths of individuals reported during this same period, where FAIs have yet to be concluded. Therefore the figures below, particularly in respect of the latter years, will change as further FAIs are concluded.

(b) The longest time since the date of death of an individual for a death in prison custody, in respect of which an FAI is yet to be held is 1533 days.*

Table A:

Deaths of individuals reported to COPFS who have died in prison custody, in respect of which an FAI has concluded

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17612 on 30 July 2018. The progress of a death investigation depends on a variety of factors. While most death investigations conclude once a cause of death is known, other cases require further investigation, which may include complex technical and medical issues requiring the instruction of experts. Equally, where a FAI is to be held, the speed with which it proceeds to the conclusion of evidence, and, thereafter, to issue of the sheriff’s determination depends on a variety of factors, including the scale and complexity of the inquiry and the other demands on court and judicial time.

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.

There is no legitimate redundancy situation created by the transfer.

This is a matter for Police Scotland who ran a competitive tendering process to engage professional services support for the proposed merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland.

As confirmed in the letter dated 29 May to the Justice Committee from the Chairs of the Joint Programme Board the estimated staff costs to the Scottish Government to financial year end 2017-18 are £310,000. This is based on all officials engaged on the project from Royal Assent of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017.

Scottish Government will provide projected costs of the merger as they emerge through the course of the re-planning process.

Core and non-core revenue resource limit is reported in Health Boards’ annual accounts. Scottish Ambulance Service annual accounts are available online from: http://www.scottishambulance.com/TheService/annual_accounts.aspx

Prior to 2010-11, revenue resource limit was not split in to core and non-core.

The Scottish Government provides the Ambulance Service with funding which supports the Service in delivering a high quality level of emergency health care to the people of Scotland.

Decisions on funding required for the purchase of new vehicles and maintenance of the fleet are an operational matter for the Ambulance Service in discussion with Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is considering the implications for Scotland of the recent judgment by the UK Supreme Court.

There was not an announcement on civil partnership for mixed sex couples in Scotland in 2015. The Scottish Government did carry out a consultation on civil partnership in 2015. This consultation, an analysis of responses, the responses we have permission to publish and the Scottish Government's response to the consultation are at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/law/17867/cpreview The Scottish Government is currently considering the implications for Scotland of the recent judgment by the UK Supreme Court.