Chamber and committees

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond.

Testing of suspected Psychoactive Substances, for the purpose of identification, does not take place within the prison estate. Testing is undertaken in Police Scotland laboratories.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond.

SPS has established a Strategic Risk and Threat Group (SRTG) which is responsible for providing an overview of any emerging threats and for the deployment of resources and tactical options. The SRTG is responsible for the management of a national tasking log which supports planned programmes of large scale tactical searching across the estate. There is also an established Technical Support Unit which provides technical support and specialised equipment to support national search operations.

Tactical measures are supported by various technologies, including X-ray machines, body scanners and other equipment which will assist in detecting substances which may have been concealed. SPS also has a number of drug detection dogs to support the recovery of unauthorised substances. We also work closely with Police Scotland and others in intelligence lead activity to support our tactical tasking.

It would be inappropriate to place into the public domain specific detailed information on all the specific strategic, tactical and technological responses that are utilised to reduce drug use in Scottish prisons.

On 6 December 2018 Audit Scotland Published its 2017-18 audit of NHS Tayside. In the context of that audit process, the Scottish Government became aware that errors has been made in the process of confirming the terms of settlement for the departing chief executive of NHS Tayside. These concern, respectively, the process undertaken for confirming a change to the former chief executive's notice period (from 3 months to 6 months), and an overpayment made to the Scottish Public Pensions Agency following the miscalculation of the former chief executive's notice period as superannuable. The Scottish Government has been assured by the board that in both instances, these errors have been retrospectively rectified.

The audit report confirms that the approach to negotiate a settlement in this case was reasonable. As with all employment matters, it would not be appropriate to comment on the detail of individual cases.

My letter of 13 December to the Justice Committee advised that my officials have been working with stakeholders to explore further options for enhanced accountability of railway policing in Scotland. As part of this on-going work both the Scottish Police Authority and the British Transport Police Authority have agreed to work together to explore legislation currently in force which could be used to create an arrangement that facilitates a stronger oversight role for the Scottish Police Authority in relation to railway policing. A sufficient time period will be required to settle in any agreed model before any external scrutiny and review.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

Body worn cameras are not routinely provided for officers or staff at any Scottish prison.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

SPS considers it would be inappropriate to place into the public domain information about the technology that is utilised in individual establishments to prevent the introduction of illicit substances.

SPS deploys a variety of strategic, tactical and technological responses to reduce drug use in Scotland’s prisons and has invested in the development of new technology to detect, deter and reduce the availability and supply of illegal substances. The Rapiscan Itemiser and similar technologies are only one of a number of security measures and tactics that can be deployed to prevent the introduction and disrupt the use of illicit substances in our establishments.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

SPS considers it would be inappropriate to place into the public domain information about the technology that is utilised in individual establishments to prevent the introduction of illicit substances.

SPS deploys a variety of strategic, tactical and technological responses to reduce drug use in Scotland’s prisons and has invested in the development of new technology to detect, deter and reduce the availability and supply of illegal substances. The Rapiscan Itemiser and similar technologies are only one of a number of security measures and tactics that can be deployed to prevent the introduction and disrupt the use of illicit substances in our establishments.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

All Scottish prisons utilise drug detection dogs.

Paul Gray, Director-General for Health and Social Care, wrote to the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee on 18 December. His letter contains the information requested and it will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 60364).

As announced in October, the new planning and performance cycle for NHS Boards will support longer-term planning by providing increased financial flexibility, requiring Boards to break-even over a 3-year period, rather than each year as has previously been the case.

All NHS Boards are currently reviewed regularly by the Scottish Government. This includes reviews of monthly financial reporting, annual reviews, and in-year meetings covering finance and wider performance. These periodic reviews will continue under the arrangements for the new planning and performance cycle.

We will work with Boards at a national, regional and local level to ensure that they continue to work towards a balanced and sustainable financial position whilst ensuring that there is no impact on patient care. Where any board cannot deliver the requirements of the new planning and performance cycle, a full assessment will be undertaken as part of our Board Performance Escalation Framework. This considers financial management, operational performance and quality of care as well as indicators around leadership and governance.