- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there is a lack of railway policing experience among (a) the Scottish Police Authority and (b) Police Scotland's senior officers.
Answer
Police Scotland are analysing training needs to ensure the railway policing specialism is future proofed and preserved. In the course of the Railways Policing (Scotland) Bill, Police Scotland confirmed the intention would be to maintain a specialist railway policing function within the broader Police Scotland structure. Parliament was assured by Police Scotland that specialist knowledge, skills and experience of BTP officers and staff would be protected and maintained.
The Scottish Police Authority holds both the Chief Constable to account for the policing of Scotland, and the Chief Officer of the SPA to account for its role as employer of staff and the delivery of services to the board and policing.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the recommendations of the report by the Independent Advisory Group on Biometric Data within the next two years and, if so, what the timescale is for each recommendation to be implemented.
Answer
The Scottish Government response, which sets out next steps for taking forward each of the recommendations, is available at http://www.gov.scot/About/Review/biometric-data/sgresponse .
We will now work closely with Police Scotland and other stakeholders to develop detailed proposals and, subject to further consultation, would seek to introduce primary legislation later in the current parliamentary session.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it or (b) the Scottish Police Authority will provide indemnity for the liability associated with the British Transport Police pension fund transfer.
Answer
Discussions between the Scottish Government and Scottish Police Authority on this matter are ongoing.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Authority will be liable for the (a) setup and (b) administration costs of the segregated pension scheme for British Transport Police Officers in Scotland and, if so, how much has been set aside to meet this, and from which budget line it will be drawn.
Answer
As the sponsoring employer, the Scottish Police Authority will be liable for associated set-up costs. Up to £400,000 funding for this liability has been earmarked from Scottish Government budgets. Arrangements for ongoing administration costs are still to be confirmed, with costs currently met by the fund assets.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its proposals for agricultural support after the UK leaves the EU.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2018
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 27 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to (a) take direct control of any of NHS Tayside’s financial operations and (b) move (i) control or (ii) management of any matter, whether financial or otherwise, that is currently controlled or managed by NHS Tayside to another body.
Answer
There are no current plans to transfer the control or management of any aspect of NHS Tayside’s responsibilities to another body. We have instructed a thorough independent external review by Grant Thornton UK LLP and will take account of the recommendations in their report.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 29 March 2018
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that more than £400,000 was spent on consultants to oversee the British Transport Police merger.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 29 March 2018
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals there were in relation to the 2017 business rates revaluation, and how many have been resolved.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2018
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on linking the Police Scotland firearms licensing system with the command and control system.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Police Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what is position is on Police Scotland checking social media use as part of the firearms licensing process.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However the recent HMICS report notes that Police Scotland have indicated social media will be used as a source of information in the future.