Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19985 on 7 August 2023. 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

It is not possible to compare the current proposal with the previous costs at this time. The Full Business Case for NTC-Lanarkshire is still under development and project cost estimates will be revised to reflect the impact of inflation, net zero carbon targets, plot change and updated clinical brief to align with national treatment targets.

It is not possible to compare the current proposal with the previous one at this point. The Full Business Case is still under development and project cost estimates will be revised to reflect the impact of inflation, net zero carbon targets, plot change and updated clinical brief to align with national treatment targets.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19963 on 7 August 2023. 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

The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) sets out Priority Actions which are urgently required to achieve the vision of halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and reversing the trend by 2045, whilst contributing to addressing climate change. Of particular relevance to forestry is the following priority action, which recognises the important role that can be played by all types of woodland, including commercial forests.

Ensure that productive forests and woodlands are designed and managed in ways that deliver increased biodiversity and habitat connectivity whilst sustaining timber production and carbon sequestration to meet the climate crisis and reduce their vulnerability to climate risks.

The action will be delivered through the Scottish Forestry Strategy (SFS), which is built on the principles of sustainable forest management (SFM), including commitments to biodiversity. A set of high-level indicators has been identified to track and report progress against the SFS including the Woodland Ecological Condition official statistic, Designated Site Condition Monitoring, abundance of terrestrial breeding birds, and the area of woodland independently certified by the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). It is anticipated that achieving the goals of the SBS will increase the biodiversity value of productive woodlands without adversely affecting the sustainable production of timber in Scotland.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS has assessed the procurement and installation costs for the project at HMP Grampian as £554,995 (excluding VAT). The cost includes all cabling and preparatory works associated to the project at HMP Grampian, as well as the materials and the associated required testing and commissioning works.

Permanent In Cell Telephony means individuals in prison can maintain purposeful family contact, including with children, which we know is important for good mental health and wellbeing, and for reducing the risk of reoffending upon return to communities. In Cell Telephony will also support SPS’ longer term ambitions for in-cell technology, with additional educational opportunities and giving those individuals in prison greater control over their own lives, again supporting reintegration into the community and reducing the risk of reoffending.

Uniform and appearance standards for Police Scotland are a matter for the Chief Constable. It is vitally important that the Chief Constable has the flexibility, subject to risk assessment, as to the appropriate uniform for specific events.

Police Scotland have a Standard Operating Procedure in place which states that dress uniforms shall only be worn on formal occasions or as directed by the Chief Constable, for example at passing out parades at the Scottish Police College. The Standard Operating Procedure can be found at: [ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Review Template (scotland.police.uk) ]

A) The starting salary for a Band 1 nurse in Scotland for 2023-24 is £30,229. This pay offer is a consolidated pay increase of 15.8% over the previous two years.

i) The starting salary for a Band 1 nurse in England is £28,407.
‎ii) The starting salary for a Band 1 nurse in Wales is £28,834.

B) The starting salary for NHS Scotland Junior Doctors in 2022-23 is £27,653.

i) The starting salary for a Junior Doctor in England during 2022-23 was £29,384.
‎ii) The starting salary for a Junior Doctor in Wales during 2022-23 was £27,115.

Junior Doctors in Scotland are on a different set of contractual arrangements to their counterparts in England and Wales and whilst their base salary is lower, they receive a higher banding supplement than their counterparts in England and Wales.

The BMA are considering a pay offer of 12.4% for 2023-24. If accepted, a doctor at the beginning of their career would see their salary increase to £31,082 in Scotland.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

During the period April 2020 to June 2023 the total costs are assessed as £477K.

Permanent In Cell Telephony means individuals in prison can maintain purposeful family contact, including with children, which we know is important for good mental health and wellbeing, and for reducing the risk of reoffending upon return to communities. In Cell Telephony will also support SPS’ longer term ambitions for in-cell technology, with additional educational opportunities and giving those individuals in prison greater control over their own lives, again supporting reintegration into the community and reducing the risk of reoffending.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19963 on 7 August 2023. 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