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The works for the A898 Erskine Bridge Barrier Replacement contract were substantially complete in May 2014 and finished, after the Commonwealth Games, in early September 2014. The contract for these works is within the defects correction period, thus is currently ongoing and the final account and out-turn costs remain to be agreed. The defects correction period is the duration stipulated in the contract following completion of the works or scheme, which is defined by issue of the ‘Certificate of Substantial Completion’. During this period if there are any defects in the works or scheme arising out of the quality of the works and construction they have to be rectified by the contractor, at their expense.

Information in relation to the contract and previously released freedom of information requests are available on the Erskine Bridge website at the following link:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/project/a898-erskine-bridge-vehicle-barrier-replacement

The works for the A898 Erskine Bridge Barrier Replacement contract were substantially complete in May 2014 and finished, after the Commonwealth Games, in early September 2014. The contract for these works is within the defects correction period, thus is currently ongoing and the final account and out-turn costs remain to be agreed. The defects correction period is the duration stipulated in the contract following completion of the works or scheme, which is defined by issue of the ‘Certificate of Substantial Completion’. During this period if there are any defects in the works or scheme arising out of the quality of the works and construction they have to be rectified by the contractor, at their expense.

Information in relation to the contract and previously released freedom of information requests are available on the Erskine Bridge website at the following link:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/project/a898-erskine-bridge-vehicle-barrier-replacement

The works for the A898 Erskine Bridge Barrier Replacement contract were substantially complete in May 2014 and finished, after the Commonwealth Games, in early September 2014. The contract for these works is within the defects correction period, thus is currently ongoing and the final account and out-turn costs remain to be agreed. The defects correction period is the duration stipulated in the contract following completion of the works or scheme, which is defined by issue of the ‘Certificate of Substantial Completion’. During this period if there are any defects in the works or scheme arising out of the quality of the works and construction they have to be rectified by the contractor, at their expense.

Information in relation to the contract and previously released freedom of information requests are available on the Erskine Bridge website at the following link:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/project/a898-erskine-bridge-vehicle-barrier-replacement

The decision in this matter is ultimately for Police Scotland acting under the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. As you are aware Police Scotland have undertaken a comprehensive consultation process to gather views on these proposals to strengthen local policing. Through this process all councillors, MSPs and MPs received written communication from Divisional Commanders and other engagement, including one-to-one meetings, area-based focus groups and presentation to local scrutiny committees, has been undertaken. Police Scotland are continuing their local consultation process in the North East and Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire areas. They want to ensure that the views from local communities are fully considered so that any future decisions are based on the strongest possible consensus

The decision on these proposals is ultimately for Police Scotland, with the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) providing oversight. I understand Police Scotland is continuing local consultation to listen to the views of local communities. To date, the consultation process has included engagement with elected representatives in the areas concerned, who have received written communication from Divisional Commanders and one-to-one meetings. In addition, Police Scotland met with local scrutiny committees, local authority chief executives, community planning partnerships, local stakeholders and representatives of community councils. Graham Houston and Douglas Yates, the SPA board members with responsibility for the relevant local authority areas, have also engaged with key local stakeholders on this issue.

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy met in December 2014 to agree that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and the Prison Officers Association (POA) (Scotland) could commence negotiations regarding the pay settlement for prison officers. The deal was negotiated and reached between SPS and POA(S). Any financial costs incurred will therefore be met from within the SPS’s own existing budgets, not from the Scottish Government.

I meet with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service on a regular basis. I met with representatives from the Prison Officers Association Scotland on 18 December 2014.

Other than the voluntary agreement in the Scottish Prison Service, which was entered into by Scottish Ministers in 2001, the Scottish Government does not have any such agreements with groups of public sector employees.

The pay settlement for frontline prison officers was negotiated and reached between the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and the Prison Officers Association (Scotland). This settlement recognises the evolutionary role of frontline prison officers in Scotland and is a step on a long term investment strategy for the future of the prison service in Scotland. Any financial costs incurred will therefore be met by the SPS’ own existing budgets. No additional provision will be made by the Scottish Government to meet these costs, nor will they impact on future pay bills for this group of staff. Ministers agreed, exceptionally, that SPS could negotiate a pay settlement outside normal Scottish Government pay policy with the aim of securing ongoing engagement from frontline prison officers in the development of the role of a prison officer in the period ahead.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “There will be no cost in (a) 2015-16 or (b) in future years for the recently agreed one off payment for prison officers. As this is a one off payment the full costs will be met from the 2014-15 budget.”