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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-20048

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by an employment judge that Police Scotland is operating at "the minimum level of staffing for safety", as reported in The Herald on 20 November 2018.

The management of resources, including staffing levels, is a matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government is supporting Police Scotland by protecting the police resource budget in real terms in every year of this Parliament – a boost of £100 million by 2021. We have also ensured that policing will fully benefit from being able to reclaim VAT of around £25 million a year, previously paid to the UK Government.

As of 30 September 2018 Police Scotland had 17,147 police officers, 913 more than the figure inherited in 2007 (+5.6 per cent). This contrasts with a decrease of 19,588 (-13.8 per cent) from March 2007 to March 2018 in England and Wales.

Question reference: S5W-20107

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for paying for any works for the maintenance and upkeep of the B979 Netherley Road while it is subject to increased traffic during delays to the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Question reference: S5W-20112

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether any penalties will be issued to Aberdeen Roads Limited as a result of delays in opening the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Question reference: S5W-20110

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned regarding contract drafting and procurement from the process for work done on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), and how these lessons will be disseminated to (a) the A96 project and (b) other major infrastructure works in the north east.

Transport Scotland records lessons learned at the end of each phase of all its projects and procurements. Recommendations made are assessed and addressed where necessary, with the lessons learned subsequently disseminated to staff during regular project reviews. Learning the lessons from previous projects will help improve both future outcomes and processes on all projects, including the A96 Dualling Programme.

Question reference: S5W-20111

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact there will be on future contract awards for Aberdeen Roads Limited and associated contractors as a result of delays to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

It is imperative that the tender process for any public contract is robust, non-discriminatory, fair and transparent and complies with European Union procurement legislation.

All contractors interested in bidding for future projects, including Aberdeen Roads Limited and associated contractors, must be dealt with in a non-discriminatory manner and will be subject to a strict pre-qualification process. The purpose of this is to ascertain if they are able to satisfy the required levels of economic and financial standing, and possess the necessary technical and professional ability required to participate in the tender process. Where possible, past performance will be considered as part of the pre-qualification process.

Both the pre-qualification and the final tender submissions from all contractors will be rigorously assessed, and will also be subject to stringent governance procedures.

Question reference: S5O-02696

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the clear-up rate for housebreakings is.

Question reference: S5W-20097

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the report by the Auditor General, The 2017/18 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, that, during 2017-18, Police Scotland spent (a) £4.3 millionon consultancy fees and (b) £4 million on agency staff, and what ministerial involvement there was with the decisions that led to this expenditure.

Scottish Ministers allocate funding to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to allow it to maintain policing in Scotland.

It is for the Scottish Police Authority to prioritise its financial resources, ensuring this is done in line with guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Auditor General’s view that the SPA and Police Scotland must have arrangements in place to monitor spend against these contracts, and ensure that the planned benefits and knowledge transfer and the desired contribution to the organisation’s strategic objectives are achieved, to enable spend on consultancy and agency staff to reduce in future years.

Question reference: S5W-20099

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the report by the Auditor General, The 2017/18 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, regarding the BTP merger that "Given the range of transformational challenges facing the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland there is a risk that the ongoing uncertainty continues to absorb resources at the expense of wider strategic objectives".

On 27 August, I announced that we would re-examine all options for the devolution of railway policing, recognising the pressing need to fully examine appropriate interim arrangements. I explained to the Justice Committee on 18 September and I announced during that meeting that I would update Parliament on progress before the Christmas recess.

We will continue to support the SPA and Police Scotland to deliver transformation and to ensure strong financial planning going forward.

Question reference: S5W-20096

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the report by the Auditor General, The 2017/18 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, that there has been “a lack of clarity about how the £298 million required to implement the [Police Scotland digital, data and ICT] strategy will be funded” and that this presents "a risk to both the timing of its implementation and the future financial sustainability of the Scottish Police Authority".

The Scottish Government welcomes the work undertaken to date to develop the Police Scotland Digital, Data and ICT (DDICT) Strategy. Moving forward, it is for the Scottish Police Authority to scrutinise the delivery of that strategy, ensuring that proposals are affordable and deliver best value.

Funding of transformation activity across policing is being considered in the context of setting the 2019-20 Scottish Budget which will be published in December 2018.

Question reference: S5W-20095

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the report by the Auditor General, The 2017/18 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, that there has been “insufficient progress” in developing Police Scotland’s workforce and estates strategies.

While this is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the Scottish Government notes the Auditor General’s view and welcomes the work underway to address the issues highlighted.

The Police Scotland Estates Strategy was approved by the SPA Board in June 2015 and is currently being revised and updated to ensure alignment with wider transformation taking place across the service. This work is expected to be completed by the end of March 2019.

The Police Scotland People Strategy was presented to the SPA Board in August 2018 and the service is expects to consult key stakeholders on a draft Workforce strategy by the end of March 2019.