Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-18177

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a new Scottish Police Authority report states that Police Scotland may not have the capacity and capability to absorb the work of the British Transport Police, and that there may be significant differences between actual costs and previous estimates.

Throughout the re-planning process, commissioned by Scottish Ministers, we have been committed to listening to stakeholders. As part of the re-plan, recent advice from Police Scotland on a range of issues, and timing of implementation, particularly relating to ICT, has emerged. Based on that information, I have decided that we will re-examine all options for the devolution of railway policing, with clear governance structures that ensure accountability to the Scottish Parliament.

Full integration of railway policing into Police Scotland, as legislated for by the Scottish Parliament remains a long term goal and we will keep the commencement date of the Act under review. However, there is a need to identify interim arrangements that can give effect more quickly to the Smith Commission’s cross-party recommendation to devolve railway policing to the Scottish Parliament.

The absolute priority for all those involved is the safety and security of officers, staff and those who use Scotland’s railways.

I want to pay tribute to the on-going commitment of officers and staff of both police services, who I look forward to engaging with on this matter in the very near future.

I will commit to keeping Parliament fully updated on progress.

Question reference: S5W-18178

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns regarding safety risks and the financial cost of full integration, whether it will consider the option of a commissioned service model for the devolution of British Transport Police.

Question reference: S5W-18175

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost to Police Scotland of future overtime payments in relation to the judgement that police officers are entitled to an extra shift payment for every 24 hours that they work away from home.

The payment of overtime to police officers is a matter for the chief constable of Police Scotland. The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreed to introduce a set of allowances that officers can claim when they are deployed away from their usual place of duty and as a consequence are unable to return home. This agreement came into force on 4 June 2018 and is published in PNB circular 2018/2 – link attached: https://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00538317.pdf .

Question reference: S5W-18176

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has taken increased overtime payments into account in its financial planning in light of the judgement that police officers are entitled to an extra shift payment for every 24 hours that they work away from home.

The payment of overtime to police officers is a matter for the chief constable of Police Scotland. The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreed to introduce a set of allowances that officers can claim when they are deployed away from their usual place of duty and as a consequence are unable to return home. This agreement came into force on 4 June 2018 and is published in PNB circular 2018/2 – link attached: https://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00538317.pdf .

Question reference: S5W-18174

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost to Police Scotland of backdated overtime payments in relation to the judgement that police officers are entitled to an extra shift payment for every 24 hours that they work away from home.

The payment of overtime to police officers is a matter for the chief constable of Police Scotland. The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreed to introduce a set of allowances that officers can claim when they are deployed away from their usual place of duty and as a consequence are unable to return home. This agreement came into force on 4 June 2018 and is published in PNB circular 2018/2 – link attached: https://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00538317.pdf .

Question reference: S5W-18033

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any settlement agreement, confidentiality agreement or similar post-employment contract that has been put in place for the former chief executive of NHS Tayside.

The conclusion of any matter relating to the termination of employment of any NHS Scotland employee is principally a matter between the employing health board and former employee concerned. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to make any comment in individual cases.

In this case NHS Tayside have indicated that, upon leaving the board, Ms McLay only received what she was contractually entitled to and nothing more. In concluding all employment matters, NHS Scotland health boards are guided by both national and local employment policies and the principles of UK employment law.

Question reference: S5W-17948

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17467 by Humza Yousaf on 27 June 2018, whether any costs have emerged to date and, if so, how much, and whether it will commit to providing any further costs within 28 days of their being incurred.

Question reference: S5W-17947

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17469 by Humza Yousaf on 27 June 2018, whether it will answer the question that was asked and confirm the advice given at the staff engagement session on 20 June 2018, and, regardless of the final costs of integration, whether it will meet those costs or whether other bodies would be expected to meet some or all of these.

Question reference: S5W-17950

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17474 by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018, whether it has received any legal advice that states that, under no circumstances, any British Transport Police officer in Scotland would be in a redundancy situation following the merger with Police Scotland and, if so, whether it will provide that advice.

Question reference: S5W-17949

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17471 by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018, whether it will answer the question that was asked and confirm what assessment, if any, it has undertaken on the integration, and whether it will provide such assessment.

The extensive re-planning work which has been underway has brought to light practicalities that were of concern to Police Scotland and in light of their recent advice, and as announced on 27 August, we now looking at further options available. We remain committed to full integration as legislated for in the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017, which we will keep under review in the intervening period.

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