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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-15626

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 24 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances would an identified level of risk to (a) public safety, (b) logistics and (c) value for public money cause it to reconsider the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, and how it would define this level.

Our aim is to integrate BTP into Police Scotland safely and effectively, providing an enhanced service to both the rail industry and travelling public. The BTP integration programme has a risk register into which all partners contribute. If an issue should arise that could have a serious impact on the delivery of the programme this will be discussed with partners and escalated to the Joint Programme Board as appropriate.

Question reference: S5W-15634

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.

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.

Question reference: S5W-15620

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.

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.

Question reference: S5W-15622

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.

Question reference: S5W-15621

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.

Question reference: S5O-01993

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.

Question reference: S5W-15142

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.

Question reference: S5F-02196

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.

Question reference: S5O-01938

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.

Question reference: S5W-15161

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding to pay for any extra criminal justice social work that is carried out if a presumption against 12-month prison sentences is introduced and, if so, how much.

This Government has already made clear its commitment by increasing ring-fenced investment in community sentences from £4 million per annum in each of the last two years to £5.5 million in the 2018-19 budget. This is to help build capacity in advance of extending the presumption against short term sentences.

Funding for community justice services across Scotland remains at record levels. We have allocated around £100m funding to local authorities who work with a range of organisations and partners to help deliver community sentences, support the rehabilitation of people with convictions and reduce re-offending.