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As part of the application process for energy infrastructure projects, the Scottish Government undertake a full and thorough consultation with stakeholders, including the relevant Local Planning Authorities, to ensure all aspects of the development are considered.

Where it is necessary to understand the environmental impact of an infrastructure project, a full Environment Impact Assessment is required to be undertaken which takes into account the cumulative impacts of the full development.

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

As of 2 April 2024 (the date on which SPS’ year end people data was collated), SPS’ full time equivalent figure across prison officer positions was 3440.5.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) work with operators, crew and unions to ensure that all replacement ferries are safely crewed and operated from the ports and harbours they are set to serve before their introduction. The four vessels being built at Cemre are sister vessels, of a standardised design and layout and as such the crew will be interoperable. This will be the case also for the seven vessels as part of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme. Port works are also being undertaken to ensure that they are suitable for the new vessels.

Inter-island ferry services and operations must also comply with strict training and safety regulations for crew.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is committed to building a diverse and representative workforce. The SPCB monitors and reports on the diversity of its staff, including people with a disability.  Where a group is identified as underrepresented in the workforce, positive action measures are used to remove barriers and increase representation.

The SPCB is one of a small number of organisations in Scotland to be recognized as a Disability Confident Leader. This accreditation recognises the actions taken to actively encourage the recruitment of disabled people and the support provided to foster career progression.  In keeping with this accreditation guidance has been developed for managers to ensure that they take an inclusive approach to recruitment, ensuring that our approach is open and accessible for all.  This includes guidance and resources for managers and staff on creating an inclusive workplace for neurodivergent colleagues.  Where a colleague with a learning disability, autism or neurodivergence requires support to access the recruitment process or work effectively, an adjustment plan is agreed with them to ensure that appropriate adjustments are put in place and updated, as required.

The number of police recorded crimes of shoplifting are published in Table 1 of the Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletins. The latest data is shown in the following table.

Crewing levels will be comparable with existing small vessels to ensure safe manning and operation of the new vessels when they are introduced. CalMac Ferries Limited will continue to engage with crew and unions ahead of the vessels introduction. Further detail on particulars of the vessels is available in Q&A documents on CMAL‘s dedicated SVRP website - Small Vessel Replacement Programme | CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (cmassets.co.uk).

Consultation and engagement with seafarer unions has been ongoing for SVRP and will continue during the design and build stage and will include (a) test and survey, (b) launch, (c) equip and (d) sea trial stage of the contract.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as procuring authority foresee the invitation to tender issuing late September/early October 2024. A contract range will be given but it will be for bidders to confirm the cost of the design and build contract and for CMAL to evaluate bids against the set criteria of the procurement process.

We will continue to engage and listen to the views of landlords, tenants and investors, through the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Stakeholder Group, the Housing Investment Taskforce, as well as ongoing targeted stakeholder engagement.

The Scottish Government publish full-time police officer numbers on a quarterly basis. The statistics published provide a snapshot of police strength at the end of each quarter. Police officer quarterly strength statistics Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent police officers at the end of each quarter during 2023-24.