The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 816 contributions
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
I am conscious of time, so I will be quick.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
Thank you.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
I am finding this a very encouraging session. Thanks for the efficiencies that you have made in the reorganisation. Eric McQueen, you talked at the start about how the pay increase has been a bit higher than you had thought it would be. Is that helping you with recruitment and retention?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
I am sorry to interrupt—where are we with that, then? Ten years seems like a long time.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
I know that I am running out of time, but I will go back to James Gray, very briefly. You mentioned the closure of maybe 30 police stations. Would you put that money back into the capital budget, as the fire service is doing?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
Thank you, convener. I will come to James Gray first.
In your opening statement, you acknowledged that you received £80 million extra in your budget. You said that half of that was spent on pay rises. Sorry if this is a bit simplistic, but can you say how the other £40 million was absorbed?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
I turn to body-worn cameras. In the previous session of Parliament, I was on the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing and we were talking about cameras then, which was seven years ago. Why has that not been a priority for you? Whose decision is it? Is it operational, or is it a decision for you? You could not give a guarantee that it would happen, so I am wondering who actually decides that.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
Again just briefly, I have a question for DCC Connors. You talked about THRIVE assessments, and said that it would be up to individual officers to do that. How is training going for that? Also, you will know that we did quite a large inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of police officers; how is work on that progressing?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
Incidentally, you mentioned virtual trials. I am very pleased about your plans for virtual domestic abuse trials. It is a huge step forward.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Rona Mackay
That is great. Do you have problems with RAAC—the reinforced concrete—in your buildings?