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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 22 December 2024
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Displaying 816 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I have a quick question for John Thomson. It has been mentioned that community stations might need to close, subject to a risk assessment. Has any financial planning been done in relation to the revenue that could come in if you were to sell those premises? Is that within your ownership, and what could be brought in or gained from it?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I understand that, but could revenue come in from that?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I wonder where they get the information from. Is it fed back to them from officers or is Optima marking its own homework and saying it is doing a good job?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

Thank you—that is useful to know.

I realise that this next question is probably difficult to answer but, given everything that has been said, and if cuts need to be made in the way that you are describing, what area will be most impacted, in a general sense?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I am talking about an operational area.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I understand. Thank you—that is helpful.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I get the impression that you are presenting us with the worst-case scenario that will happen unless things change, so I am looking for a bit of light. Apart from the obvious solution—more money—can you suggest anything that might help us to see a way through the situation? What you have said sounds pretty critical.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

I totally agree with David Page: we are all very proud of the police service and what it has achieved in the transformation. I do not disagree with any of those comments.

However, perhaps he, too, will recognise that the Scottish Government is in new and very challenging territory with a fixed and therefore reducing budget. I know that he knows that, so it is a case of working together to try to work something out. I just wanted to put on record that I do not think that the police service’s work has not been recognised—I think that it has been.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

On mental health, I want to ask about the external contract that you have with Optima Health for officers. What is the value and duration of the contract? Have you ever considered bringing the services in-house? Would that be more efficient?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Meeting date: 26 October 2022

Rona Mackay

Lynn Brown, is the service that is provided by that contract evaluated? Quite a lengthy contract is awarded. Do you review with the officers how effective it is?