Seòmar agus comataidhean

Scottish Government Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to work in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland. I most recently met with the Leader and Chief Executive of the Council in Orkney on 23 August, when we discussed ferry services and other issues. Indeed Mr McArthur will recall that he and I also met during that visit.

The Scottish Government has set out a commitment to extend superfast broadband access to every premise in Scotland by 2021, which will primarily benefit consumers in rural areas. Our overall delivery approach is currently being finalised, and we will set out our plans in more detail in the coming weeks.

We expect that initial phases are likely to focus on more rural premises, rather than urban areas where we believe that commercial investment should play a more prominent role. We are also seeking to take account of emerging UK Government plans around a Universal Service Obligation, including the possibility of a voluntary deal between the UK Government and BT.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S5W-10805 and S5W-10806 on 8 September 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Scottish Government officials have had three conference call meetings and a series of email exchanges with members of the Saltire Prize Challenge Committee - the independent panel that oversees the Saltire Prize - since 10 November 2015. Conference call meetings took place on 20 April 2016, 10 November 2016 and 27 January 2017.

The findings of an informal review carried out by Scottish Renewables and revised prize options were shared with the committee in April 2016. However, at the most recent meeting in January 2017, committee members asked for an up-to-date analysis of the marine energy industry to inform their deliberations. Following a competitive tender process, renewable energy consultants Aquatera and Caelulum Limited were appointed in April 2017 to produce a report on the current state of the industry. We expect to have a final report to share with the committee in early September 2017.

The Saltire Prize is being redesigned to better reflect the circumstances of the wave and tidal sectors.

The Saltire Prize Challenge Committee - the independent panel that oversees the Saltire Prize - has asked for an up-to-date analysis of the marine energy industry to inform its deliberations on the redesign of the prize. We expect to be able to share this analysis with the committee in early September 2017.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10805 on 8 September 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

We are aware of the issue and I have spoken to both the Managing Director of Loganair and the Chief Executive of Flybe. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.

It is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to consider what steps, if any, should be taken to raise public awareness of the content of guidance for prosecutors which it publishes.

However, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the public are aware of changes to the criminal law, including offences committed mainly in an on-line environment. That is why, for example, the Scottish Government recently undertook a publicity campaign to make the general public aware of the new law criminalising the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

The Scottish Government works closely with Police Scotland and a range of other stakeholders in relation to cybercrime and cyber resilience.

The Policing 2026 Strategy developed by Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority recognises the emerging threat from online crime and one of the main priorities is to strengthen Police Scotland’s cyber capability and capacity. Police Scotland is also investing significant funds in developing its cybercrime infrastructure through the development of a network hubs to ensure that knowledge and skills are maintained to a high level.

The Scottish Government is committed to protecting the police resource budget in real terms in every year of this Parliament – a boost of £100m by 2021. We committed a further £61 million in police reform in 2017-18 to help support Police Scotland to deliver a police service capable of meeting the changing demands of crime and society over the next 10 years.

Scotland’s public sector bodies take cyber security seriously and already implement a wide range of measures to ensure basic security standards are met. The Scottish Government launched the cyber-resilience strategy, Safe, Secure and Prosperous: A Cyber Resilience Strategy for Scotland, in November 2015. The strategy is being taken forward with key partners through the recently established National Cyber Resilience Leaders Board. We have committed to accelerating the development of a public sector action plan to help promote a common approach to cyber resilience across Scotland’s public bodies.

Scottish Ministers and officials have met BTP Federation representatives on a number of occasions to discuss our plans and further engagement is planned.

During the passage of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017 we published a series of letters between the Scottish Government, the BTPF and other organisations in respect of the integration of British Transport Police into Police Scotland these can be found on the following links http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/102680.aspx

The Scottish Government has consistently given assurances throughout the passage of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017 that terms and conditions, pay and pensions of BTP officers and staff will be the same as they are currently, or that an equivalent level of benefit will be provided to ensure that transfer takes place on a no-detriment basis.

We greatly value the work of BTP officers and staff in keeping people safe. Maintaining and improving safety and security is our main priority and Police Scotland will maintain a dedicated railway policing unit protected within the broader structure of the force.

Integration will provide a single command structure for policing in Scotland with seamless access to wider support facilities and specialist resources, providing an enhanced service provision to the rail industry and travelling public.