- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the officer/staff engagement events that were scheduled for 4 and 5 June 2018 regarding the merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland have been postponed, and how this will impact on the Joint Programme Board's reported commitment to address poor communication.
Answer
All those involved in delivering this change have a shared interest in arranging events that are genuinely meaningful for the BTP staff and officers who want to hear updates on the change that affects them directly. For that to happen, the Joint Programme Board (JPB) needs to secure maximum attendance from senior leadership across all partner organisations involved in the process.
When it became clear that provisional dates for these events would not achieve that aim, JPB partners took a collective decision to seek alternatives.
The JPB is now working collaboratively to initiate a series of events beginning in June. Dates will be communicated in advance to give officers and staff sufficient notice to enable attendance. Other new, regular communication activity will complement these events.
All our work going forward centres on the need to listen more to those involved in the change and keep them involved and informed.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by James Wolffe QC on 8 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in the Thematic Report on the Victims’ Right to Review and Complaints Handling and Feedback Follow-up by the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland, when COPFS will begin notifying all victims of decisions not to prosecute.
Answer
The Inspectorate of Prosecution recommended that COPFS should work towards a system of notifying all victims of decisions not to prosecute, whether through the use of IT solutions or otherwise.
The Inspectorate recognised that the rights and expectations of victims would require to be balanced with a proportionate response, that notifying all the victims of decisions not to prosecute has resource implications and that IT solutions may assist.
The Inspectorate’s recommendation has been accepted by Law Officers. COPFS will now explore possible approaches to notifying all victims of decisions not to prosecute, including possible IT solutions.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 7 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14713 by Annabelle Ewing on 6 March 2018, whether the planned and subsequent meetings were held and, if so, (a) on what date or dates, (b) whether it will publish the minutes, (c) what key milestones were (i) discussed and (ii) agreed, and which stakeholders' views were sought.
Answer
The tripartite working group – comprising representatives of Police Scotland, CoSLA and the Scottish Government - met on 8 March. The meeting was chaired by Police Scotland. There are not currently plans to publish the minutes.
It was a positive meeting at which a range of issues was discussed, including the importance of stakeholder engagement. The group agreed that its initial focus should be to work collaboratively to reach a shared understanding of the issues in relation to traffic regulation at pre-planned events. Work is on-going in that connection. This will give further shape to the next steps of the group. No date is currently set for the next meeting of the group, which is due to be hosted by the local authority representatives.
Police Scotland have advised the group that they would revert to pre-existing arrangements while the work of the tripartite group is on-going.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what target it has set for improving the efficiency of prosecuting solemn criminal cases from caution and charge to verdict, and what its performance against that target has been in each month since April 2007, broken down by court.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not centrally set targets in relation to the period from caution and charge to verdict in solemn cases. The efficient progression of solemn cases through the justice system is the shared responsibility of Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the defence. Given the complexity of solemn business, which is heard before the High Court and Sheriff and Jury Courts and includes the most serious and complex cases in terms of investigation, preparation and determination, a single solemn system wide target / indicator would not be meaningful when compared to the more immediate, less complex and higher volume nature of summary business.
The efficient prosecution of solemn cases by the COPFS takes place within the legislative framework of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. The 1995 Act sets statutory time limits within which solemn cases must be indicted in both the High Court and Sheriff and Jury Courts. The relevant time limits are dictated by whether the accused is remanded in custody or on bail pending trial. COPFS performance in relation to the prosecution of solemn business reflect the statutory requirements that all indictments are served within timebar. COPFS performance against these requirements is published and available at http://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Statistics/Performance%20Against%20Key%20Targets%20April%202017%20to%20December%202017.pdf
The SCTS have confirmed that development work to collect and report management information from first diet to verdict / trial concluded in Sheriff and Jury cases is underway and this performance data will be available in the future.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of summary criminal cases were dealt with from caution and charge to verdict within the 26-week target in each month since April 2007, broken down by (i) sheriff and (ii) justice of the peace court.
Answer
The available information is contained in the workbook titled ‘Number and percentage of summary criminal cases concluded within 26 weeks (caution and charge to verdict) - All Sheriff and Justice of the Peace courts Apr 07 – April 18’ which is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 59770).
The 26 week indicator from caution to charge to verdict covers activity from Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as well as the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
Latest statistical information confirms that on a national basis Sheriff Court performance has improved from 65.7% in 2016-17 to 67.7% in 2017-18.
Latest statistical information confirm that on a national basis Justice of the Peace Court performance has improved from 62.9% in 2016-17 to 65% in 2017-18.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 May 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2018
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a recent assessment of Scotland’s future housing needs.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a proper basis in law to support the transfer and integration of British Transport Police officers with Police Scotland.
Answer
The Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017, passed by this Parliament, forms the legislative basis for the integration of the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland. Section 90 of the Scotland Act 1998 will allow the transfer of BTP officers and staff whose work relates wholly or mainly with railway policing in Scotland to the Scottish Police Authority.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported risks that have been identified by the Joint Programme Board, for what reason it remains its policy to merge the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government has outlined the clear benefits of integration: the legislation on railway policing has twice been approved by a Parliamentary majority and will have a strong and robust future that delivers high safety standards for passengers, staff and the railway industry. The integration will provide a single command structure, with seamless access to wider support facilities and specialist resources, and ensure that railway policing in Scotland is accountable to the people of Scotland through the Scottish Police Authority and ultimately the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Audit Scotland regarding any risks associated with the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland
Answer
The BTP integration is being managed in line with the SPFM guidance on risk, project and programme management. Audit Scotland are not part of this process and have an independent assurance role that is separate from risk management arrangements.
