- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff absences due to mental health reasons were recorded by (a) 999 and (b) 101 call centre staff, in each year since 2014.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcomes initiatives being undertaken by Police Scotland to support its workforce through the “Your Wellbeing Matters” programme which covers psychological, physical, social and financial wellbeing.
The Scottish Government does not collect information on staff absences due to mental health reasons. Delivery of call handling services and associated staffing issues are a matter for the Chief Constable under the oversight of the SPA.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many drink-driving (a) incidents, (b) charges, and (c) convictions there have been in each year since 2014.
Answer
The latest available information is provided in the following tables.
(a) N umber of offences related to drink/drugs driving, recorded by the police 2014-15 to 2021-22.
| | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
Driving motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs | 450 | 540 | 653 | 719 | 771 | 742 | 897 | 883 |
In charge of motor vehicle while unfit through drink/drugs | 54 | 71 | 123 | 137 | 148 | 159 | 138 | 147 |
Driving motor vehicle with blood alcohol content above prescribed limit | 3,161 | 3,239 | 3,465 | 3,262 | 3,201 | 3,275 | 2,756 | 2,972 |
In charge of motor vehicle while blood alcohol content above limit | 390 | 364 | 331 | 333 | 333 | 324 | 255 | 299 |
Failure to provide breath specimen at roadside | 477 | 509 | 569 | 602 | 591 | 630 | 637 | 592 |
Failure to provide breath, blood or urine specimen at police station | 686 | 735 | 776 | 810 | 803 | 848 | 923 | 906 |
Driving motor vehicle while under influence of controlled drug above prescribed limit | - | - | - | - | - | 573 | 2,336 | 1,886 |
In charge of motor vehicle while under influence of controlled drug above prescribed limit | - | - | - | - | - | 43 | 155 | 88 |
Total | 5,218 | 5,458 | 5,917 | 5,863 | 5,847 | 6,594 | 8,097 | 7,773 |
(b) Driving under the influence charges reported to COPFS, 2014-15 to 2021-22.
2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
5,434 | 5,486 | 5,884 | 5,770 | 5,840 | 5,990 | 6,272 | 7,120 |
Source: COPFS.
(c) The latest available information on the number of people convicted for ‘driving under the influence’ is published in the ‘Criminal Proceedings in Scotland – 2020-21' statistical bulletin, table 4(b).
A breakdown of the various crime types that make up this category is provided in the following table, please note that we are unable to separate alcohol offences from drug related offences in some crime groups.
People convicted of offences related to driving under the influence, where main crime, by crime type, 2014-15 to 2020-21.
| | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 |
Driving motor vehicle while under influence of controlled drug above | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 119 |
Driving motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs | 203 | 196 | 239 | 255 | 315 | 304 | 145 |
Driving mv with blood alcohol content above prescribed limit | 2,791 | 2,654 | 2,746 | 2,734 | 2,548 | 2,460 | 1,535 |
Failure to provide breath, blood or urine specimen at police station | 382 | 406 | 352 | 368 | 404 | 368 | 231 |
Failure to provide breath specimen at the roadside | 55 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 42 | 43 | 16 |
In charge of motor vehicle while under influence of controlled drug | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 |
In charge of motor vehicle while unfit through drink/drugs | 26 | 31 | 34 | 48 | 34 | 44 | 26 |
In charge of mv while blood alcohol content above limit | 224 | 202 | 212 | 202 | 209 | 179 | 107 |
Total convicted | 3,681 | 3,537 | 3,634 | 3,660 | 3,552 | 3,402 | 2,185 |
Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database
Please note:
Data for 2020-21 are affected by the pandemic and subsequent court closures and may not be indicative of long term trends.
The latest available data is for 2020-21. Information for 2021-22 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2021-22 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published in 2023.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to statistics reportedly showing that the number of sexual misconduct allegations against Police Scotland officers has increased by over 400% in 2022 to date, compared with 2021.
Answer
Bullying, harassment and unacceptable behaviour of any form cannot be tolerated within society or within policing, and there must be trust in how matters are handled if things go wrong. This includes having robust, clear and transparent mechanisms in place to investigate complaints, misconduct or other issues of concern.
Protecting public confidence in policing in Scotland is fundamental to a healthy democratic society. That is why the Scottish Government commissioned and subsequently accepted the majority of the recommendations from Dame Elish Angiolini’s Independent Review, and outlined its commitment to introduce a Police Complaints and Misconduct Handling Bill later this parliamentary year.
The introduction of this Bill will provide greater transparency around the police complaints process, the standards we expect from officers and further strengthen public confidence in policing. It will build on the improvement work already delivered which includes a new operating model for complaint handling within Police Scotland and the establishment of a Strategic Oversight Board to mainstream equality, diversity and inclusion. This further underlines that unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated in policing in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have been admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of asthma in NHS (i) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (ii) Ayrshire and Arran in (A) 2011, (B) 2016, (C) 2020, (D) 2021 and (E) 2022 to date.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11872 on 24 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport last met with CalMac representatives.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2022
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current (a) timescales, (b) plans and (c) legislative changes it plans to propose to reform the dual role of the Lord Advocate, in their capacity as head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and as a minister in the Scottish Government and its principal legal adviser, in line with its commitments to do so.
Answer
The Programme for Government published in September 2021 covered this Parliamentary session running up to March 2026. Within it, there is a commitment as follows:
'The Scottish Government’s law officers, amongst other roles, act as the head of the independent prosecution service and as members of the Scottish Government. We will consult on whether the prosecution and government functions of the law officers should be separated.'
Work is continuing to progress towards a Scottish Government consultation. Development of the consultation will be informed by an initial phase of expert research, which is currently underway. This research will ensure a detailed baseline understanding of the many distinct roles and functions of the Law Officers and will provide information on how the functions of Law Officers operate in other countries.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent Quarterly Fines Report from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
Answer
The independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has the operational responsibility for the collection of criminal fines in Scotland. On 17 October 2022, SCTS published their latest quarterly fines report. This report is an official statistics publication and uses a rolling three year collection rate which reflects that fines and financial penalties, by their nature, require time to pay. As such, using a full three year period containing both newer and older fines gives a more balanced view of collection rates.
The latest report indicated that the three year collection rate for all fine/penalty types showed improvement for both value and number when the figures as at 19 July 2022 are compared with 17 October 2022. For example, 86% of sheriff court fines were either paid or on track to be paid as at 17 October compared to 85% as at 19 July.
We welcome this improvement and support the efforts of SCTS to collect and enforce fines using all the available tools at their disposal.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times Legionnaires' disease has been detected on the Police Scotland estate in each year since 2013.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the information to answer this question. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you providing the information you have requested. However, Police Scotland has reassured me that they conduct regular legionella testing across the Police Estate and if legionella bacteria is detected an immediate mitigation plan is put in place. Police Scotland has confirmed that there have been no cases of Legionnaires disease reported since 2013.
The Member will be aware of the temporary closure of the Scottish Police Collage at Tulliallan from 6 December. This was the result of routine testing and, as a precaution, Police Scotland’s leadership team has decided to temporarily close Tulliallan to allow further investigations and action to be undertaken.
There are no confirmed cases and the risk to individuals remains extremely low. However, Police Scotland has been clear that the safety and wellbeing of officers and staff is paramount. The closure will allow for a full flush of all water systems to be carried out, and further testing done to ensure there is no trace of bacteria remaining. There will be no impact on operational policing as a result of this.
Responsibility for the management of the police estate sits with Police Scotland, which is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much of its Justice Directorate's budget has been spent on first class train travel for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in each year since 2016.
Answer
The Justice Portfolio has spent £11,610.31 on first class rail travel for civil servants since 2016. Ministerial travel costs are paid for from a separate budget. A breakdown of the total cost is provided in the following table:
Calendar year | Calendar year spend (£) |
2016 | £1860.55 |
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2017 | £3975.54 |
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2018 | £3392.43 |
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2019 | £1009.24 |
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2020 | £292.25 |
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2021 | £998.35 |
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2022 to date | £81.95 |
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The Scottish Government’s rail travel policy dictates that civil servants should use standard class for all rail journeys. Scottish Government staff are also encouraged to aim to buy reduced rail fares, including day returns, saver tickets and also avoid expensive flexible/anytime rail fares whenever possible.
Civil Servants are, however, allowed to make use of first class rail travel on overnight journeys such as the Caledonian Sleeper or Eurostar. These journeys are reflected in the costs noted above.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much its Justice Directorate has spent on external management consultants in (a) 2012 and (b) each year since 2016.
Answer
The Justice portfolio has spent a total of £301,853.07 on external management consultants in 2012 and 2016-2019. This data relates to direct spend by the Scottish Government and does not include expenditure on consultancy services by public bodies. There was no spend on management consultancy services in the years 2020-2022. A breakdown of these costs is provided in the following table:
Year | Total | Business area |
2012 | £216,511.61 | Police and Fire policy |
2016 | £3,904.60 | Digital evidence sharing capability |
2017 | £26,973.46 | Digital evidence sharing capability Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) job evaluation |
| |
£2,000 |
2018 | £51,168 | Roadmap for transformation of the criminal justice sector |
2019 | £5,200 | Independent Review into Police Complaints |
