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Network Rail owns and manages rail infrastructure in Scotland, and its Scotland operations, including funding BTP to prevent theft from railways which are fully funded by the Scottish Government.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

It is for the Chief Constable, working with the working with the Scottish Police Authority, to determine how to allocate its budget to meet policing priorities including incidences involving unexploded wartime military ordnance.

You may wish to write directly to Police Scotland on this matter.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Spectrum allocation and management, as with all aspects of telecommunications policy, is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal role.

The Scottish Government, however, maintains an active interest in the spectrum policy agenda, in particular, as it relates to digital connectivity and digital infrastructure rollout in rural areas.

Responsibility for spectrum allocation and management falls under the remit of Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator. The Scottish Government has regular engagement with Ofcom at official and Ministerial levels. We also respond to any major consultations on spectrum strategy.

Our response to Ofcom’s 2022 discussion papers on mobile and spectrum policy can be found on Ofcom’s website at the following link:

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This response outlines the Scottish Government’s priorities in relation to spectrum. We continue to encourage Ofcom to consider the specific needs and characteristics of Scotland, Scottish geographies and Scottish markets when making decisions on spectrum and how these decisions subsequently impact 4G and 5G coverage in rural and underserved areas; commercial investment in digital infrastructure in rural and underserved areas; and, the development of 5G and other advanced wireless technologies in Scotland.

The Scottish Government works alongside the Justice of the Peace Advisory Committees (JPACs) to recruit Justices of the Peace. JPACs across all areas in Scotland advise the Scottish Government on where pressures exist, and the recruitment needs to alleviate these pressures. The Scottish Government work with JPACs to plan an outreach strategy for recruitments and process applications. It is then for each Sheriffdom’s JPAC to assess applications, carry out interviews, and recommend individuals for appointment by Scottish Ministers.

A large-scale recruitment took place in 2023-24 with the new Justices undertaking 12 to 18 months of training and due to take up post in 2025. This recruitment round included appointing 11 new Justices of the Peace to the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands – the Sheriffdom with the most rural areas. Whilst Scottish Government are involved in the recruitment of Justices of the Peace, matters such as training and retention would fall to the JPACs.

Enforcement measures are an operational matter for the British Transport Scotland police. British Transport Police regularly attend rail project meetings and provide expert advice as necessary.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers