Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-18692

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making all work produced by consultants in relation to the merger of British Transport Police and Police Scotland publicly available, and when it plans to do so.

The interim manager who has been working with Scottish Government has worked as part of a wider team, so there is no specific work that the individual has produced that can be released. The re-planning exercise prioritised the areas which would support identification of a new date for integration. Given that the status of the programme has now changed, this work has been superseded by the announcement that I made to review the options. Work is currently being undertaken to consolidate existing re-planning information and signpost to further work as required. I will proactively publish this in due course.

The work delivered by Ernst and Young for Police Scotland is a matter for Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-18841

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18239 whether it will answer the question that was asked in terms of how much it estimates the Police Scotland Digital, Data and ICT strategy will cost.

The Scottish Police Authority considered the Digital, Data and ICT Outline Business Case (OBC) at its meeting on 27 September 2018. The overall financial requirements of a number of options are outlined within the OBC.

The estimated total cost of the preferred option approved by the SPA Board is:

£244m in capital in reform funding over 9 years
£54m in reform funding over 9 years

The Outline Business Case estimates that this level of investment would deliver £357m in benefits, delivered over 9 years.

Question reference: S5W-18576

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when its proposal to implement Finn’s Law, to establish a specific criminal offence of attacking or killing a service animal, will come into effect, and whether its plans for the legislation will (a) include treating these animals as sentient beings and (b) recognise the dangerous work that these animals can undertake.

The Scottish Government values the important and brave work undertaken by police dogs and other service animals. The Scottish Government Programme for Government 2018-19 includes a commitment to specifically consult on a “Finn’s Law” along with other proposals to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”). This consultation is planned for later this year. The 2006 Act implicitly recognises that all vertebrate animals are sentient.

Question reference: S5W-18695

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17946 by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018, (a) for how many days and (b) over what time period Ernst & Young will be engaged, and how many staff/contractors/personnel it is providing for this work.

Question reference: S5W-18693

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17946 by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018, by what procurement or other process it identified and recruited Ernst & Young as the best organisation to provide "Programme Management Support" and "specialist integration Due Diligence analysis".

Question reference: S5W-18690

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17946 by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018, whether it will provide a breakdown of the work produced by Ernst & Young in relation to (a) "Programme Management Support" and (b) "specialist integration Due Diligence analysis".

Question reference: S5W-18689

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17946 by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018, whether it will provide a plain English description of what "Programme Management Support" and "specialist integration Due Diligence analysis" mean.

Question reference: S5W-18684

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the main issues are with HMP Perth’s existing security management system.

Question reference: S5W-18691

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17946 by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018, who the independent consultant engaged through Harvey Nash Recruitment is, and what work they (a) have done and (b) will do.

Regarding the interim professional advisor engaged by the Scottish Government, I should explain that the Scottish Government must balance its obligations of transparency, accountability and openness with the rights of people who entrust us with their personal information, as well as be compliant with legislation. We have released information that we believe is appropriate under FOISA but are unable to name the individual.

They have been engaged in work to coordinate the programme as well as working with partners to develop the Target Operating Model.

We are currently assessing the future need for support with regards to the devolution of railway policing. The arrangements with Harvey Nash is on a rolling basis and we are keeping it under close review. We do not propose that the arrangement continues in the long term.

Question reference: S5W-18694

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17946 by Humza Yousaf on 29 August 2018, by what procurement or other process it identified and recruited the independent consultant as the best person to provide work in relation to the merger of British Transport Police and Police Scotland.