Police Action on Parliament Complex
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many incidents there have been in the Parliament complex since 2012 that have led to police action. (S4O-03388)
Police Scotland uses a computerised call and incident management system—the system for tasking and operational resource management, or STORM—to record handling of incidents. The Scottish Parliament police unit provides a police service for the Scottish Parliament campus, which includes the landscaped areas and roads around the building. Police incidents requiring the unit’s involvement that occur on the Scottish Parliament campus are recorded on STORM.
Although it is not an exhaustive list, the following are examples of the types of incident that are recorded: protests and demonstrations, photo shoots and external events, high-profile and VIP visits, concerns regarding members of the public within or outside the building, crimes that have taken place, arrests or detentions of people on campus, road traffic matters, and unusual or offensive correspondence. As for the number of incidents that have been recorded since 2012, I can tell John Wilson that in 2012 there were 145, in 2013 there were 180 and in 2014 there have been 79 to date.
How many of the incidents since 2012 that David Stewart has just detailed have led to court action? Moreover, can he reassure me about the security system for Parliament and members, particularly in the light of the chief executive’s memorandum of 11 June 2014 that offered training and tips in office security for members and staff? Should we be concerned?
I thank Mr Wilson for his question. I know that he takes a great interest in these matters.
Perhaps I can respond by making a slightly wider point. We have ensured that the police and our security staff are well briefed on incidents involving security; for example, with regard to police presence in the MSP block, John Wilson will know that there have been a number of minor incidents in that part of the building. The head of security gave the SPCB a briefing, as a result of which the corporate body requested that the security office change the pattern of its night-patrol regime and have occasional assistance from the parliamentary police unit when resources are available.
As for prosecutions, they are a matter for the police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, but obviously I am happy to provide a more detailed answer if John Wilson cares to write to me about it.
Commercial Access (Pricing)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what prices it will set for the proposed pilot of commercial access to the Parliament, and whether these will be reduced for non-profit or charitable organisations. (S4O-03389)
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has agreed that, during the pilot, commercial events will take place only in the members’ room on non-business days. All the direct costs that are associated with such events will be recovered by charging organisers a facility fee for hire of the members’ room, which will initially be set at £1,000 plus VAT. The same commercial rates will apply to non-profit or charitable organisations; however, as with other external venues, they will be able to recover some of their costs by various means, including selling tables for their events. In addition, we have agreed that charities will be able to fundraise at those commercial events.
It seems to me to be reasonable that, for the wide range of member-sponsored events that already take place, the space is provided without a charge, and that access to Parliament, and the status that attaches to holding an event in this building, should be available to organisations because of members’ support for them, rather than through their simply having a chequebook. Can I urge the corporate body to reconsider the issues of principle that are involved in this pilot and, notwithstanding the individual organisations that might take it up, the impact of the perception that Parliament is simply available for hire?
There are a few points that I would like to make in response to Patrick Harvie. First, I stress for everyone concerned that member-sponsored events are not affected by the pilot at all; it is in addition to such events. The six-month pilot will be monitored carefully, and the integrity of Parliament will be uppermost in all our minds when we look at how it is working.
Some organisations, such as charities, sometimes feel that they are limited in what they can present to their audiences at member-sponsored events on Parliament business days. For example, we would not allow fundraising at such events. However, we decided that commercial fundraising for charities would be allowed during the six-month pilot, and we will monitor that carefully.
A strict mechanism has been put in place to ensure that any risk of reputational damage is effectively managed during the six-month period. We will also monitor all organisations when they book, and although I cannot predict the individual circumstances that may arise, there will in commercial event contracts be appropriate clauses that can be invoked to allow us to cancel such events if necessary. We are conscious of concerns, but we are also conscious of the demand that exists, and that is why we have put in place a carefully monitored six-month pilot.
Environmental Targets
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what progress the Parliament is making in meeting its environmental targets. (S4O-03356)
That is a welcome question, because the Parliament and the corporate body are making excellent progress. In fact, we are quite proud of our achievements to date. We have reduced carbon emissions by 30 per cent, and gas and electricity consumption is also down, which represents a saving of more than £200,000 on our utility bills each year.
Achieving this year’s target to reduce carbon emissions keeps us on course to achieve our longer-term target to reduce emissions by 42 per cent by 2020. However, targets to reduce landfill waste and water use were not quite achieved in 2013-14, although sizeable reductions of nearly 70 per cent have been made in the amount of waste that was sent to landfill, recycling rates exceed 80 per cent and water use is down by 9 per cent.
I am pleased to hear about the significant progress that everyone here is making towards meeting the challenging carbon-reduction targets, but I would like to know what the next steps are to make incremental progress. As my question relates to environmental targets in general, and as we saw the fantastic spectacle of our bees arriving yesterday, I will also take the liberty of asking what role the bees may have in our general environmental approach.
I thought for one awful moment that Annabelle Ewing was going to ask me how many bees are in the hives; I do not have that figure. I will certainly find out more about all the wonderful things that the bees will add to the environment of the Parliament. One of the special things, of course, is that we are trying to help with the honey bee problem that exists right across the country, by doing our bit to ensure that there is a good future for honey bees and to promote the benefits that they bring through pollination.
Annabelle Ewing also asked what more we are going to do to improve and reach our targets. We are doing various things; she may have noticed that we have made changes in the canteen, to make recycling easier and to make it more obvious how people can help towards the Parliament’s recycling targets. One of the issues, as I mentioned, is that we had not quite reached our target on reduction of water use, but we have changed some equipment and procedures in an effort to monitor water use and to achieve a reduction in consumption.
We are confident that this year’s targets will be achieved, but it is an on-going process and we should never rest on our laurels.
I congratulate the corporate body on the progress that has been achieved. Bees manage to achieve aviation quite sustainably; unfortunately, Parliament continues to use short-haul aviation within the UK, despite the presence of a very affordable rail service. Is that issue under review? Does the Parliament intend, as the London mayor has done, to rule out short-haul aviation?
That is a very tenuous link, so Linda Fabiani does not have to answer, unless she particularly wants to.
It is fine. Such matters are held under review by the corporate body all the time. I heard my colleague Liam McArthur say, “I’d never get home.” Given that he lives in and represents Orkney, I can see his concern. However, we monitor these things all the time through the chief executive’s reports.
Digital Working
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to ensure that it maximises the benefits of digital working. (S4O-03387)
The SPCB is very aware of the benefits on offer. Our digital programme started in 2013 and we are already piloting more flexible ways to consume our products and services any time, anywhere on mobile devices. For example, seven committees are now taking part in the committee pack pilot, which makes committee papers easier to read, bookmark and annotate while mobile. We are also using various social media techniques to enable the public to engage more easily with business. For example, 11 committees are active on Twitter.
I am pleased that progress is being made. What assessment has been made of the cost? Can David Stewart outline the timescales in rolling out digital working? Can he give me details of specific measures that will be taken to assist the more digitally challenged people in adapting to the new ways of working?
The total budget for the programme covering this and the last financial year is £1.286 million. The programme is expected to run until the end of the current session in 2016. By then, we will have made some significant improvements in digital working, which will form a good basis for other continuous improvements, most likely as part of business as usual.
Although digital working and social media have much to offer by way of simpler, easier to use and quicker services, they will only ever be part of the way we provide services to members or engage with the public. We will always offer suitable alternatives. Our aim is to be digital by choice, not digital by default.
Security Support and Advice
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what security support and advice are available to members. (S4O-03390)
The security office is responsible for a first point of contact for members in relation to both physical and office security when members are in the Parliament building, or wherever formal parliamentary business is conducted. The security office also provides a first point of contact for general advice regarding personal safety, especially in local offices. More specific advice can be provided by local police offices.
The physical security system covers management of access and control of movements around the building. Office security advice can be tailored to individual members’ needs, but it essentially covers advice about storing valuables away safely, locking all office doors, cabinets and pedestals when out of the office, and introducing a clear-desk policy.
The security office, in conjunction with Parliament’s police unit, recently ran a “snippets” session for members’ staff to raise awareness of office security measures. Unfortunately, no members’ staff attended the sessions, but we will run them again before the end of the year. We would appreciate members’ support in encouraging their staff to attend.
I thank David Stewart for his detailed answer. It would be helpful if he would outline what security and personal safety advice is available for MSP staff who are based in constituency offices—in particular, vulnerable female members of staff who, in some cases, are working alone in local offices.
New members receive a booklet called “MSP Security Guidance”, which advises them on matters related to lone working for themselves and their staff. Those matters include liaising with local police crime prevention officers; physical security of homes and offices using door buzzers and panic alarms; always being vigilant of those around you; always letting someone know when and where you are working alone; and always letting someone know your estimated time of arrival at an event or scheduled meeting, and when you have finished and are returning to the office or home.
On a personal level, when I entered this Parliament, I asked for advice from the crime prevention officer, which I found to be first class. I certainly encourage members to access local crime prevention officers, who are experienced in this matter.
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