Chamber and committees

I have a quick question for John Thomson. It has been mentioned that community stations might need to close, subject to a risk assessment. Has any financial planning been done in relation to the revenue that could come in if you were to sell those premises? Is that within your ownership, and what could be brought in or gained from it?

I understand that, but could revenue come in from that?

I wonder where they get the information from. Is it fed back to them from officers or is Optima marking its own homework and saying it is doing a good job?

Thank you—that is useful to know.

I realise that this next question is probably difficult to answer but, given everything that has been said, and if cuts need to be made in the way that you are describing, what area will be most impacted, in a general sense?

I am talking about an operational area.

I understand. Thank you—that is helpful.

I get the impression that you are presenting us with the worst-case scenario that will happen unless things change, so I am looking for a bit of light. Apart from the obvious solution—more money—can you suggest anything that might help us to see a way through the situation? What you have said sounds pretty critical.

I totally agree with David Page: we are all very proud of the police service and what it has achieved in the transformation. I do not disagree with any of those comments.

However, perhaps he, too, will recognise that the Scottish Government is in new and very challenging territory with a fixed and therefore reducing budget. I know that he knows that, so it is a case of working together to try to work something out. I just wanted to put on record that I do not think that the police service’s work has not been recognised—I think that it has been.

On mental health, I want to ask about the external contract that you have with Optima Health for officers. What is the value and duration of the contract? Have you ever considered bringing the services in-house? Would that be more efficient?

Lynn Brown, is the service that is provided by that contract evaluated? Quite a lengthy contract is awarded. Do you review with the officers how effective it is?