Chamber and committees

The public can raise any issues it has with ScotRail directly with them via their complaints procedure where various types of enquiries, including investment plans at stations are logged, processed and managed.

Details of this can be found by accessing the following link:-

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/contact-us/customer-complaints-handling-procedure .

The latest information about Ministerial travel can be found on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/?term=Engagements&page=1 .

Payments of around £1.4m have been paid every month since handover of the facility to NHS Lothian in February 2019, as required by the contract.

Scottish Government does not collect information on all the provision described. These projects are mainly provided by third sector organisations. We are aware of useful work of projects like Chris’s House, and of their collaborative work with other agencies and also Edinburgh Crisis Centre

Edinburgh Crisis Centre services are provided by Penumbra and is currently jointly funded by City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian.

The Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and provides community based emotional and practical support at times of crisis.

It is a service for people who are aged 16 or over who are using or have used mental health services and are resident in the City of Edinburgh when they are facing a crisis. This includes people who have seen their GP, used voluntary services and people who identify themselves as having a mental health issue.

Face to face support is arranged via a helpline. Staff will offer emotional support and practical help. There is facilities for overnight stay for up to four service users for a maximum of seven days.

Numbers are not available exclusively for the new facility. It is important to note that the staff for the RHCYP & DCN building are planned as part of the NHS workforce including the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. While the new building remains closed many of these staff, with their agreement, are still working in the current RHSC or on other sites; this has all been done with staff partnership and will be kept under review.

Domestics - current staffing numbers are 45.26 wte; headcount 73 – working in RIE and RHCYP & DCN

Catering - current staffing numbers are 24.14 wte; headcount 33 – working in existing RHSC, SJH, WGH, REH RIE and RHCYP & DCN

Logistics - current staffing numbers are 30.93 wte; headcount 31 – working in RIE and RHCYP & DCN (where they provide 24/7 security, plus portering & traffic management)

The Scottish Government recognises the good work of the Edinburgh Crisis Centre. Nigel Henderson, Chief Executive of Penumbra is a member of the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group and sponsors Action 5 of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan: The NSPLG will use evidence on the effectiveness of differing models of crisis support to make recommendations to service providers and share best practice.

Action 5 of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan (Every Life Matters) refers - “the NSPLG will use evidence on the effectiveness of different models of crisis support to make recommendations to service providers and share best practice.” The July minutes of the NSPLG show that a workshop will be set up to describe what effective service provision would look like.

Scottish Government will take into account these recommendations for any future provision.

The information requested is as follows:

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

SPS is not changing the way it records incidents involving psychoactive substances.

Incidents can only be attributed to a particular substance if, following any recovery, testing confirms that a particular substance was involved. Where any recovered substance cannot be identified then it is classified as “unknown”.

SPS are currently trialling technology across a number of sites to support the identification of illicit substances on paper and clothing.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-24338 on 1 August 2019. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .