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 MSPs 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-18034

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) has been and (b) will be paid to the former chief executive of NHS Tayside following the termination of her employment, broken down by (i) pension, (ii) ex gratia, (iii) notice, (iv) holiday and (v) any other payments.

The conclusion of any matter relating to the termination of employment of any NHS Scotland employee is principally a matter between the employing health board and former employee concerned. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to make any comment in individual cases.

In this case NHS Tayside have indicated that, upon leaving the board, Ms McLay received what she was contractually entitled to and nothing more. In concluding all employment matters, NHS Scotland health boards are guided by both national and local employment policies and the principles of UK employment law.

Question reference: S5W-17844

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the UK’s three largest rail unions have warned against continuing with the merger of British Transport Police with Police Scotland, and comments by (a) Mick Cash of the RMT union, that the merger could leave taxpayers with a "ballooning bill” and (b) Manuel Cortes of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union, that it was “putting nationalist dogma ahead of the safety and well-being of Scotland’s rail passengers merger would jeopardise the specialist policing offered by the BTP”.

As you are aware in our submission to the Smith Commission in 2014 we said we planned to use devolved powers over railway policing to integrate it into Police Scotland. We are committed to the safe and seamless integration of BTP into Police Scotland following Parliament’s vote to pass the Railway Policing Act. This will deliver continuity of service for rail users and staff and a single command structure, with seamless access to wider support facilities and specialist resources.

Scottish Ministers have confirmed that our triple lock guarantee will protect jobs, pay and pensions for BTP officers and staff transferring to Police Scotland. We meet regularly with all partners involved in the integration and will continue to work closely with them on addressing issues that emerge.

Question reference: S5W-17466

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, whether it will provide a breakdown of (a) costs since January 2016 and (b) projected costs of the merger, including (i) to the Scottish Government, (ii) to Police Scotland, (iii) to the Scottish Police Authority and (iv) consultancy costs.

Question reference: S5W-17474

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed merger of British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland with Police Scotland, whether it will confirm that, following the merger, (a) any redundancy liability for former BTP officers will be covered as set out in their BTP contracts, and (b) who will meet this liability.

Question reference: S5W-17472

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to evidence given by Police Scotland at the meeting of the Justice Committee on 1 May 2018 (Official Report, c. 20), whether it will publish the Government Actuary’s Department's advice that was referred to.

In response to a Freedom of Information request the Scottish Government published on 26 March 2018 an extract from a note from the Government Actuary's Department on the British Transport Police Integration Programme staff and officers pensions,

https://beta.gov.scot/publications/foi-18-00612/

Following initial engagement with the pension Trustee, proposals to allow officers and staff to remain in their existing arrangements are ongoing, and this includes consideration of Scottish Government backing for the new sections.

Question reference: S5W-17471

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of whether the integration of British Transport Police in Scotland and Police Scotland will achieve its stated aims to deliver greater accountability, access to specialism and seamless command and control.

Question reference: S5W-17468

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, which external consultants have been engaged by (a) it and (b) Police Scotland since January 2016 to advise or work on integration, broken down by the (i) average daily and (ii) minimum and maximum daily rate that each was paid.

Question reference: S5W-17469

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, whether it will confirm the advice given at the staff engagement session on 20 June 2018 regarding the Scottish Government meeting the full costs of integration.

Question reference: S5W-17467

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, whether it will provide details of any costs that are yet to be established, such as (a) information and communications technology and (b) signage.

Question reference: S5W-17475

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed merger of British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland with Police Scotland, in light of the Scottish Police Federation only being regulated to represent officer holders, and BTP officers having dual status, which staff organisation will represent transferring BTP officers.

I wrote on 15 November 2017 to the Convenor of the Justice Committee clarifying how employment representation will be provided for BTP officers when they transfer into Police Scotland.

The letter advised that for BTP officers in Scotland, their status as constables means that those currently represented by the BTP Federation (BTPF) will become members of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) under Regulation 4 of the Police Federation (Scotland) regulations 2013. We are engaging with the SPF to discuss what the implications may be of them representing officers with different employment and pensions arrangements and further discussions will be held with the SPF and the BTPF.