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-16737

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what target it has set for improving the efficiency of prosecuting solemn criminal cases from caution and charge to verdict, and what its performance against that target has been in each month since April 2007, broken down by court.

The Scottish Government does not centrally set targets in relation to the period from caution and charge to verdict in solemn cases. The efficient progression of solemn cases through the justice system is the shared responsibility of Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the defence. Given the complexity of solemn business, which is heard before the High Court and Sheriff and Jury Courts and includes the most serious and complex cases in terms of investigation, preparation and determination, a single solemn system wide target / indicator would not be meaningful when compared to the more immediate, less complex and higher volume nature of summary business.

The efficient prosecution of solemn cases by the COPFS takes place within the legislative framework of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. The 1995 Act sets statutory time limits within which solemn cases must be indicted in both the High Court and Sheriff and Jury Courts. The relevant time limits are dictated by whether the accused is remanded in custody or on bail pending trial. COPFS performance in relation to the prosecution of solemn business reflect the statutory requirements that all indictments are served within timebar. COPFS performance against these requirements is published and available at http://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Statistics/Performance%20Against%20Key%20Targets%20April%202017%20to%20December%202017.pdf

The SCTS have confirmed that development work to collect and report management information from first diet to verdict / trial concluded in Sheriff and Jury cases is underway and this performance data will be available in the future.

Question reference: S5W-16736

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of summary criminal cases were dealt with from caution and charge to verdict within the 26-week target in each month since April 2007, broken down by (i) sheriff and (ii) justice of the peace court.

The available information is contained in the workbook titled ‘Number and percentage of summary criminal cases concluded within 26 weeks (caution and charge to verdict) - All Sheriff and Justice of the Peace courts Apr 07 – April 18’ which is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 59770).

The 26 week indicator from caution to charge to verdict covers activity from Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as well as the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Latest statistical information confirms that on a national basis Sheriff Court performance has improved from 65.7% in 2016-17 to 67.7% in 2017-18.

Latest statistical information confirm that on a national basis Justice of the Peace Court performance has improved from 62.9% in 2016-17 to 65% in 2017-18.

Question reference: S5T-01083

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018.

Question reference: S5O-02097

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a recent assessment of Scotland’s future housing needs.

Question reference: S5W-15632

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a proper basis in law to support the transfer and integration of British Transport Police officers with Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-15625

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported risks that have been identified by the Joint Programme Board, for what reason it remains its policy to merge the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government has outlined the clear benefits of integration: the legislation on railway policing has twice been approved by a Parliamentary majority and will have a strong and robust future that delivers high safety standards for passengers, staff and the railway industry. The integration will provide a single command structure, with seamless access to wider support facilities and specialist resources, and ensure that railway policing in Scotland is accountable to the people of Scotland through the Scottish Police Authority and ultimately the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5W-15627

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Audit Scotland regarding any risks associated with the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland

Question reference: S5W-15623

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a legally-binding guarantee to British Transport Police officers in Scotland that there will be no detriment to their pension provision following the merger with Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5T-01064

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the BBC programme, A Force in Crisis, alleging that, in 2014, the Chief Constable's office suggested edits to a critical report on culture and ethos at Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-16070

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform will meet all stakeholders, including the Montrose Port Authority, to discuss their concerns in relation to coastal erosion at Montrose, in light of the reported commitment she made at the public meeting of the Cabinet in Montrose on 15 August 2017.

I met officials from Angus Council, The Montrose Golf Club and the Montrose Port Authority in August 2017. This gave me the opportunity to listen to their concerns.

Since then Angus Council has commissioned a flood study for Montrose to identify options to manage flooding and coastal erosion in a coordinated way. The study will conclude in July 2019. It is important to learn from this study and not implement measures that might exacerbate erosion in the area. The Council is working with local stakeholders throughout this process.

The Scottish Government's Dynamic Coast project team will also work with stakeholders to develop a coastal adaptation plan for Montrose.