Chamber and committees

The answer to question S5W-20587 explained that the 2019-20 allocations were indicative and final allocations were to be confirmed through the Agency's planning process subject to the budget being agreed in March 2019. Social Security Scotland’s current best estimate of staffing costs for 2019-20 is £20.1 million. This includes salary costs of £19.5 million based on a staffing level of around 450 posts. The remaining £0.6 million is for recruitment and training costs.

The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) continues to support improvement in sepsis identification and treatment. Since 2012 there has been a 21% reduction in mortality from sepsis across Scotland. SPSP will continue to review the trends in data and support improvements in care for people with sepsis.

Over the last two years there have been significant changes to the way sepsis is diagnosed and the way it is recorded in patients’ notes. These changes, together with increased awareness of sepsis by both clinical staff and patients, are leading to significant increases across Scotland in the number of patients who are correctly classified as having sepsis.

Information on the number of instances of violence in schools is not held centrally. Where a school-based incident of violence is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.

Information on cases of sheep worrying is not held centrally in the format requested. Information is available on the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 – which relates to dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land (following table). However, as this legislation applies to all forms of livestock, these figures are not available for specific types of animal.

Table 1: Offences of Protection of Livestock from Dogs, Scottish Borders, 2013-14 to 2017-18.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research into the incidence, impact and potential mitigation of sheep harassment by both dogs and wildlife in Scotland. Whilst this does not focus solely on the Scottish Borders, information and recommendations arising from the research should be useful to sheep farmers in the area.

Information on cases of sheep worrying is not held centrally in the format requested. Information is available on the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 – which relates to dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land (following table). However, as this legislation applies to all forms of livestock, these figures are not available for specific types of animal.

Table 1: Offences of Protection of Livestock from Dogs, Midlothian, 2013-14 to 2017-18 .

Information on the number of instances of violence in schools is not held centrally. Where a school-based incident of violence is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research into the incidence, impact and potential mitigation of sheep harassment by both dogs and wildlife in Scotland. Whilst this does not focus solely on Midlothian, information and recommendations arising from the research should be useful to sheep farmers in the area.

Information on the number of instances of violence in schools is not held centrally. Where a school-based incident of violence is reported to the police, this will be included in the Recorded Crime National Statistics. However, the figures provided to the Scottish Government by Police Scotland are a simple count of the number of crimes and offences recorded in each local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics or circumstances of individual crimes and offences, such as the location.

Dog attacks on sheep, wherever they occur, is an issue that the Scottish Government takes very seriously. We fully support the work to tackle this matter being undertaken by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), chaired by Police Scotland, including their 5 month campaign to highlight the issue, launched on 8 January 2019. We have also commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake research investigating the incidence and impact of dog attacks on sheep in Scotland and looking at potential strategies to prevent it happening.