Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-26814

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme, what its projected maintenance bill is for the upkeep of the A90 during these works against an anticipated increase in plant usage.

There are no projected increases in the maintenance costs for the A90 as a result of increased plant or road haulage use during construction of the new grade-separated junction. Haul routes proposed by the appointed contractor will be subject to consultation and agreement with Aberdeenshire Council, the terms of which would be a matter between Aberdeenshire Council, as Roads Authority, and the contractor.

Question reference: S5W-26809

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates completion of the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme.

The Draft Statutory Order material was published on 19 December 2019. The statutory consultation period for making representations to the Scheme proposals expires on 14 February 2020. Progress thereafter will be dependent on the public reaction to the published draft Orders and whether a public local inquiry is required. Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence when the scheme is approved under the statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for construction can be determined.

Question reference: S5W-26808

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of road closures and diversions through the town's high street as a result of the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme, what impact and risk assessments have been carried out in relation to increased traffic volume in the immediate proximity of Mearns Academy.

There are no permanent road closures or diversions that will affect the town’s High Street planned as a result of the new grade-separated junction and detailed traffic modelling undertaken as part of the development and assessment of the preferred option indicates no significant increase in traffic volume is anticipated in the immediate proximity of Mearns Academy as a direct result of the Scheme. Any temporary traffic management arrangements, including any temporary road closures and diversions, proposed by the appointed contractor during the construction period will be subject to consultation and approval by Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council as relevant Roads Authority.

Question reference: S5W-26576

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, what its position is on whether the allegations of chaotic and potentially criminal activity within the special operations unit (SOU) at the former Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) should be considered a legacy matter that does not merit further investigation, in light of a number of staff who held senior positions at the agency going on to hold senior positions within Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-03968

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet net zero emissions by 2045.

Question reference: S5W-26577

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of burning of official documents by members of the special operations unit (SOU) at the former Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) in 2011, which senior officer(s) (a) had responsibility for the SOU's finances, including telephone and banking accounts, and (b) ordered the burning of paperwork, and for what reason.

Question reference: S5W-26579

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the executive summary of the Metropolitan Police's review of the Police Scotland investigation, Operation Towering, into the disposal of files by the special operations unit (SOU) at the former Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), what its position is on whether there are any unanswered questions regarding this matter.

Question reference: S5W-26581

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported comments by the Chief Constable and others that the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland (HMICS) 2018 report into undercover policing gives Police Scotland’s operations a clean bill of health, in light of the lead inspector for the report being the former head of intelligence at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) in 2011 at a time when allegations were made regarding chaotic and potentially criminal activity within the agency's special operations unit (SOU).

The HMCICS report into undercover policing in 2018 provided the Scottish Parliament and the general public with re-assurance around how this sensitive area of policing is managed currently in Scotland. The report found that there was no evidence of systemic failings in undercover policing by Police Scotland.

Derek Penman, the former Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, led that review personally. The consideration of historical deployments was carried out by an associate inspector from HMIC England and Wales. This was explained in the published report.

Following the Scottish Police Authority Board meeting on 27 November the current HMCICS has agreed to undertake an assessment of the recommendations made in its Strategic Review of Undercover Policing in Scotland and confirm if they are still relevant or require to be amended.

Question reference: S5W-26578

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) was aware of allegations that the special operations unit (SOU) at the former Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) had destroyed paperwork, and when COPFS made the decision that there was no criminality involved in this activity.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) was supplied with material in relation to the conduct of aspects of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency on 12 July 2011. On 20 July 2011, COPFS intimated to SCDEA that there was no evidence of criminality. The documentation retained by COPFS makes no reference to the burning of paperwork by the SCDEA. Senior officials from COPFS have asked Police Scotland for further information in relation to that specific matter.

Question reference: S5W-26580

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the executive summary, whether it will publish the full report on the Metropolitan Police's review of the Police Scotland investigation, Operation Towering, into the disposal of files by the special operations unit (SOU) at the former Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA).

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