 The first item of business this afternoon is a statement by Michael Matheson on policing and security, and the cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement so that there should be no interruptions until then. Michael Matheson, thank you. I would like to make a statement about Police Scotland's announcement of an increase in the number of armed police officers. Let me be clear at the outset that today's announcement is about the number of armed officers, not the circumstances in which they are deployed. Members will recall the controversy in summer 2014, when armed officers were deployed to instance, not involving firearms or a threat to life. Police Scotland then reverted to the policy of only deploying armed officers to instance, involving firearms or a threat to life. There is no change to that approach. The threat that we face from terrorism is real. The overall threat level in the UK from international terrorism is classified as severe and has been since August 2014. The events that we witnessed at Charlie Hebdo's offices in January 2015, again on the streets of Paris in November and the mass murderers in Brussels are scenes that we never want to see again. They brought home just how vulnerable major cities can be. Again, in the last few days in Orlando, we have seen carnage and terror caused by a lone gunman. There is no specific known threat to Scotland, but it is the duty of government to protect its citizens, so we must plan and prepare for any eventuality. Sadly, we know that Scotland and the UK are not immune from terrorism. Previously, we have seen attacks in both Glasgow and London. The criminal use of firearms also poses a threat. The Government will always ensure that Scotland is well protected, that plans are in place to respond to such threats and that the risks are mitigated. I can assure members that Scotland is playing its full part in the continuous planning and preparation that goes on across the UK to protect our communities. The Scottish Government and the emergency services continue to work alongside the UK Government in considering our preparedness against all threats. We are committed to ensuring that Scotland's law enforcement and other bodies have all the tools that they need to tackle terrorism and organise crime effectively. The tax in Paris and Brussels, as well as intelligence about organised crime, have informed the work undertaken by Police Scotland to review plans and has today announced an increase in the number of armed officers to help to maintain safety and security in our communities. The chief constable has briefed me and ministerial colleagues on the case for this increase. This is an operational decision for the chief constable to make and it is a decision that has the full backing of Scottish ministers and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland constantly assess and review resources against the latest intelligence and have carried out a very detailed and robust assessment of capability and capacity to inform their decision to increase the number of armed officers. There are currently 275 police Scotland officers dedicated to armed response vehicles. The increase of an additional 124 officers announced today includes 90 officers dedicated to armed response vehicles, with a phase over a number of months as they are recruited internally and trained to the very high standards that are demanded for this specialist role. The vast majority of Scotland's officers are not routinely armed. We have made an unequivocal commitment that that position will not change. Over 17,317 police officers, only a small proportion have standing firearms authority to carry a weapon. That will now increase but will still represent a small percentage. It will be fewer than one in 40 officers. Police Scotland has written today to the Justice Committee to notify members of the planned increase, which will take the percentage of officers with a standing authority to over 2 per cent as officers are recruited. That fulfills a commitment that was made by my predecessor in August 2014. Police Scotland will continue to keep armed policing capacity and capability under review based on understanding of the evolving threat. This Scottish Government will fully support them in doing so. As part of Police Scotland's engagement with communities, local commanders in all parts of Scotland will be meeting with local authorities and chairs of scrutiny committees to ensure that they are briefed. Senior officers have briefed representatives from ASPs and the Scottish Police Federation, whose members include most armed officers. Police Scotland has made clear in its announcement today that there is no change to the current policy of only deploying armed officers to incidents involving firearms or a threat to life. Armed response officers will also continue to be able to use their professional judgment as police constables to deal with any situation that they come across during the course of their patrols. Armed police officers are first and foremost police officers, and they are expected to respond appropriately to keep people safe. However, let me be clear that armed officers will not be routine deployed to incidents other than those involving firearms or a threat to life. Members will recall that it was the fact of armed officers attending more routine calls and therefore giving the impression that our police service was becoming routinely armed that caused controversy back in 2014. There is no proposal to return to that. The model of deployment of armed officers will continue to be kept under regular review by Police Scotland's armed policing monitoring group. That group advises the chief constable. However, I am clear that any proposed change to the model of deployment would have to take into account the views of the public, stakeholders and Parliament. I want to recognise today my offer and my gratitude to the role that the men and women of Police Scotland play day in and day out in protecting our communities. Their commitment and dedication to the police service means often putting themselves in harm's way to protect others. That is especially true of the officers who undertake the firearms role. Officers volunteer to become armed officers. They are carefully selected for what is then a very highly specialised role. Training is long and hard to ready themselves for the responsibilities and risks that it entails. They then put themselves in the front line in many of the most perilous situations that police officers can face. They are among the most highly trained officers in the service, and they deserve our respect and support in the difficult and often dangerous work that they do across Scotland—the work that they do on behalf of all of us. All of that preparation goes in hand with our work to build cohesive communities so that extremist messages do not resonate. We do so by building strong and enduring relationships with all of Scotland's communities. We have a strong track record of working for an inclusive and cohesive Scotland, where diverse communities are valued for their contribution and a culture of respect and social justice is fostered. As a Government, we have always sought to build stronger and more resilient communities across Scotland, and we will continue to do so. Respecting diversity and challenging hate are key to that. This Government, Police Scotland and other agencies are strengthening protections of our communities, but the responsibility for our collective safety also lies with each one of us as citizens and neighbours. The attacks in mainland Europe and Orlando caused shock and grief around the world. As a Government, we are resolute in protecting the way of life that we enjoy and cherish in this country. The different threats that we face in our daily life and as a nation must ensure that we are prepared for any eventuality. That is precisely what today's announcement is about. There is no specific known threat to Scotland. People are safe to go about their daily business and should be further reassured by today's announcement by Police Scotland. I thank the cabinet secretary for advance notice of his statement and also to Deputy Chief Constable Rory Nicholson and Assistant Chief Constable Bernie Higgins for the briefing that he provided party spokespersons and leaders. The cabinet secretary is right to highlight that this is about preparing. The public should not be alarmed by this move and, in fact, I think that he can take some comfort from it. Over recent days, weeks and months, we have seen individuals and groups slaughtered by terrorists. The first duty of our brave men and women in the police force is to protect the public, and I think that today's announcement will allow for that greater protection. The UK Government has set aside significant funds to increase the armed response capability in England and Wales. Can I ask what financial support will be required by Police Scotland to specifically increase the number of highly trained and skilled armed officers and what provision will be made for that? I also welcome the guarantee given by the cabinet secretary that today's announcement does not indicate a change to the deployment procedures of our armed officers. This Parliament well remembers the concerns raised by the cabinet secretary about armed officers in the highlands going to fast food restaurants, for example. What can Police Scotland and the Scottish Government do to reiterate to the public that they will not see a change in the deployment of armed officers? Finally, Presiding Officer, can I take this opportunity to praise our police men and women for the work that they do each and every day? It is because of that work that today's announcement is a proactive one rather than a reactive one. We are preparing for the worst when, in fact, we should be highlighting the skills of everyone in the police force who ensure that we are always kept as safe as possible in Scotland. I thank Douglas Ross for his comment. I agree with him that the public can take reassurance from the announcement that has been made by Police Scotland today in order to ensure that we have the necessary preparations in place to deal with any eventualities that could come to Scotland. A key part of the work that Police Scotland has been taking forward in planning around that announcement has been to look at the nature of the threat that we face in Scotland and how it can best deploy its resources in order to meet that particular threat and also to mitigate it as well. The officers who are presently in Police Scotland will be recruited into the firearms teams. They will be recruited into that specific area, and over the opportunity to undertake that role. Part of that involves increasing the availability of equipment for those officers. Police Scotland has set out a range of costs that are associated with that, in the region of about £3 million. With the uplift in funding that was provided in England and Wales for armed officers, as the member will recognise, there has been a consequence of that, which has come across to the Scottish Government. That has been provided in the Police Scotland budget for this year to provide it with the resources that it requires in order to meet the additional costs that are associated with the type of increase in firearms officers. The extra £100 million that it will receive as a result of our decision on that over the next five years will assist on being able to meet some of those costs. Alongside that, we will continue to be in dialogue with Police Scotland on any other funding matters. The member is correct to point out that the announcement today does not result in any change in deployment, so deployment of firearms will continue to be, for instance, to involve a firearm or whether there is a threat to life. Equally, that is, as police officers, that they should also use their own skills to come across an incident that they respond to that in a professional manner, because ultimately the responsibility is the safety of the public. That is exactly the model of deployment that we have at the present moment, and it will continue with this uplift in armed officers in Scotland. For members' information, there will be around 20 minutes for these questions. I call Alex Rowley to be followed by Ben Macpherson. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would also thank the cabinet secretary for advanced sight of his statement and Police Scotland for the briefing earlier today. I am responding to his statement just moments after hearing the horrific news about my colleague Joe Cox, MP and Yorkshire. I am sure that our thoughts of everyone in this chamber this afternoon and our prayers are with Joe and anyone else who has been injured. Following the horrific events in France and in Orlando at the weekend, no risk can ever be fully assessed. We must always ensure that our police services can respond effectively and proportionately to protect the people of Scotland. The Scottish Labour Party supports this decision taken by Police Scotland working with ministers and the Scottish Police Authority to ensure that we can protect all our communities from severe and violent threats. I welcome the minister's recognition that the routine arming of police officers will not increase. That is clear and rightfully so. I ask that he keep Parliament regularly informed about any further increases in the numbers of armed officers in the future and where capacity is lacking. I ask the minister that Police Scotland is working to ensure that it can build the intelligence and track the risk that lead to incidents involving firearms or threat to life so that the use of firearms will always remain the last resort. I, too, learned of the very sad attack on Joe Cox, MP this afternoon. I am sure that all members in this chamber my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family, which is an extremely difficult time for them. Mr Rowley made an important point when he used the term proportionality. A key part of the approach that Police Scotland has taken forward in considering the uplift in firearms officers is to make sure that it is in proportion to where we believe the risk is in Scotland overall. I can give the member an assurance of my determination to ensure that Parliament has the opportunity to consider any further increase in firearms officers in Police Scotland. The very reason that we are having the statement and the briefing that we provided earlier on was to afford MSPs that particular opportunity. It is certainly an approach that I would seek to take forward again in the future. Equally informing the Justice Committee as my predecessor, given her previous commitment to, should there be an increase above the 2 per cent level that Police Scotland had prior to that time. On the issue of Police Scotland developing their capability to be able to track and to make sure that they are able to mitigate those risks as well, one of the key aspects that we have with the national force is the ability to draw all that type of information and capability into one central point, which allows us to make sure that we are operating away within Scotland that ensures that, no matter where you are in the country, you receive the same level of service—reflective of the risk that that understanding informs. One of the things that Police Scotland does, of course, working with other agencies, is to ensure that they interrogate that intelligence and that information to consider whether there are any further measures that they then have to take forward here in Scotland. However, I can certainly give the member and assurance that, should there be any plans in the future to see a further increase in armed officers within Scotland that parliamentary process will be respected in the way in which it has on this occasion. I thank the cabinet secretary. The question and answer, the first two questions and answers, have taken quite a long time. It is a very important subject, so I recognise that. However, a lot of members want to speak, so if we could keep the questions and answers quite tight. Ben Macpherson, to be followed by Margaret Mitchell. To ask the cabinet secretary what level of engagement has taken place between the Scottish Government, the SPA, Police Scotland and other partners on today's announcement. As the member will recognise, that is an operational decision for the chief constable to make. It is a decision that has at the full backing of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Police Authority. As members would appreciate, since the attacks on Brussels and Paris took place, we have been lazing with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to consider what further capacity and capability may be required in Scotland in the form of firearms ability. That is a matter that has now been considered over several months and has resulted in the announcement that has been made by Police Scotland today. I can give the member an assurance that that is a matter that will be continually kept under review to consider any further information or any further incidents that do occur to ensure that the approach that we take in Scotland is one that is proportionate to the risk here but is also informed by experience in other parts of Europe and the wider world. Margaret Mitchell, to be followed by Rona Mackay. I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of his statement. Clearly there is a balance between assessing any possible current threat and raising anxiety among the public, but it seems to me right and proper that, in the light of world events, Police Scotland should seek to reassess its response to any potential threat in Scotland. The cabinet secretary will be aware that, in session 4, the policing sub-committee was established to report on the functioning of the new Police Scotland. Given today's statement and the issues that arise on a regular basis, does he agree that that committee performed an invaluable function to ensure transparency, openness and accountability in all aspects of the activities of Police Scotland? Margaret Mitchell and her initial comments made reference to assessing the threat that we face as a result of incidents that have occurred in other parts of Europe. I emphasise that there is no known threat to Scotland. That is a course of action that has been taken by Police Scotland based on the nature of the incidents that have occurred in Europe to ensure that we have the capacity and capability and our response is proportionate to that to deal with any incident that should occur. With regard to the issue of the policing sub-committee, of course that is a matter for the Justice Committee and for the Parliament to decide on whether it chooses to have a policing sub-committee again in the future. However, I can assure the member that that is an issue that the Scottish Police Authority has been considerably engaged in scrutinising and involved in its discussions with Police Scotland as it has developed its thinking and its final response to the issues that have been raised with it. It is a matter that has been given further consideration by the SPA. Rona Mackayde, Mary Fee. To ask the cabinet secretary what engagement has taken place with local authorities and the public on the increase in armed officers. One of the key aspects that will now be taken forward by Police Scotland starting today is to engage with the chairs of the scrutiny committees and with individual local authorities. Local commanders will be undertaking that work to ensure that they understand the announcement that Police Scotland has made today and to be provided with further information on the nature of that decision as well. A key part of the work that Police Scotland is taking forward today is to ensure that local scrutiny committees are informed of the matter and that local authority chief executives are informed of the matter, and that will be pursued by local commanders in each area. Mary Fee, if you are followed by Stuart Stevenson. Can I thank the cabinet secretary for advance copy of his statement? Can I also put on record my support for the commitment and dedication of our police force? The breaking lunchtime news of my colleague Joe Cox casts a dark shadow over today's statement and highlights the need for safety and security in all of our communities. Can I ask the cabinet secretary given the ever-changing threat and nature of terrorism and the need for increased numbers of armed officers? Can the cabinet secretary tell the chamber what support and psychological services are available to those armed officers deployed to deal with terrorist incidents in order to ensure that their health and well-being is fully supported? The issue around the way in which armed officers are trained is the highest level within policing that I think officers can find themselves trained to because of the very nature of their extremely specialist role. If you consider them policing from a constable right through to all the various specialisms within policing, there is no doubt that the required skills for armed officers are at a very, very high level. In Police Scotland, we have training to the very highest level to ensure that our officers are equipped and trained to undertake that role professionally and effectively. In terms of the support and assistance that is provided to officers who deal with potentially traumatic incidents, there are standing arrangements within policing for officers to be able to be debriefed and to get support in dealing with those matters. That is a matter for the chief constable to ensure that the welfare of his staff is appropriately looked after. That would be the same for any constable involved in any incident as it would be for those who are fire-armed officers. That is a matter for the chief constable, but there is a standard process for many officers who are involved in serious incidents to be debriefed and to be provided with welfare and support following such an incident. Stewart Stevenson, to be followed by Gordon Lindhurst. Presiding Officer, I draw members' attention to the fact that a close family member is a police constable. I would like to ask the cabinet secretary in relation to the many incidents that could not reasonably be foreseen through intelligence but stem from the actions of a single individual and happen in local communities across Scotland. Is he satisfied that there are adequate ways in which local commanders can get access to the new resource that he has announced today? Part of the work that Police Scotland has undertaken over the past couple of months is to look at the changing nature of the threat. There is no doubt that the incidents that we have witnessed in Paris in particular have highlighted the changing nature of that and that there were several different incidents taking place simultaneously. That has led to a reassessment of how policing resource should be deployed in order to prepare for such an event should that occur. However, the resource that will be deployed by Police Scotland will be deployed on the basis of where it believes that the greatest risk is presented. It is a model that is constantly reviewed and reflects the information that it has. What I can give the member an insurance of is that the uplift in resource will provide a greater level of coverage across the whole of Scotland and will ensure that all communities have the necessary armed officer provision that is appropriate to the situation and the risk in that particular area. That is a matter that Police Scotland reviews on a regular basis based on information and intelligence that they receive. Gordon Lindhurst, to be followed by John Finnie. Thank you, Presiding Officer. May I first of all say to the Cabinet Secretary that both I and the Scottish Conservatives welcome this announcement and Police Scotland's continuing commitment to our security, both across the country and here in Edinburgh, the capital city, with its many residents and visitors, particularly at the time of the Edinburgh festival? This commitment includes ensuring availability of sufficient armed officers in the event of any actual firearms incident. The Cabinet Secretary will appreciate that there is a difference and a distinction between having such officers available should such an incident arise and such officers who are available being visibly armed from a public point of view. Can the minister give a categorical assurance to this Parliament that we will not now be seeing visibly armed officers on the streets of Scotland, except where necessary in the event of such an incident or an immediate verifiable threat? As I have made clear my own statement and the Scotland that I have made clear is that the model of deployment will not change from the arrangements that we have in place at the present moment. That is that armed officers are only deployed to incidents that involve a firearm or whether there is a threat to life. With that, it would be for them to exercise their professional judgment and to come across an incident where they believe that there is an issue of public safety in order to respond to that. I am sure that all members would expect that to happen when officers witness such an incident taking place. There will be no change to the deployment model from what we have at the present time and, as I have also made clear in my statement, if there was to be any change to that, that is a matter that would require a level of public engagement, parliamentary engagement and a level of scrutiny to consider the issue in detail. I can give the member an assurance that the deployment model that we have at the present time with his uplift in officers will continue to be the same. I welcome the minister's statement in the earlier briefing from the chief officers. The Scottish Green Party accepts, in good faith, the information that we are given, which we are told in forums at this threat level, and therefore this change. I think that it is fair to repeat our earlier concerns about the Scottish recording system, centre at Bigaparton, the quality and quantity of information, its legitimacy of acquisition and the legitimacy of it being retained. That all said, we welcome that there is to be no change to the deployment policy. Does the cabinet secretary nonetheless accept that there will be concerns that however modest the increase is that it could be viewed as mission creep on more routine officers, and that, although many will be reassured by what they have heard, there is a sizable section in the community who are concerned about the presence of armed officers, whether within or outwith vehicles. Can he reassure me that this is not the point of no return on arming, and that when the threat level reduces—and we both know that there are groups who do not want that to happen—that the number of armed officers will reduce as well? I can give the member an assurance that the uplift in firearms officers within Police Scotland is reflective of the intelligence and consideration of the threat level within Scotland and the UK as a whole. I can give the member an assurance that this is not simply a matter of mission creep and a desire to have more firearms officers. It is an issue that has been considered in great detail and is reflective of the changing nature of the threat, given the incidents that have occurred over the past year and a half in Europe as a whole. I have no doubt that, when we get to a point when we see a change in the threat level—if it is a reduction in the threat level—that will allow for a further reflection on the existing level of resource that we have for firearms officers to then be revisited based on that change in threat. However, it is important that we reassure the public that the approach that is being taken by Police Scotland is one that is informed on the basis of its understanding of the threat and the change in nature of that threat and to ensure that we have a proportionate response to that here in Scotland in order to ensure that we have the necessary resources in place to deal with any incidents that should occur and to revisit the matter, should and when the threat level changes at any point in the future. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like to ask the cabinet secretary to reaffirm the Government's commitment to protect the police resource budget in real terms for the lifetime of this Parliament, ensuring that our police forces have the funding that they require to keep Scotland communities safe. As I mentioned earlier on in my response, we have given Police Scotland the real terms protection in their police budget over the next term of this parliamentary session, which will allow them to invest an additional £100 million. In policing alongside that, we have provided an additional £55 million in the way of a reform budget within this financial year to assist them in undertaking reform within the organisation. We are determined to make sure that we continue to provide our law enforcement agencies and other partners with the necessary resources to ensure that they are able to meet and mitigate any particular threats or risks that we have here in Scotland. I would like to confirm to the chamber that the First Minister has asked me to be the parliamentary liaison officer for the justice secretary. I am looking forward to working with colleagues across the chamber over the coming time period. I now ask the cabinet secretary how it armed policing levels in Scotland compare with those in England. As a member will be aware, Police Scotland has considered the approach that they believe is best suited to ensure that we have a proportionate response to the risk here in Scotland. They have been engaged with their colleagues south of the border, including through the national police chiefs body to consider the matters. The approach that Police Scotland has set out by Police Scotland is proportionate to the approach that has been taken in other parts of the UK. I believe that the approach that Police Scotland has outlined today is very much in line with the approach that has been taken by forces in other parts of the UK. I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement. I apologise to the two members that I was not able to call. When I move on to the next...