 The next item of business is Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body question time. I'll try to get everyone in that wishes to speak, so fairly short and succinct questions if you could. First question, question number one, is Fulton MacGregor. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider installing automated external defibrillators in or on the external walls of MSP constituency offices. Jackson Carlaw. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body considered this matter on the 14 June when Mr MacGregor first raised it with us. We advised him then that, although the corporate body is supportive of having public access to defibrillators available across Scotland, the first principle of the reimbursement of members' expenses scheme is to meet expenses incurred by members in carrying out their parliamentary duties, and therefore this could not be funded through the scheme. Similarly, there is no provision in the Scotland Act for the Corporate Body to meet such costs directly. Fulton MacGregor. I thank Jackson Carlaw for that response, and I appreciate the letter that was sent to me on the dates mentioned. I'd like to take this opportunity to place some of the work in my local area from the Airdrie and Coatbridge first responders to the Meth football club to Mount Elngov club. By installing those devices, not only would we be making them available for parliamentary staff working in constituency offices, but where possible they can be installed on the external walls of MSP offices, which would make them available 24 hours a day. I'd ask Jackson Carlaw if the Parliamentary Corporate Body would reconsider that decision at any point in the future. Jackson Carlaw. Yes, I fully appreciate the value of public access to ffibrillators, and I've participated in schemes in my constituency with voluntary organisations and community councils who've worked to raise the funding to have them installed on buildings like public libraries. One of the points that the British Heart Foundation makes is that where a ffibrillator is installed, it really must be a permanently available resource because people might come to anticipate that it's there and rely upon it. How can I put this? It's not necessarily the case that MSP's parliamentary offices will be a permanently available resource in that elections can lead to a change in representation and MSPs themselves can be inclined to change offices. For a number of reasons, I'm not sure that the MSP's office is actually the most suitable place for a ffibrillator to be housed, but in any event, the actual access opportunities for the corporate body to look at, to fund it, don't permit it. If I can have very quick supplementaries, please, and answers, I'll get them all in. Johann Lamont. Thank you very much. The key issue of course around ffibrillators and these matters is that people know how to use them when they're required, and you will be aware of the campaigning activity by St Andrew's First Aid and others to ensure that we all have their life-saving skills when the opportunity or the occasion might arise. Can I ask the corporate body to explore the possibility of rolling out a programme of first aid training amongst MSP staff and parliamentary staff, a skill that literally saves life and would give a very strong message about the corporate body and the Scottish Parliament as a responsible employer? Jackson Carlaw. Yes, I'm happy to take that back to the corporate body, although I should say that I did recently participate as a member in exactly that training, which I think was available to all members and staff to participate in, which was all about how to administer CPR. Obviously, ffibrillators are an additional resource, but from my understanding of the ffibrillators that I've seen in action, there obviously is an assist button and there's a direct connection to a helpline who will advise people who are in a situation where they are unfamiliar with the use of one, how they do use it, but yes, anybody who has been trained in it is therefore able to act much more rapidly and we know that lives have been saved as a result. The most wide possible access to ffibrillators is, I think, something that we all support and will encourage, but I'll take the member's point back to the corporate body to see if there's more that we can do in terms of training here in the Parliament. Quick supplementaries, please, from Jamie Greene and Stuart McMillan. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I appreciate the situation regarding the funding that would not be made available for MSPs to put them outside their offices, but if MSPs were able to source those through other means, through charitable measures, for example, would the corporate body in principle be supportive of having them outside our offices, especially if there's a lot of restrictions around signage and what those offices can be used for? Jackson Carlaw. Yes, I think that we would have no objection to it, but bearing in mind however the advice from the British Heart Foundation that we need to be sure that we don't build up a public expectation of a resource being available only to find that within a relatively short space it's not, but I think that yes, working with community councils and other voluntary groups is the right way to proceed. Stuart McMillan. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Cathleen Orr, from the Jadon's rainbow campaign, presented her petition to the Petitions Committee this morning in the Scottish Parliament, and afterwards, when we had a discussion about that session, she raised the point regarding the Scottish Parliament and the lack of signage in the Parliament regarding defibrillators. Can the corporate body please inform us of how many defibs there are in the Scottish Parliament and will they improve the signage volume, please? Jackson Carlaw. That point is noted, and we will take it back to the corporate body. I thank Mr McMillan. Before we move on to question 2, I know that that was a very important issue, but there seems to be a misunderstanding about what quick supplementary means, so can we bear that in mind going forward? Question 2, Daniel Johnson. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for what reason the freedom of information disclosure log has not been updated. Andy Wightman. The Scottish Parliament put in place our freedom of information disclosure log in 2005, shortly after the freedom of information legislation came into effect, and as part of our normal practice we inform requesters that information released to them may be posted on the Parliament's disclosure log within 24 hours. Unfortunately, as I think the member is aware, the disclosure log has not been updated recently because the staff responsible for that have had to focus on work required to fulfil our statutory freedom of information and data protection obligations. In addition, the team has been providing on-going advice and guidance on data protection requirements following on from the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. However, the Corporate Body recognises the importance of freedom of information and has taken steps to ensure that the disclosure log will return to its regular updating cycle early in the new year when a vacant post within the team responsible for updating the log will be filled. Daniel Johnson. I thank Andy Wightman for that answer. However, I do believe that this Parliament should lead by example, and I think that it is now about around three months since the disclosure log was last updated. I would wonder if he would agree with me that we should endeavour to update it at the earliest opportunity. Moreover, I was wondering if he could clarify the number of outstanding requests that would have otherwise been disclosed, which currently have not been. Andy Wightman. As I said in my initial answer, the disclosure log will be back up and running to its regular cycle in January. The member notes that we should be leading by example, and I think that we were, if not the first public authority, certainly amongst the first public authorities to voluntarily publish a disclosure log. The member knows that that is not a statutory requirement, but it is good practice, and we have had one since 2005. I cannot give the member a direct answer to how many disclosure freedom information requests are not up on the log because of the delay that is built up, but we have replied to 140 freedom information requests in 2018. We only have two freedom information requests that are currently under review, and we have no appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner so far in 2018. Mark Griffin. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what employment schemes it runs for offenders in order to improve their skills. We are just re-offending and increasing its recruitment of ex-offenders. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body actively promotes the quality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential, and welcomes applications from all sections of society. The SPCB policy on the employment of ex-offenders commits us to ensuring that no job applicant or member of staff will receive less favourable treatment than others because of her or his offending background or any other characteristic not relevant to the role. We do not have any immediate plans to prioritise the creation of a programme exclusively for the recruitment of people with offending backgrounds, but we continue to review the extent to which our recruitment arrangements deliver fairness and ensure that no groups are excluded. Mark Griffin. The answer to my question today was lodged following a discussion with a modern studies class at Greenfields High School in Cumbanall, who is currently looking into justice issues. It is really their question. One of the things that they are looking into is restorative justice in the schemes like Release Scotland and those run by Timpsons, which now has 10 per cent of its staff recruited directly from prison through a selection, training and mentoring programme. Their chief executive chairs the employers forum for reducing re-offending, which is a group that offers a second chance to people with a criminal conviction and encourages other employers to be more willing to recruit ex-offenders. Can I ask Kezia Dugdale what plans the corporate body has to apply to joining the likes of Greggs, the Scottish Government and Timpsons by becoming a member of Release Scotland and if it will write to Greenfields High School modern studies class, setting out how it will come to any decision? Kezia Dugdale. I thank the member for that follow-up. We are aware of Release Scotland and their work that they do across the private sector, and he is right to acknowledge the work that Greggs and Timpsons do, but also in the public and third sector promoting the employment of people with offending backgrounds. I am sure that he is aware that one third of men and 9 per cent of women have a conviction in their past, yet 75 per cent of employers say that they would not employ someone with an offending history. I would say to the member that the corporate body is pretty confident that we do not discriminate against offenders. For example, we do not require people to disclose their offending background in job application forms and we do not hold any of that information in employment records. I think that we would be particularly keen to know what membership of Release would add to our current systems before committing to joining it. I think that that is an unusual request to write to that particular school, but I will personally endeavour to respond to the pupils at Greenfield, Greenfalt High School to ensure that they have an appropriate answer, and I will either do that in a formal capacity from the corporate body or in a personal capacity whatever seems most appropriate by the corporate body. To ask the Scottish Parliament corporate body what measures it has taken to protect the Parliament from cyberattacks. The Scottish Parliament corporate body fully recognises the importance of cyber resilience for all organisations has never been greater. Digital technologies are vital to the successful operation of all modern organisations, and the Scottish Parliament corporate body has put in place a variety of tools, technologies and procedures to protect the Parliament from a successful attack. Our critical cyber security controls have recently undergone an independent assessment of their effectiveness, leading to an award of cyber essentials plus certification for the Parliament. In addition to the technical measures and controls put in place, an on-going campaign to raise awareness of cyber security issues will help ensure that all network users are mindful of how they can contribute to defending our Parliament from cyberattacks. Ross Greer. I thank Kezia Dugdale for that answer. The corporate body will be aware of the upcoming visit of the Russian ambassador to the Scottish Parliament. Given that Russia is a hostile state that has not only killed citizens on UK soil but has engaged in extensive cyberattacks against political parties, governments and other institutions across the world, could the corporate body provide further detail on what specific measures and assessments have taken place in advance of the visit of the ambassador? Kezia Dugdale. If I could say to the member that just this morning, the Scottish Parliament corporate body received a briefing from the National Cyber Security Centre, and we will use the information that we receive on threats and vulnerabilities to ensure that our cyber defences evolve to best manage the risks that we face from wherever they come from. I would emphasise that point from wherever they come from. That is not an action that we have taken this morning in response to any specific attack from Russia, but it is to make sure that procedures that we have in place are as up-to-date and as well-resourced as possible. I hope that that offers the member the reassurance that he is looking for. Question 5, David Stewart. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the provision of home security assessment reports for members. Jackson Carlaw. Members' personal safety is an issue that the corporate body takes very seriously. To ensure that support to members reflects the security risks that members face, the corporate body works closely with Police Scotland and other security partners to make that assessment. The security of members at their homes and at their Edinburgh accommodation has been discussed by the corporate body, but on assessment has focused on local offices and surgeries for making security enhancements. The corporate body has approved a budget that members can access to upgrade the security at their local offices based on recommendations taken from surveys undertaken by local crime prevention officers. The corporate body has also purchased loan worker devices that are available to members on their staff as an additional security measure. Police Scotland and the security office also provide personal safety briefings to members and their staff on request. Members can contact Police Scotland for an assessment of their home security. Police Scotland will undertake a survey similar to that provided at local offices and will make recommendations to the member for simple measures that could be put in place to improve their home security. The corporate body does not at the moment provide a fund for members to access for implementation of any security measures that are recommended as home security, as it is not currently assessed as being the main area of risk. David Stewart. I am grateful to Mr Carlaw for his reply. Could I first of all place on record my thanks to the corporate body for the provision of security for members' offices and could I encourage my colleagues who have not activated this to do this as soon as possible? Mr Carlaw will be aware that the House of Commons joint committee in security has commissioned an independent review of MP's personal home security. Notwithstanding Mr Carlaw's reply, will the corporate body consider, at the very least, a request to Police Scotland to undertake a review of security of MP's homes as a precursor to a wider strategy on member and staff security? Jackson Carlaw. I would concur with Mr Stewart's view that every member should take advantage of the opportunity to have their own constituency premises surveyed by Police Scotland for any recommendations or risks that might be addressed. We are obviously aware that that has been the subject of our discussion of the fact that both the Welsh Assembly and Westminster have introduced home security arrangements for members. We have obviously focused where we feel that the main areas of risk are and we have taken the advice throughout from Police Scotland on that. As I say, it does not preclude members from contacting Police Scotland or the security office to arrange a review of their home security if that would provide the member with additional reassurance. I will say that, at this time, the SPCB would expect the member to meet the costs of upgrading their home security, although, where there are particular concerns for the member's personal safety, the SPCB would naturally consider any applications for funding of home security in those particular circumstances. That concludes SPCB question time. We will move on to the next item of business once everyone has the chance to shift their seats. Thank you.