- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 21 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the finalised Structure Plan submitted by Scottish Borders Council in May 2001 has been agreed.
Answer
The finalised Scottish Borders Structure Plan is still under consideration by the Scottish ministers. However, an announcement on the plan will be made soon.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory protection there is for the preservation of school playing fields.
Answer
Under the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, there is a requirement for every school to have available to it playing fields of an area related to the school roll. Town and country planning legislation provides certain safeguards in relation to proposals to develop playing fields, including school playing fields. National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space sets out the planning policy framework that planning authorities should have regard to when considering proposals for the redevelopment of playing fields. Sportscotland must also be consulted on all planning applications and developments likely to prejudice or lead to the loss of playing fields. Planning authorities are required to notify the Scottish ministers where they are minded to grant planning permission for any proposal which would involve the loss of a playing field where sportscotland have advised against the proposal.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfactory (a) that on 18 February 2002 the gymnasium at HM Prison Kilmarnock was staffed by one supervisor with no prison officer in attendance and relying on the security camera system and (b) that this should regularly be the case.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:It is SPS policy not to discuss matters of internal security in any prison establishment. Security matters, including supervision, are a matter for the operators of HMP Kilmarnock. SPS is satisfied with the performance of the establishment.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfactory that on 18 February 2002 the welding shed at HM Prison Kilmarnock was staffed by one supervisor for 27 inmates and whether this level of supervision is adequate given that there are blind spots in the security camera system.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23282 today.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is currently any shortage of prison officers and, if so, what the shortage is.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:There is no shortage of prison officers.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service has at any time given instructions that staffing levels at HM Prison Kilmarnock be reduced.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:No.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-22460 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 February 2002, why the restructuring of prisoner escort arrangements will result in the Scottish Prison Service needing about 200 fewer prison officer posts, given previous statements that the contracting out of the escorting of prisoners would make prison officers available for in-prison duties and, for example, result in fewer "lock-ups".
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:Once the new escorting contract is in place, the posts of those SPS staff who are currently involved in escorting prisoners will no longer be required by SPS, for that purpose. Some staff are scheduled to escorting duties; others have to be drawn from other duties, often at short notice.The latter is the main cause of disruption to regimes and routines of prisons, including withdrawing staff from in-prison duties. The new service will mean that the main cause of disruption will cease, allowing these staff to be available for in-prison duties, for all or most of the time.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the contract for HM Prison Kilmarnock will be placed in the public domain.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The contract was published on 8 March.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfactory that on 18 February 2002 the woodwork shed at HM Prison Kilmarnock was staffed by one supervisor for 20 inmates and whether this level of supervision is adequate given that there are blind spots in the security camera system.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23282.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the appointment of Borders NHS Board members announced on 9 November 2001, whether Mr Tony Taylor, Mrs Eileen McDermott and Dr Ian Lowes have been involved in any political activity within the last five years.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20382 on 10 December 2002, in which I have already provided the information requested.For convenience, I confirm that neither Mr Anthony Taylor, Chair of Borders NHS Board, nor Mrs Eileen McDermott, Staff Side Chair of Borders Area Partnership Forum, nor Dr Ian Lowles, Chair of Borders Area Clinical Forum, has been involved in any political activity within the last five years.
