Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-25014

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers the suspension of the Scottish Prison Service Throughcare Support Service will have on successful reintegration into society of people leaving prison.

The suspension of the SPS’ Throughcare Support Service was an operational matter for SPS management to decide upon. This decision was driven by the requirement to reassign experienced officers to mainstream duties within prisons, to help ensure safe and effective operations are not compromised.

SPS leadership have made clear that this decision was not made lightly. They have indicated that they will keep this suspension under review, and that they wish to re-establish this work when circumstances permit.

While the TSS officers did provide a valuable contribution to throughcare work, it should be noted that other aspects of SPS activity can also provide support to individuals as they prepare to for release (including Personal officers, Links Centres, and case management processes).

Looking more widely, there are a range of other services that can also engage with individuals on their release. Short sentence prisoners are entitled to approach their Local Authority for throughcare assistance for up to 12 months after release, and may also receive support from third sector and voluntary services across Scotland. We will continue to support third sector throughcare services across Scotland, as demonstrated by the £3.4m which we issued to third sector throughcare and mentoring services in 2019-20.

Furthermore, long sentence prisoners are placed under the supervision of Criminal Justice Social Work for the remainder of their sentence, following their release.

Question reference: S5W-25013

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the suspension of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Throughcare Support Service will have on the SPS Throughcare Strategy.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

Our Throughcare Strategy makes explicit our commitment to working with partners to improve throughcare as part of arrangements for community justice. SPS continues to take our responsibilities for contributing to community justice and recovery and reintegration seriously and will continue to meet our obligations as community justice partners, representing Scottish Ministers going forward. We will continue to make our leadership contribution to community justice through Governors in Charge (GICs) having a visible strategic presence in local communities and partnerships.

The Throughcare Strategy provided a pathway for our work with service users, families and a broad range of partners to ensure that a network of community based support is in place for those entering and leaving prison.

In line with the strategy SPS will still:-

• encourage individuals in our care to engage with other voluntary throughcare services provided by the third sector and local authority social work services;

• support people in and leaving our care on their journey into desistance;

• enable people in our care to access key services such as DWP, housing and health to support reintegration on release; and

• work with services to prepare for and successfully transition from custody to community

We also remain committed to ensuring that the Third Sector is able to continue to make its distinctive contribution to the recovery and reintegration of the people in and leaving our care. We will therefore keep working with the Third Sector to implement the partnerships agreement process across establishments and the directory of services.

Question reference: S5W-25012

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comment by the former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, David Strang, in his paper, What next for prisons in Scotland? Reflections on five years as the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, that "provision of throughcare services before and after their [prisoners] liberation are essential to successful reintegration.”

This Government continues to recognise that effective throughcare can make a valuable contribution to the reintegration of individuals on release from prison.

We will continue to support third sector throughcare services across Scotland, as demonstrated by the £3.4m which we issued to third sector throughcare and mentoring services in 2019-20.

Following the Scottish Prison Service’s decision to temporarily suspend the Throughcare Support Service, we have been in discussion with third sector organisations to consider the changed circumstances, and how existing resources can best be utilised.

It is important to recognise that other public services have a substantial part to play in the delivery of successful reintegration processes, by ensuring that our universal services recognise and respond to the needs of individuals leaving prison.

Question reference: S5W-25015

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many FTE Throughcare Support Officers in the Scottish Prison Service were carrying out the function of throughcare support on 1 May 2019, and how many will be carrying out this function on 1 October 2019.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

On 1 May 2019 there were 39 FTE Throughcare Support Officers posts with 35.92 individuals in post. There will be no officers with this job title on 1 October 2019 but prison staff will still carry out the pre-release function of engaging with individuals, families and services to ensure a smooth transition from custody into the community.

Question reference: S5O-03548

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many appointments have been made to the Monklands Replacement Oversight Board, and what skills, expertise and local knowledge are reflected in these appointments.

Question reference: S5W-24401

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require ScotRail to directly fund any charges from local authorities resulting from the workplace parking levy or whether all or part of the charges will be passed onto ScotRail employees.

Question reference: S5W-24369

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow ScotRail to directly pay charges arising as part of the proposed workplace parking levy or pass all or part of the levy on to employees.

Question reference: S5W-23840

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment Transport Scotland has made regarding the potential impact of nationalising the 2019-27 Northern Isles Ferry Services' contract.

The 2019-27 Northern Isles Ferry Service Contract is currently subject to an on-going tender, the outcome of which is due to be announced in August 2019.

The Ferry services procurement policy review - Interim report - Emerging findings - 20 December 2017 , sets out the Scottish Government’s position in relation to the possibility of making a direct award to a public sector operator for future ferry service contracts.

Transport Scotland is continuing its engagement with the European Commission about the application of the State aid rules. A final decision about whether it will be possible to make a direct award to a public sector operator for future contracts will be taken in advance of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract being renewed in 2024.

Question reference: S5W-24049

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish Serco NorthLink Ferries’ base case for each year of the contact for Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Serco NorthLink Ferries is a commercial organisation and as such, any financial information in relation to the base case for the current Northern Isles Ferry Services contract is commercially sensitive.

The same approach applies to the operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service.

Although not publically available, all financial information, including details of Serco NorthLink Ferries base case, was provided to Audit Scotland as part of their examination of Transport Scotland's ferry services.

Question reference: S5W-24047

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) change in yield and (b) operator return has been in each year of the contract with Serco for Northern Isles Ferry Services.