- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in respect of plans for the establishment of another privately-run prison; when it expects to issue a tender for this project; where the prison will be located; what criteria will be used in deciding to whom the contract for operating the prison will be allocated; whether Premier Prison Services will be allowed to submit a tender or be awarded any contract, and what the differences will be between this tender and that issued for HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS has obtained outline planning permission for a new prison at Addiewell, West Lothian. This prison will be provided and managed by the private sector under contract to the Scottish Prison Service. The procurement process is currently underway. No private sector bidders were excluded from participating in the competition. The tender specification is based on best practice and includes a requirement to contribute to reducing re-offending.
The SPS is also seeking outline planning permission for a new prison at the site of HM Prison Low Moss, East Dunbartonshire.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times Premier Prison Services has amended, or sought to amend, draft reports from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons prior to publication in each of the last six years, specifying the relevant reports and showing what the changes were and whether they were accepted by the Chief Inspector.
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 to question S2W-15428 on 14 April 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislation to reform the powers of the Minister for Justice in respect of the directions which she can issue to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
Answer
Legislation is not required. The authority which ministers delegate to SPS is set out in the Agency's Framework Document. The Framework Document has recently been revised and is available online at
http://www.sps.gov.uk/keydocs/framework/default.asp.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency has taken following the allegations of drug trafficking and misuse made in the BBC documentary on HM Prison Kilmarnock broadcast on 9 March 2005.
Answer
Any action to be taken following the allegations made in the BBC documentary on HM Prison Kilmarnock is a matter for Strathclyde Police to consider in consultation with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive who takes the final decision in respect of when a report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on an individual establishment is published and what criteria are used when deciding on the publication date.
Answer
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons is independent of ministers and sets the date of publication of reports. The date of publication is dependent on when the report is completed and returned from the printers.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times fingerprint evidence prepared by the Scottish Criminal Record Office has been withheld or withdrawn in a trial in (a) each of the last two years and (b) the current year to date.
Answer
I refer to the answer given to S2W-3454, answered on 12 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. There are a number of reasons why a prosecutor may decide not to use evidence in court. I am not aware of any case in the last two years (including the current year to date) other than that of Mark Sinclair, which concluded at the High Court in Ayr in October 2003, in which the Crown has decided not to use fingerprint evidence provided by the Scottish Criminal Records Office following a challenge to that evidence by a defence expert.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the statement made on behalf of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde police, as reported in the Sunday Herald on Sunday 20 March 2005, that the police do not investigate claims made by a documentary.
Answer
I am aware of the comments made on behalf of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police. The investigation of specific allegations of criminal activity is a matter for the Chief Constable.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any comparative analysis of the performance of prisons and, if so, whether it will publish the last three such analyses.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
The reports of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons into the performance of individual establishments are published routinely. In addition the SPS publishes the analysis of the annual Prisoner Survey.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice has issued any instructions to the Scottish Prison Service or the Chief Inspector of Prisons following the allegations made in the BBC documentary broadcast on 9 March 2005 about HM Prison Kilmarnock and, if so, what these instructions were.
Answer
The Scottish Prison Service is responsible for monitoring the operation of the contract with HM Prison Kilmarnock. I refer the member to the answer to S2W-15194 on 14 April 2005, which outlines the actions taken in the light of the allegations contained in this programme. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice has received my letter regarding the Scottish Prison Service's closure of the Longriggend Remand Centre and, if so, what action will be taken; what action will be taken to address issues relating to roads and lighting in Upperton Village, and what the reasons are for the minister having not replied to myself or the Upperton Residents' Association.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
As it raised matters which are my responsibility under the published framework document governing the relationship between SPS and ministers, I replied to the letter on 9 March 2005. The reply set out the position regarding roads and lighting in the area.
