- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22333 by Cathy Jamieson on 25 January 2006, whether the Executive has reached a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not intend to take a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn. Ministers have consistently made clear that if anyone has credible and reliable information regarding alleged criminal activity, it should be passed to the police.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22335 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 January 2006, whether it considers it appropriate to now engage in discussions with the US Government in respect of the allegations that US agencies used Scottish airports as refuelling points for aircraft engaged in acts of “extraordinary rendition”, given the ongoing media reports on the issue and the opinions expressed by Senator Dick Marty in the interim report of his investigation into the existence of rendition flights.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has nothing to add to its answer to question S2W-22335 of 23 January 2006. 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: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21753 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 January 2006, in what way the answer indicates the Executive's opinion of the claims made by Senator Dick Marty.
Answer
The answer to S2W-21753 set out the Scottish Executive’s position in relation to Senator Dick Marty’s report. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to give an opinion on claims made by Senator Marty. The UK government will respond to the report, as required, when it is published.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to end the practice of slopping out for remand prisoners at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, given the view expressed by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in the preamble to his inspection report of March 2005, that “it is very upsetting that the only remand prisoners who are regularly slopping out are under 21 years of age”.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
Polmont is currently undergoing a refurbishment costing over £90 million which is due to be completed around 2007-08. As part of this redevelopment, most existing areas referred to in the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) Report will be replaced. Young people on remand are no longer held in “slopping out” accommodation, Spey Hall has already been closed and a purpose built activity centre for programmes and work has been opened. A second activity area and further accommodation are planned for next year. As part of the development of the regime at Polmont, specialised training is provided for staff as required.
The SPS responds formally to recommendations in HMCIP Reports. Responses are published on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk. In addition to these recommendations, HMCIP may also list some “Points of Note.” In responding, the SPS note these without commitment. They may be taken into account by local managers, and will be balanced against managers’ judgement about resources available, any savings which might be required, and the operational balance of the establishment.”
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to improve the situation identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 12.7 of his March 2005 inspection report into HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont where no alternative recreation is offered if a young adult refuses exercise when it is raining because “staff resources would be stretched to have exercise and recreation operating simultaneously”.
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-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
The Governor does not regard this as a priority for action.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to comply with the recommendation of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 5.32 of his inspection report of May 2004 that HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont “needs to provide training for staff specific to the needs of working with their unique population” but identified as being only “partly achieved” in paragraph 12.28 of his March 2005 report.
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-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
It should also be noted that the staff at Polmont have been praised on many occasions for the innovative approach they take to working with young people and the quality of the service they provide. Polmont recently won the first ever competition for best practice in health care in prisons, run by the World Health Organization for overall excellence of its health service.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in respect of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ recommendation in paragraph 11.10 of his inspection report of March 2005 into HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont that “the system needs to be reviewed to ensure that young adults do attend” their health centre, dental, psychology and social work appointments and “that there are adequate interview rooms available”.
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-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
A new system has been introduced to facilitate young offenders attending the health centre.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how far advanced plans are for the new reception in HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, referred to by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.6 of his inspection report of March 2005.
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-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
New reception facilities are planned as part of Phase III of the development at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve arrangements for access to sanitation and hygiene in Argyll Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, given HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ assessment in paragraph 11.2 of his inspection report of March 2005 that his earlier recommendation for improvement, detailed in paragraph 2.4 of his report of May 2004, has been only “partly achieved”.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22272,on 1 February 2006. 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.
The hall is compliant with the SPS hygiene control circular. Argyle Hall is due to be emptied in early in 2007 when the new Houseblock is completed.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will resolve the issue identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.1 of his inspection report of March 2005 on HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont that children under the age of 16 are being held in that institution “as a result of their being deemed by Secure Units as too difficult to be held”, despite his earlier recommendation of May 2004 that children aged under 16 should not be held in a prison.
Answer
The Executive’s policy is to avoid, wherever possible, holding young people under the age of 16 in prison. In the exceptional circumstances where it is deemed necessary, it must be for the shortest appropriate period of time.
The normal expectation is that a child will remain in the same establishment until their release. Transfer to another secure unit or to a young offenders institute will only be considered if a child's behaviour becomes completely unmanageable within the current placement or where, for example, the child is convicted of further serious charges which suggest that the child would present an unacceptable risk to the safety of other residents or staff. Conversely, where a child makes suitable progress he or she will be considered for a move from a secure establishment to an open setting within the child care system.
The majority of those children who are recorded as being held in adult prisons are children whose behaviour is so challenging that the courts have certified them as “unruly”.
These special arrangements are in place in order to protect those children whose behaviour is so challenging that it would be inappropriate to place them in local authority secure accommodation at that point in time.
Staff in secure units already have well developed skills for dealing with difficult behaviour in a secure setting. Further training and development which will enhance these skills is ongoing within each unit.
