- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the steering group to take forward the recommendations in the report of the Expert Panel on Sex Offending, Reducing the Risk: Improving the Response to Sex Offending, will be set up and who will be part of this group.
Answer
It is intended that the steering group will meet for the first time in the autumn. It will be chaired by the head of the Criminal Justice Group in the Justice Department and will involve representatives from the Crown Office, local authorities, the police, the health service, the Scottish Prison Service, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Courts Service and the voluntary sector.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 18 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research has been carried out to evaluate the usefulness of hair analysis in detecting drugs in a person's system in order to provide corroborating evidence when a drug-assisted sexual assault has been alleged.
Answer
Research is being carried out in Scotland by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science at Glasgow University in relation to the detection of benzodiazepines, in particular flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), in hair.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the teaching of issues surrounding child sexual abuse and domestic violence will be made mandatory in schools.
Answer
In Scotland, the curriculum is not prescribed by statute and delivery is a matter for local authorities and schools. The Scottish Executive's policy is to ensure that guidance to education authorities and schools and the framework of national qualifications provide opportunities for raising awareness of child sexual abuse and domestic violence at every level of the school curriculum.All education authorities in Scotland have guidelines and procedures for child protection to ensure the safety and well being of children and young people and to protect those adults working with them.There are no plans to change current policy.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what amounts and percentage of the changing children's services fund have been allocated in the current financial year to (a) statutory, (b) voluntary and (c) partnership projects, broken down by local authority.
Answer
Allocations for each local authority area (2002-03) are noted in the table. Proposals have been received against all 32 allocations. The overall aim of the Changing Children's Service Fund is to encourage better integration of all resources available for children's services across the statutory and voluntary sectors. Proposals are therefore expected to demonstrate evidence of genuine partnership working across these sectors.
Local Authority | Allocation 2002-03(£000's) |
|
Aberdeen City | 871 |
Aberdeenshire | 1,123 |
Angus | 539 |
Argyll and Bute | 463 |
Clackmannanshire | 258 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 814 |
Dundee City | 910 |
East Ayrshire | 675 |
East Dunbartonshire | 343 |
East Lothian | 408 |
East Renfrewshire | 300 |
Edinburgh, City of | 1,966 |
Eilean Siar | 173 |
Falkirk | 688 |
Fife | 1,712 |
Glasgow City | 4,488 |
Highland | 1222 |
Inverclyde | 483 |
Midlothian | 380 |
Moray | 406 |
North Ayrshire | 823 |
North Lanarkshire | 1,747 |
Orkney Islands | 116 |
Perth and Kinross | 638 |
Renfrewshire | 928 |
Scottish Borders | 515 |
Shetland Islands | 148 |
South Ayrshire | 514 |
South Lanarkshire | 1,513 |
Stirling | 416 |
West Dunbartonshire | 632 |
West Lothian | 787 |
Scotland | 27,000 |
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 9 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for offences involving child prostitution in each of the last five years.
Answer
Data is only available for the last three years.Records indicate that there have been no reports of offences involving child prostitution in that period.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes voluntary organisations to enrol with the Central Registered Body Scotland.
Answer
Voluntary organisations will normally be enrolled within three weeks of receipt of the completed enrolment form. This is the case as long as the appropriate documentary evidence, such as confirmation of the lead signatory's identity and relevant policy statements (covering child, or vulnerable adult protection, rehabilitation of offenders details and secure handling and storage of information and details of the organisation's structure, management and funding), are provided at the time of application.Delays can occur where any of these items are incomplete or unavailable.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes for checks on volunteers in the voluntary sector working with children, young people and vulnerable adults to be processed by Disclosure Scotland.
Answer
Disclosure Scotland has a working agreement to process and return 90% of applications for a disclosure within 10 working days.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how information regarding the establishment of the Central Registered Body Scotland was transmitted to voluntary organisations.
Answer
Following the appointment of the Head of the Central Registered Body Scotland (CRBS) and the Information and Training Officer on 3 January 2002, a number of measures were taken to transmit information to the sector about the work of the unit. This included:
- Leaflets were produced and disseminated to Volunteer Centres throughout Scotland during the first weeks of January 2002 advising interested parties of the contact details of the unit and giving a brief outline of the purpose and function of the unit.
- A register of interested organisations was opened on 3 January 2002 and a substantial number of organisations have since registered.
- Staff of the CRBS participated in a series of 11 seminars arranged by Disclosure Scotland, which were held throughout the country during February and early March 2002.
- In addition CRBS also held 55 seminars and briefings for organisations throughout the country up to the end of May 2002.
During this time CRBS has also had to address the needs and requirements of national UK organisations by holding briefings and training sessions. CRBS has its own web page within that of Volunteer Development Scotland. Articles have also been prepared and have appeared in
Keeping You Posted, the newsletter of Volunteer Development Scotland, and in various other newsletters.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into any links between child abuse and prostitution.
Answer
The reasons why young people become involved in prostitution are many and complex. Some surveys have shown linkages between child abuse and prostitution. In one reported survey by the Children's Society 50 young adults who were, or had been, involved in prostitution were interviewed. 50% said that their first sexual experience had been of abuse and a quarter had been abused before they reached the age of 10.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations regarding the licensing of lap dancing clubs.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has received three representations regarding the licensing of lap dancing clubs.