Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24968 on 8 May 2002.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The letter was replied to on 2 May 2002.

No specific research has been undertaken on this topic but the broader issue of sex offenders is an important part of our current research programme. We have also commissioned further research on the treatment of violent and sexual offenders.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS is currently reviewing the range of interventions available elsewhere to specifically address violence against women, and hopes that it may be possible to introduce such a programme in 2003. This would be supported by a wider range of interventions to address sexual offending and instrumental violence. In addition, a number of approved activities are currently under development to help tackle addictions. The aim of this combination of programmes and approved activities would be to reduce the risk of violence generally, including violence against women.

The control of the use of local premises is a matter for local authorities through the planning and licensing systems and we have not issued guidance of the type mentioned. However, we deplore violence against women in any form and our strategies on equality and on domestic abuse are designed to reinforce this. The police are particularly alert to the vulnerability of workers in the sex industry and will seek to enforce the criminal law.

I have approved the publication of the evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust's "Respect" educational project and, whilst I cannot give a specific date at this stage, it is likely to be in early June.

Since March 2000, the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund has supported or is still currently supporting, over 80 local multi-agency projects set up to tackle domestic abuse. A large number of these projects include preventative elements. However, funding for projects that could be described as primarily concerned with prevention is as follows:2000-01 financial year: eight projects at a total cost of £153,9302001-02 financial year: seven projects at a total cost of £109,5452002-03 financial year: seven projects at a total cost of £249,360In addition the Scottish Executive provided £56,552 in the financial year 2000-01 and £29,440 in the financial year 2001-02 to the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust, to fund the piloting of the respect package in schools and youth groups in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The aim of this package is to raise awareness amongst young people of the issues around domestic abuse.

The National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland has a remit to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland. This includes the consideration of links between domestic abuse and the wider issues of violence against women. It is for the national group to prioritise its work over the three-year period of the action plan.

The Guidelines for Courses of Teacher Education in Scotland sets out Scottish ministers' policy on content, nature and duration of courses leading to teaching qualifications. The precise form of individual courses is determined by the higher education institution. Issues such as domestic abuse and the rights of the child are covered within courses of initial teacher education. The guidelines require that newly qualified teachers must be able to demonstrate an understanding of international, national and local guidelines on child protection and teachers' roles and responsibilities in this area. They must also understand the roles of other professionals concerned with pupil learning and welfare and how to work with them.

The second round of the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund received applications to fund 83 projects at a cost of £2,314,928 - an oversubscription of £814,928.A decision has been taken to continue to fund those training projects already supported by the fund in 2000-01 and 2001-02 but to leave consideration of new projects until the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland develops a coherent National Training Strategy.Letters relating to the six projects involved were issued on 5 April.