- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional prisoner places, as defined in section 34 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock, have been recorded in the daily report for every day of the operation of the prison.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Fotry-eight additional prisoner places have been available each day since July 2000.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the provider of education services in each Scottish Prison Service prison since 1 April 2000 to date, showing the dates on which each provider began and ceased provision of such services.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:All the providers of education in Scottish prisons continue as they have been since 1 April 2000:Aberdeen College provides SPS with education services in HMP Aberdeen and Peterhead; Lauder College in HM Prison Castle Huntly, Edinburgh, Glenochil, Noranside and Perth; Motherwell College in HM Prison Barlinnie, Cornton Vale, Dumfries, Greenock, Low Moss, Polmont and Shotts and Highland Council in HM Prison Inverness.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32013 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 December 2002, whether any internal bid was considered as part of the competitive tendering of education services in prisons.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:No. The SPS does not have education provision capacity internally.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32013 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 December 2002, whether it made any examination of the value for money of contracting out education services in the Scottish Prison Service prior to tendering for such services.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:No. The SPS made a value for money comparison as part of our procurement process.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 19 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-29901 and S1W-31083 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 October and 8 November 2002 respectively, whether the responses given are in accordance with the duty of ministers under the Scottish Ministerial Code to be as open as possible with the Parliament and the public, giving the reasons for its position on this matter.
Answer
Every effort is made at all times to secure compliance with the ministerial code, when giving answers to questions.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 19 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31974 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 December 2002, how many prisoners were transferred from HM Prison Greenock to HM Prison Kilmarnock in the same 12-week period.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:None.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 19 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31971 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 December 2002, why the Scottish Prison Service does not intend publishing the project plan and timetable for the new private-build, private-operate prison and whether this position accords with the Executive's policy on access to information.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The procurement of the new prison will be undertaken by the SPS using the PRINCE 2 project management methodology. Under PRINCE, detailed project plans and timetables are working documents frequently updated during the project's life, making publication impractical. They will also contain information covered by the exemptions set out in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information, in particular material whose publication would "prejudice... negotiations or the effective conduct of contractual activities" (paragraph 7a of Part II of the code), making it harder to secure best value for taxpayers' money. The SPS is committed to providing the new prison as soon as possible. The Scottish Prison Service Estates Review (Appendix D) estimated that this is achievable within three years of a site with planning permission being available. Once a site and planning permission are secured, it will be possible to determine the high-level procurement and construction timetable. That information will be published as part of the procurement process.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 18 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the multi-agency group on youth crime will report on the proposed national framework of outcome standards and objectives for Scotland's youth justice system, as referred to by the Minister for Education and Young People in the debate in the Parliament on the youth justice system on 6 December 2001 (Official Report c 4636-7).
Answer
We expect the group's report to be available in December 2002, as stated in Scotland's Action Programme to Reduce Youth Crime 2002.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enforce clauses 59 and 69 of the Criminal Justice Bill on restrictions on reporting for publications on the internet where the server on which the publication was originally made is located outside the UK.
Answer
The proposed restrictions are for the purpose of preventing jurors or potential jurors in England and Wales from becoming prejudiced. As internet material could be viewed in England and Wales, the prime responsibility for dealing with the matter would lie with the authorities in England and Wales. In Scotland, the police, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service would be responsible for dealing with any suspected offences.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether clauses 59 and 69 of the Criminal Justice Bill can be enforced against print publications imported from other states in the European Union.
Answer
The enforcement of the reporting restrictions set out in clauses 59 and 69 of the bill are subject to the offence provisions in clauses 60 and 70 respectively. Clause 60(2) and 70(2) both provide that where the publication which includes the report in contravention of the restriction is a newspaper or periodical the proprietor, editor or publisher is guilty of an offence. A proprietor, editor or publisher who is within the reach of the UK courts and who includes a report in contravention of the restrictions is liable to be prosecuted in the appropriate UK jurisdiction. In normal circumstances it is to be expected that that would be in a court in England or Wales.
