- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its contracts with City of Edinburgh, Dumfries and Galloway, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Councils for provision of social work services in Scottish prisons subject to deletion of matters that are commercially confidential, giving the reasons for its position on this matter.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Yes.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 12 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27324 by Dr Richard Simpson on 6 August 2002, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre the independent evaluations of the public space closed circuit television projects funded through the "Make Our Communities Safer" Challenge Competition.
Answer
I will make arrangements to ensure that copies of the evaluations referred to in the answer to question S1W-27324 are placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre by the end of October.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its contract with Medacs for provision of medical services in prisons, subject to deletion of matters that are commercially confidential, giving the reasons for its position on this matter.
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 given to question S1W-28224 on 2 September 2002.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Mary Mulligan on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes in drug treatment policy it plans in the light of the reclassification of cannabis.
Answer
The Executive monitors drug use patterns and trends as part of its information strategy. A range of approaches to treatment is available and is kept constantly under review in the light of any new and relevant information. The Executive's recently-published
Cannabis: Know the Score Guide, which can be accessed at
www.knowthescore.info, emphasises that the drug can affect mental, as well as physical health and that people should be aware of the dangers, particularly anyone who has a mental illness.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 30 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25568 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 July 2002, what the cost would be of providing a table showing where omissions have been made in the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock and in each schedule, showing in each case the paragraph and sub-paragraph numbers or specified section of the text as appropriate and what the reasons were for each omission; how this cost is calculated, and why it is disproportionate.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The cost could be around £1,000 taking into account the direct and opportunity cost of the diversion of resources which would be necessary. This would be disproportionate as the full contract has already been made available under appropriate conditions of confidentiality to Justice Committee 1.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 26 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answers to questions S1W-2006, S1W-9041, S1W-9042, S1W-9374, S1W-17536, S1W-17721 and S1W-18201 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 November 1999, 31 and 24 August and 4 December 2000 and 12, 20 and 28 September 2001 respectively, why it was possible to provide figures for the number of staff who had left HM Prison Kilmarnock in the answer to S1W-2006, but not respond similarly to the remaining questions on staff turnover on the grounds that the subject was a matter for Premier Prison Services Ltd.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The answer given to question S1W-2006 was given in error shortly after the opening of Kilmarnock and prior to the establishment of arrangements under which the release of information on the company's inputs are the responsibility of KPSL. On 22 May 2002, Elaine Bailey (Managing Director PPG) gave evidence to the Justice 1 Committee and she described turnover at HM Prison Kilmarnock to be 11%.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its advice is to police forces on enforcing the law in respect of possession of cannabis.
Answer
In my statement accompanying the Home Secretary's announcement on 10 July 2002 that cannabis is to be reclassified from Class B to Class C in terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, I made clear that those who traffic in cannabis in Scotland should be in no doubt that they still run the risks of heavy fines or imprisonment. Those who are found in possession of cannabis will continue to be treated in the same way. All prosecutions in Scotland are of course at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal.The Scottish Police Service will continue to report alleged offences in respect of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to the Procurator Fiscal. However, Procurators Fiscal are not obliged to prosecute such cases and a variety of disposals is available. On the basis that procedures in Scotland will continue to operate largely as at present, no new guidance to the police is currently planned.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 15 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to procurators fiscal with regard to the prosecution of those accused of possession of cannabis and whether any new advice on this matter will be given in the light of the reclassification of cannabis.
Answer
The specific advice given to procurators fiscal with regard to the prosecution of such persons is confidential. The disclosure of such detailed guidance would be of assistance to those contemplating or involved in criminal actions.Cases involving the possession of cannabis will continue to be reported to procurators fiscal by the police. Procurators fiscal are not obliged to prosecute such persons and a variety of disposals are available.The relevant guidance has not been changed but will be kept under continuous review.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 13 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to redirect any resources of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency following the reclassification of cannabis.
Answer
No. The SDEA was established to drive and co-ordinate an enhanced multi-agency response to the threat from drug trafficking and other forms of serious and organised crime in Scotland. That threat still exists, particularly from Class A drugs, and for so long as it does the SDEA will continue to have a vital role.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 13 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it envisages will be released as a result of the reclassification of cannabis in respect of (a) the police, (b) the procurator fiscal service, (c) the courts, (d) the Scottish Prison Service and (e) criminal justice social work services.
Answer
While it is possible that the reclassification of cannabis will result in some redirection of resources, no estimates have been made of the impact on the different elements in the criminal justice system. The Executive and the criminal justice agencies in Scotland will continue to devote substantial effort and resources to tackling all aspects of drug misuse which cause harm to individuals and communities.
