Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5O-00504

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed transport issues in Fife with ScotRail.

Question reference: S5W-05428

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many community payback orders in each of the last five years have included a requirement for the treatment of alcohol problems.

The number of Community Payback Orders (CPOs) including an alcohol treatment requirement that have been imposed since 2011-12 can be found in the Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics in Scotland, 2014-15 Statistical Bulletin (Table 10).

This publication is available online on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0049/00497837.pdf This is the most up to date information currently available. Data for 2015-16 is expected to be published in February 2017.

It is important to note that alcohol treatment requirements are not the only mechanism for individuals to receive support for alcohol problems under a CPO. The CPO annual reports received from local authorities highlight that alcohol misuse issues are often addressed under the supervision or conduct requirements or as part of the ‘other activity’ aspect of the unpaid work or other activity requirement.

Question reference: S5W-05429

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is providing to develop bail supervision as an alternative to remand.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to reducing reoffending includes an emphasis on reducing the use of short-term imprisonment, both in sentencing and remand.

This includes exploring the use of Bail Supervision as a direct alternative to remand.

The Scottish Government provides an annual funding allocation to local authorities for the delivery of Criminal Justice Social Work (CJSW) services and programmes to reduce reoffending. It is for each local area to allocate this funding in order to deliver statutory CJSW services and respond to local priorities. Under this funding formula, an indicative amount is provided for Bail Information and Bail Supervision services. It is for local authorities to determine how much they allocate to bail supervision, depending on local needs and priorities, and they can also vire funding between lines if needed.

In addition to this central allocation, a further £860k (2015-16) and £1.5 million (2016-17) has been distributed equally amongst the eight Community Justice Authorities, to support increasing the use of early and effective intervention and supervised bail for women.

The Scottish Government is also exploring further ways to reduce the use of remand. This includes an improvement project, based in three pathfinder sites, which is testing ways to reduce the use of remand by making better use of bail options.

Question reference: S5W-04944

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports concerning the strip-searching of children and young people by Police Scotland.

The general principles for carrying out searches, including strip-searches, are covered in Police Scotland's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). SOPs are an operational matter for Police Scotland and fall within the responsibilities of the Chief Constable. Where issues arise that concern the wider policy and legislative framework that Ministers are responsible for, then the Scottish Government would give due consideration to those.

Police Scotland's procedures require that officers will only ask a child or young person to remove clothing where this is absolutely necessary and there are strict rules in place about how this should be done. Police Scotland is rolling out a new national custody recording system in the next few months which will allow information on strip-searches of children and young people to be collected.

Question reference: S5O-00413

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent child obesity figures, whether it will commit to establishing a specific children's food policy, as highlighted by the work of the Food Commission.

The establishment of a children’s food policy was one element considered in the ‘Becoming a Good Food Nation’ discussion document. That same document called for the Food Commission to identify areas where further work is required. We await recommendations from the Food Commission on this point.

This government believes obesity affects society as a whole and that a whole society approach is where the solutions lie, especially in our communities and families. Our approach must therefore be on a population wide basis which is why we were disappointed that the UK Government recently announced plan to tackle childhood obesity failed to heed our call and follow the evidence for further restrictions on junk food advertising before the watershed.

Question reference: S5W-04655

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03425 by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2016, how many of those convicted were given a custodial sentence each year of (a) less than three, (b) between three and six, (c) between six and nine and (d) between nine and 12 months.

The available information is contained in the following table.

People receiving custodial sentence of 1 year or less for an offence with a domestic aggravator recorded, 2010-11 to 2014-15

	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Up to 3 months	444	381	441	487	501
Over 3 months to 6 months	377	491	513	658	667
Over 6 months to 9 months	63	73	87	107	108
Over 9 months to 1 year	57	54	76	94	100

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S5W-04060

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold a charity event, similar to the M74 Hike and Bike, prior to the opening of the Queensferry Crossing and, if so, what discussions it has had with charities such as MND Scotland regarding such a proposal.

We are currently considering the full range of options available to satisfy the significant interest that we have received already in the opening of this iconic structure. Although we’ve had no discussions with MND Scotland or any other charity to date, as plans are finalised, opportunities will be provided for charities to become involved. The opening of The Queensferry Crossing will be a historic milestone for this country. We will ensure that it provides opportunities for fair and inclusive participation for individuals and organisations across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-04107

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government in what month it will introduce the (a) Limitation (Childhood Abuse), (b) Railway Policing, (c) Expenses and Funding of Civil Litigation and (d) Contract (Third Part Rights) Bill.

As set out in the Programme for Government 2016-7 these bills are part of the Scottish Government’s Year 1 legislative programme.

The Government sequences the introduction of Bills across the parliamentary year. I am currently meeting with relevant committee Conveners to discuss timings and allocations of Government Bills, including those referred to by the member. I expect the first bills from the programme to be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-03705

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alison Di Rollo on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) staff have (a) had training to support and (b) supported the function of domestic abuse courts in each year since 2011, and what percentage of the COPFS workforce this represents.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has developed specialist training for prosecutors on the nature, dynamics and impact of domestic abuse as well as the legal and evidential considerations in prosecuting these cases. Of the 565 prosecutors working for COPFS on 30 September 2016, 301 or 53% have attended specialist domestic abuse training since 2011.

Staff working within the Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service of COPFS also undertake specialist training on domestic abuse. Of the 103 VIA staff working for COPFS as at 25 October 2016, 87 or 84% have undergone specialist domestic abuse training since 2011.

Some of those prosecutors and VIA staff will have completed more than one course on domestic abuse. It is important to note that these figures reflect training centrally recorded by COPFS and do not include the element of specialist training that is delivered locally.

Specialist domestic abuse courts operate in some but not all areas of the country. Information is not held by COPFS on the number of prosecutors or VIA staff who have worked in specialist domestic abuse courts since 2011.

Question reference: S5W-03686

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many prisoners there have been and (b) what the prison capacity was in each year since 2006.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

Year	Average Total Design Capacity	Average Prisoner Population
2006	6405	7027
2007	6899	7258
2008	7274	7761
2009	7470	7842
2010	7496	7806
2011	7287	7993
2012	7742	8136
2013	7820	7841
2014	8157	7795
2015	8088	7652
2016	7883*	7605

* Capacity at both Grampian and Cornton Vale reduced in-year. Shows actual capacity with effect from 1 September 2016.

The table provides the annual averages for design capacity and prisoner population.