Chamber and committees

The latest Local Authority level statistics from the Scottish House Condition Survey, relating to 2013-2015 did not record an increase in fuel poverty in any Local Authority. All differences with the previous set of statistics, relating to the period 2012-2014, are within the margin of error.

Latest figures on the level of fuel poverty in Scotland as a whole indicated that between 2014 and 2015 fuel poverty fell from 35% to 31% of all households. To achieve sufficient sample size for Local Authority level estimates, three years’ worth of Scottish House Condition Survey data are merged and this is therefore less well suited to reflect the drop in the rate of fuel poverty which occurred between 2014 and 2015.

The Scottish Government remains committed to tackling fuel poverty and, despite the welcome drop in the number of households affected, we know there is much more to be done. We also recognise that there are specific challenges in rural areas. That is why we established the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force to examine the full range of issues around fuel poverty in rural areas. The Task Force reported on its findings in October 2016 and our response published on 8 March 2017 sets out the action we are taking to address the recommendations.

The Scottish Government’s response to reports by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force, published on 8 March 2017, sets out that we will consult on a new, long term fuel poverty strategy, including proposals for a new overarching target, in Autumn 2017. This strategy will feed into the development of a new Warm Homes Bill, which we plan to introduce in 2018.

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

Following a long period of sustained upward growth, the average annual prison population peaked 2011-2012 with the highest ever in custody figure of 8420 in March 2012. The population has subsequently reduced and continues to do so and is now on average around 7,500.

Following the opening of HMP & YOI Grampian in 2014, only 5 prisons remained overcapacity compared to 11 in 2011, with a further reduction to 3 prisons in 2015. The published figures for 2016 show only 2 prisons remaining overcapacity. These were HMP Barlinnie and HMP Inverness. Both prisons are required to manage the demands of the local courts and in the case of HMP Inverness, the prison covers a large geographic area.

SPS has no evidence to suggest that occupancy levels have negatively impacted wellbeing. HMIPS carries out a programme of regular inspections in all establishments and reports against set standards. In addition, Independent Prison Monitors are also available to all prisoners and report any concerns to both the local government and the Chief Inspector of Prisons. SPS also carries our regular Prisoner Surveys and has an established process whereby prisoners can make complaints.

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

The following table provides a breakdown of the number of Prison Officers employed by SPS since 2010. Reported staffing numbers reflect the position as at 31 March in each year.

HMP Aberdeen closed in January 2014.

HMP YOI Grampian officially opened in March 2014.

HMP Low Moss officially opened in March 2012.

HMP Peterhead closed in December 2013.

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

The radical proposals that we are developing for the national facility for both women in custody in Scotland and the community custodial units will be, we believe, world leading in the services that they offer to women.

Since these proposals are still being refined and developed, it is not possible at this stage to provide exact figures for the running costs of these facilities.

The population of female prisoners is not projected separately as part of the main projections published by Scottish Government. Since 2011-12, the female population has been falling more sharply compared to men, between 2% and 6% per year (from 469 for 2011-12 to 404 in 2015-16). A copy of the latest prison population and prisons projections can be found in the following link:http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0049/00491398.pdf

There are currently 204 vehicles in the Scottish Government fleet, of which 17 (8%) are petrol, 161 (79%) are diesel and 26 (13%) are electric (either fully electric or plug-in hybrids).

There are currently 5 vehicles in the Transport Scotland fleet, of which 3 (60%) are diesel and 2 (40%) are fully electric.

Transport Scotland are also working with the Energy Saving Trust and the trunk road companies, Bear and Transerv, and CH2M in their role as Performance Audit Group, to carry out sustainable transport reviews and identify opportunities for the introduction of electric vehicles into their fleets.

We do not hold information on the composition of other public sector fleets in Scotland.

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

Sites for the community custodial units have not yet been identified although the process for identifying potential sites is at an advanced stage. Recommendations will be made to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice with regard to the preferred sites prior to comprehensive community consultation.

In line with current Scottish Government policy, the new female custodial estate including the community custodial units will be operated by Scottish Prison Service. The community custodial units will work with a range of multi-agency community partners and externally contracted services may be procured as required.