Chamber and committees

NRS are responsible for publishing the drug death statistics every year. They have indicated on their website that the 2019 bulletin will be published in December 2020. Scottish Government officials have been in contact with officials from NRS around the next publication of the drug death statistics, in particular to ascertain the precise date of publication.

There has been no ministerial correspondence, or meetings, with the Keeper of National Records of Scotland on this topic.

National Records Scotland (NRS) is responsible for publishing the drug death statistics every year.

NRS has confirmed the next publication of their Drug-related deaths in Scotland bulletin, covering year 2019 will be published in December 2020. An exact publication date has yet to be confirmed.

The MV Hamnavoe will be unavailable for five days in January 2021 and the dry docking will coincide with the forecast period of least demand identified from both a passenger and freight perspective.

Serco NorthLink continue to use their best endeavours to search for suitable tonnage available on the charter market taking account of the specific requirements of both Stromness and Scrabster.

At present, no final decision has been taken by the operator. In the absence of replacement tonnage either MV Helliar or MV Hildasay will be utilised on the Pentland Firth crossing during this short period as has been the case in recent years.

The subject continues to be discussed between the Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland officials and Serco NorthLink during regular contract management engagement.

The MV Hamnavoe will be unavailable for five days in January 2021 and the dry docking will coincide with the forecast period of least demand identified from both a passenger and freight perspective.

Serco NorthLink continue to use their best endeavours to search for suitable tonnage available on the charter market taking account of the specific requirements of both Stromness and Scrabster.

Serco NorthLink’s plans for the MV Hamnavoe refit will also be discussed at the next scheduled six monthly Ministerial meeting with the operator on 15 December 2020.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31492 on 10 September 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has published three sets of guidance that refer to livestock. The latest guidance "Farmers and Crofters" is published on the Rural Payments website and was last updated on 22 September 2020. The document provides guidance for working safely on farms and crofts during COVID-19. It provides links to more detailed industry guidance on sheep shearing, animal health, inspections, attending livestock marts, and tests for livestock. The latest revisions to both the "Coronavirus Advice for Animal Owners", and "Coronavirus Advice for Livestock Keepers on Statutory Testing" were updated on gov.scot on 02 October 2020. All documents are kept under constant review.

Specific project funding of around £78,000 per annum was allocated between 2016-17 and 2018-19 to help the Aberdeen problem solving approach (PSA) become established. The Scottish Government also funded and commissioned research which was published in 2018.

In line with the funding model for community justice (which is agreed with COSLA), specific support for the Aberdeen PSA was focused on assisting its establishment, with the expectation that, if successful, the approach would be mainstreamed by local partners utilising the overall funding allocated for community justice services.

The Scottish Budget for 2020-21 increased investment in community justice services to more than £117 million, which is an increase of over £6.5 million compared with 2019-20. £106 million is paid directly to local authorities which includes an allocation of over £4.9 million to Aberdeen City Council in 2020-21.

Funding to local authorities includes an additional £4 million this year to support the expansion of structured deferred sentences (SDS), diversion from prosecution and bail supervision, with flexibility to focus on priorities in the context of COVID-19. This is intended to support and encourage an expansion of SDS, which are often used as part of problem solving approaches and show potential in helping prevent reoffending.

We have also committed in our Programme for Government to publish guidance on SDS which will support consideration of problem solving approaches.

Sentencing decisions, including sentence deferrals, are operational matters for the independent courts, who may defer sentence in any given case after conviction for a period and on such conditions as they may determine.

Data held by the Criminal Justice Board Management Information System provides the average time from date of verdict to date of closure of a summary case (where date of closure is used as a proxy for date of sentence) in each of the last 5 years is:

2015-16 – 67 days

2016-17 – 67 days

2017-18 – 70 days

2018-19 – 72 days

2019-20 – 68 days.

Comparable data is not held for solemn cases.

In general terms, there are a number of reasons why the court may wish to defer sentence upon conviction before disposing of a case. For example, to obtain a criminal justice social work report detailing the circumstances of the offence and the character of the offender, with a view to assisting the court in determining the most suitable method of dealing with any person in respect of an offence. The court may also wish to defer sentence for a period of good behaviour with a view to issuing a lesser sentence if good behaviour is demonstrated by the offender.

Structured Deferred Sentences (SDS) are also a valuable tool to provide a short period of intensive supervision managed by Justice Social Work. SDS is used in a variety of ways and can provide a flexible and effective intervention which can help prevent individuals who have offended becoming further drawn into the justice system, as well as address the underlying causes of offending and contribute to safer and fairer communities for all.

As was made clear in the recent Programme for Government, building on the presumption against short custodial sentences, which was extended to 12 months or less in 2019, the Scottish Government will promote and expand the availability of effective community interventions, including publishing guidance on structured deferred sentences.

The Scottish Government has taken an evidence-based approach to decisions on quarantine measures which are focused on protecting public health and suppressing transmission of the virus.

Our decisions are informed by a range of evidence. We receive analysis and country-specific risk assessments from the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and Public Health England (PHE) on a weekly basis, which includes a range of information, including case numbers, positivity rates, travel patterns, and measures being taken to suppress the virus. In addition we also consider data collected in Scotland on COVID-19 cases with a link to international travel.

Until recently, the evidence was provided on a national level rather than a regional level. In recent weeks, more evidence has become available from the JBC for specific islands, and other UK nations have now adopted more differentiated approaches in relation to some countries, including Greece.

The Scottish Government would be willing to move to a similar approach, but this will be based on the evidence, and protecting public health will remain our priority. In reaching decisions we will consider the quality and range of evidence available at regional level, including the evidence on importation of risk. We will also consider the risks presented by travel within countries (among tourists and the general population), and the nature of monitoring and enforcement processes in place. It is also important that we have confidence in the stability of the data at regional level, so that any decisions to change the status of specific regions can be sustained, and the risk of public confusion can be minimised.

We will continue to work with the other UK nations on this, and we will continue to seek to align our decisions where possible, based on the evidence.