Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-00127

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been and how many cautions have been issued for the offence of controlling a child providing sexual services or involved in pornography under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005 in each police board area in each year since 2005.

There have been no persons recorded on the Scottish Government court proceedings database as being prosecuted for offences under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) 2005 section 11 where this was the main offence. Formal police cautions do not apply in Scotland.

Court proceedings data held by the Scottish Government shows only the main offence for which an offender is convicted. Where an accused is convicted of, for example, the “grooming” offence and an offence of lewd and libidinous conduct, the conviction for the grooming offence would not appear on the court proceedings data (and indeed, the prosecutor may not necessarily charge the “lesser” offence).

Question reference: S4W-00128

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been and how many cautions have been issued for the offence of arranging or facilitating provision by child of sexual services or child pornography under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005 in each police board area in each year since 2005.

There has been one person recorded on the Scottish Government court proceedings database as being prosecuted and convicted for offences under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) 2005 section 12 where this was the main offence. This was in the Strathclyde police force area in 2008-09. Formal police cautions do not apply in Scotland.

Court proceedings data held by the Scottish Government shows only the main offence for which an offender is convicted. Where an accused is convicted of, for example, the “grooming” offence and an offence of lewd and libidinous conduct, the conviction for the grooming offence would not appear on the court proceedings data (and indeed, the prosecutor may not necessarily charge the “lesser” offence).

Question reference: S4W-00126

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been and how many cautions have been issued for the offence of causing or inciting provision by child of sexual services or child pornography under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005 in each police board area in each year since 2005.

There have been no persons recorded on the Scottish Government court proceedings database as being prosecuted for offences under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) 2005 section 10 where this was the main offence. Formal police cautions do not apply in Scotland.

Court proceedings data held by the Scottish Government shows only the main offence for which an offender is convicted. Where an accused is convicted of, for example, the “grooming” offence and an offence of lewd and libidinous conduct, the conviction for the grooming offence would not appear on the court proceedings data (and indeed, the prosecutor may not necessarily charge the “lesser” offence).

Question reference: S4W-00124

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 31 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the commitments set out in the 2003 guidance, Vulnerable Children and Young People: Sexual Exploitation Through Prostitution, and what actions remain outstanding.

The commitments within the 2003 guidance were made by a former administration. The 2003 guidance has since been superseded by the new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, which was published on 13 December 2010. This followed a major consultation and comprehensive review of child protection procedures in Scotland. The issues raised in 2003 – online safety, runaways, systematic and complex abuse – are now covered separately and in significant detail, as well as other issues relating to sexual exploitation not mentioned in 2003, such as child trafficking. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the nature of these risks and will take action, including commissioning research as appropriate.

Question reference: S4W-00125

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 31 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to update the 2003 guidance, Vulnerable Children and Young People: Sexual Exploitation Through Prostitution, to include all forms of child sexual exploitation and reflect the growing use of mobile and internet technologies in such crimes.

Chamber and committees