- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 2 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with the Scottish Prison Service regarding any possibility of HMP Barlinnie becoming uninhabitable prior to HMP Glasgow’s 2026 planned completion date, and what contingency plans are in place for any such scenario, in light of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland's evidence to the Criminal Justice Committee on 9 November 2022.
Answer
The Scottish Government is in regular communication with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) about the effective maintenance and operation of the prison estate, including at HMP Barlinnie.
SPS have contingency plans in place to respond to issues arising in parts of the Scottish prison estate, including, if necessary, the placement of prisoners in other Scottish prison sites.
The exact locations and the extent of the impact for each individual prison would be reflected in the outcome of a detailed and dynamic risk assessment and resource consideration completed at that time.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 2 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11619 by Keith Brown on 4 November 2022, whether it can provide a further breakdown of the information contained in the table for each NHS board, in each year since 2019.
Answer
The requested breakdown of missing person investigations by NHS Health Board area is provided below. This is based on the same snapshot of data as used by Police Scotland to answer PQ S6W-11619. The information covers investigations of a person going missing from the NHS (for those cases that were reported to the police). The data is drawn from the Missing Person’s Database and is available on a consistent basis from April 2019 onwards. The figures relate to a count of investigations rather than a count of people going missing. As such, the same person may appear multiple times within any year if they have been reported missing on more than one occasion during that period.
It should also be noted that the data covers all NHS grounds and not just hospitals.
Missing Person Investigations by NHS Board, “Missing From The NHS”, Police Scotland
Health Board | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23* |
UNDER 18 | 18 AND OVER | UNDER 18 | 18 AND OVER | UNDER 18 | 18 AND OVER | UNDER 18 | 18 AND OVER |
NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 1 | 41 | 4 | 51 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 28 |
NHS Borders | 2 | 43 | 2 | 51 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 23 |
NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 1 | 15 |
NHS Fife | 0 | 118 | 1 | 76 | 13 | 125 | 4 | 70 |
NHS Forth Valley | 1 | 60 | 5 | 49 | 5 | 81 | 1 | 57 |
NHS Grampian | 0 | 141 | 3 | 66 | 1 | 135 | 5 | 103 |
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 7 | 395 | 9 | 358 | 14 | 510 | 10 | 328 |
NHS Highland | 7 | 82 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 49 | 3 | 27 |
NHS Lanarkshire | 10 | 184 | 7 | 159 | 14 | 154 | 4 | 146 |
NHS Lothian | 8 | 255 | 18 | 258 | 16 | 329 | 14 | 208 |
NHS Orkney | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
NHS Shetland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
NHS Tayside | 1 | 90 | 4 | 113 | 4 | 98 | 0 | 50 |
NHS Western Isles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Scotland | 39 | 1422 | 56 | 1212 | 86 | 1603 | 45 | 1060 |
Source: Police Scotland: Missing Person’s Database, extracted from internal systems and correct as at 1 st November 2022.
Police Scotland provided the information split by local authority area and as requested these have been aggregated into NHS Health Board Areas by Scottish Government Statisticians.
* Figures for 2022-23 only cover part of the year (to 31 st Oct 2022).
Notes:
Data are provisional and should be treated as management information, it was extracted using the ‘Date Reported Missing’ variable and includes records where the ‘Missing From’ variable has been populated with ‘NHS’. All Divisions across Police Scotland started using the Missing Persons Database for recording Missing Person Investigations from April 2019.
The age of the missing person is based on when the person first went missing, and not the date they were reported missing. Records without a Division have been excluded.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of prison cells were not in use due to disrepair or poor estate conditions as of 15 November 2022, broken down by prison.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The Prisoner Records system (PR2) does not allow data to be gathered retrospectively. On Wednesday 23 November the number of cells out of use were:
Establishment | Number of Cells Out of Use* |
Barlinnie | 15 |
Dumfries | 2 |
Greenock | 38 |
Inverness | 9 |
Kilmarnock | 2 |
Perth | 1 |
TOTAL | 67 |
*PR2 records cells currently in the system that have ‘out of use’ recorded against them. It does not record the reason for cells out of use which could be for either operational or maintenance reasons.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 30 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the number of prison cells that have been taken permanently out of use in each year since 2016.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS do not record the number of prison cells taken permanently out of use.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Dorothy Bain on 29 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions were not continued with as a result of witness citations not being served in time ahead of trials in each year since 2013.
Answer
This information is not recorded by COPFS.
Cases that are discontinued are marked with an appropriate No Further Action reason.
None of the No Further Action Marking categories used within COPFS allow us to identify any cases which were discontinued due to witness citations not being served on time.
For your information, figures for the total cases marked No Further Action for the last 5 years are published on the Crown Office website ( Case processing statistics 2017 to 2022 ).
In addition, the following table provides cases marked for No Further Action since 1 April 2013 broken down by the appropriate category as used by COPFS: -
Criminal cases receiving a No Further Action marking - grouped by financial year and by applied marking | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
No Further Action reason | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
Acceptable Explanation Offered | 2,245 | 1,984 | 1,589 | 1,548 | 1,188 | 1,003 | 805 | 685 | 803 |
Accused Dead | 560 | 711 | 675 | 765 | 710 | 714 | 760 | 1,218 | 1,306 |
Accused in Prison | 775 | 687 | 659 | 698 | 597 | 439 | 326 | 283 | 441 |
Accused Incapacity | 186 | 204 | 253 | 336 | 232 | 182 | 148 | 148 | 195 |
Attitude of Victim | 991 | 672 | 911 | 1,170 | 819 | 710 | 542 | 447 | 748 |
Crown Counsel's Instructions | 401 | 367 | 284 | 295 | 212 | 214 | 213 | 154 | 127 |
Delay in reaching a Conclusion | 577 | 618 | 859 | 850 | 605 | 217 | 128 | 302 | 342 |
Failed Alternative | 7,027 | 3,154 | 2,693 | 2,089 | 1,556 | 1,912 | 2,324 | 3,438 | 4,704 |
Failed Service | 7,627 | 9,804 | 4,246 | 3,530 | 3,624 | 2,794 | 2,777 | 2,048 | 3,316 |
Now Insufficient Evidence | 5,417 | 5,504 | 6,582 | 6,899 | 5,980 | 4,920 | 4,188 | 2,500 | 3,996 |
Other Specified Reasons | 7,690 | 7,260 | 6,576 | 5,893 | 5,132 | 4,728 | 4,710 | 4,096 | 6,826 |
Petition Timebar - PF Error | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Reporting Deficiency | 278 | 282 | 273 | 408 | 212 | 224 | 193 | 172 | 209 |
Warrant Withdrawn | 1,664 | 1,195 | 1,692 | 1,469 | 1,297 | 773 | 590 | 926 | 546 |
Witness Unavailable | 42 | 53 | 41 | 75 | 45 | 31 | 30 | 20 | 22 |
Total | 35,480 | 32,495 | 27,333 | 26,025 | 22,209 | 18,861 | 17,734 | 16,437 | 23,581 |
Note: - Not all cases closed as No Further Action in an individual year will necessarily have been reported in the same year. Some cases will relate to cases reported in previous years.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to tackle the illegal trade in puppies, in light of the Scottish Multi-Agency Strategic Threat Assessment report that the trade is funding serious organised crime.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2022
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have been admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of asthma in (i) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (ii) NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in each year since 2010.
Answer
Asthma patient hospitalisations, age-sex standardised rate per 100,000
3 year rolling average | Ayrshire and Arran |
| | Rate | Numerator |
2010-11 to 2012-13 | 112.55 | 423.33 |
2011-12 to 2013-14 | 111.16 | 419.00 |
2012-13 to 2014-15 | 117.72 | 439.33 |
2013-14 to 2015-16 | 113.08 | 420.67 |
2014-15 to 2016-17 | 118.08 | 439.67 |
2015-16 to 2017-18 | 123.96 | 461.00 |
2016-17 to 2018-19 | 130.07 | 479.67 |
2017-18 to 2019-20 | 133.05 | 489.33 |
2018-19 to 2020-21 | 106.34 | 389.00 |
3 year rolling average | Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
| | Rate | Numerator |
2010-11 to 2012-13 | 105.78 | 1220.67 |
2011-12 to 2013-14 | 105.18 | 1215.00 |
2012-13 to 2014-15 | 108.62 | 1261.00 |
2013-14 to 2015-16 | 112.49 | 1310.33 |
2014-15 to 2016-17 | 113.27 | 1323.33 |
2015-16 to 2017-18 | 106.00 | 1241.67 |
2016-17 to 2018-19 | 99.69 | 1172.00 |
2017-18 to 2019-20 | 93.48 | 1109.00 |
2018-19 to 2020-21 | 80.13 | 955.67 |
Notes:
1. Patients discharged from hospital (annually) diagnosed with asthma: 3 year rolls average number and directly age-sex standardised rate per 100,000 population.
2. All rates are standardised against the European standard population (ESP2013) and 2011-base population estimates. Patient is selected only once per year, based on their first asthma related hospital admission for that year. Patient's demographic data (age, sex, location) are extracted from the first valid information within that stay.
Children (aged 0-15 years) hospitalised due to asthma, age-sex standardised rate per 100,000
3 year rolling average | Ayrshire and Arran |
| | Rate | Numerator |
2010-11 to 2012-13 | 218.47 | 141.67 |
2011-12 to 2013-14 | 230.40 | 148.67 |
2012-13 to 2014-15 | 242.12 | 154.33 |
2013-14 to 2015-16 | 219.36 | 138.67 |
2014-15 to 2016-17 | 217.97 | 137.33 |
2015-16 to 2017-18 | 224.01 | 140.67 |
2016-17 to 2018-19 | 228.59 | 142.33 |
2017-18 to 2019-20 | 219.85 | 135.33 |
2018-19 to 2020-21 | 170.21 | 103.67 |
3 year rolling average | Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
| | Rate | Numerator |
2010-11 to 2012-13 | 204.72 | 404.67 |
2011-12 to 2013-14 | 200.44 | 395.33 |
2012-13 to 2014-15 | 217.29 | 430.00 |
2013-14 to 2015-16 | 216.16 | 429.00 |
2014-15 to 2016-17 | 203.33 | 405.33 |
2015-16 to 2017-18 | 166.94 | 335.67 |
2016-17 to 2018-19 | 150.30 | 303.00 |
2017-18 to 2019-20 | 136.86 | 276.00 |
2018-19 to 2020-21 | 118.10 | 237.00 |
Notes: General acute inpatient and day case admissions for asthma in children aged 0-15 years; 3-year rolling average number and directly age-sex standardised rate per 100,000 population.
Source: PHS SMR01
This data is publicly available on ScotPHO’s profiles tool.
Additional data is also available in PHS’s annual Acute hospital activity and NHS beds information publication , which includes number of admissions by condition, age group and health board of residence (with asthma being one of the conditions).
3 year rolling average | Ayrshire and Arran |
| | Rate | Numerator |
2010-11 to 2012-13 | 218.47 | 141.67 |
2011-12 to 2013-14 | 230.40 | 148.67 |
2012-13 to 2014-15 | 242.12 | 154.33 |
2013-14 to 2015-16 | 219.36 | 138.67 |
2014-15 to 2016-17 | 217.97 | 137.33 |
2015-16 to 2017-18 | 224.01 | 140.67 |
2016-17 to 2018-19 | 228.59 | 142.33 |
2017-18 to 2019-20 | 219.85 | 135.33 |
2018-19 to 2020-21 | 170.21 | 103.67 |
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that police officer numbers have dropped to 16,570, and whether it remains its policy intention to restore the number of police officers to 17,234.
Answer
Policing is a priority and will continue to be a priority for this Government. Scotland has the most police officers per capita, with the latest data from Scotland, showing that as of 30 September, there were 30 officers per 10,000 population in Scotland. The latest available data from England and Wales (from 31 March) shows there were around 24 officers per 10,000 population.
The HMICS review of Strategic Workforce Planning published this year rightly focused on capacity and capability. It is vitally important that the Chief Constable has the flexibility to develop his workforce in a way that responds to the challenges he faces by ensuring the right workforce mix.
Whilst the recruitment and deployment of police officers and staff in Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable, the Scottish Government will continue to work with Police Scotland and the SPA to protect and prioritise the police response on those areas where police services can add the most value.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Carbon Neutral Islands project.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2022
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government on what specific date it will make an announcement regarding the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper rail services beyond 25 June 2023.
Answer
In accordance with the requirements of the Railways Act 1993 and the Scottish Ministers’ Franchising Policy Statement, consideration is being given to the successor arrangement for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper services.
The Scottish Ministers have to work within the relevant current legislation, principally the Railways Act 1993, which neither they nor the Scottish Parliament have powers to change.
