- Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 March 2022
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of the symbols of solidarity seen across the world, whether it will, and has the equipment necessary to, light the Scottish Parliament building in the colours of the Ukraine flag at night.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the creation of a development and recovery agency for Glasgow.
Answer
The Glasgow Regional Economic Partnership recently published a Regional Recovery Strategy for the area which aligns closely with the priorities outlined in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation published earlier this week.
Assisting with the City Centre recovery is the Glasgow City Centre Task Force which Scottish ministers work closely with on economic recovery and Glasgow City Council has been allocated £2.6m from the City Centre Recovery Fund to take forward local priorities.
The Scottish Government works closely with the Regional Economic Partnership and the Glasgow City Centre Task Force and we value their knowledge and expertise and do not believe a further Agency is required given the existing arrangements.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many libraries have closed in each year since 1999.
Answer
Public library services in Scotland are devolved to local authorities which have a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area.
The Scottish Library and Information Council has provided data on the number of libraries in Scotland, England and Wales, based on data compiled by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The data covers the period 2010 to 2020; we do not hold information on the numbers of libraries dating back to 1999. In Scotland, no libraries permanently closed in 2020-21. We do not have figures for England and Wales for this year.
FINANCIAL YEAR | SCOTLAND | ENGLAND | WALES |
| Increase/ Decrease | Remaining | Increase/ Decrease | Remaining | Increase/ Decrease | Remaining |
2009-10 | 0 | 627 | 0 | 3,501 | 0 | 358 |
2010-11 | -8 | 619 | -32 | 3469 | +20 | 378 |
2011-12 | -9 | 610 | -149 | 3320 | -51 | 327 |
2012-13 | -4 | 606 | -59 | 3261 | -3 | 324 |
2013-14 | 0 | 609 | -35 | 3226 | +1 | 325 |
2014-15 | -3 | 603 | -57 | 3169 | -36 | 288 |
2015-16 | -15 | 588 | -47 | 3,122 | -16 | 272 |
2016-17 | -30 | 558 | -65 | 3,057 | +2 | 274 |
2017-18 | -2 | 556 | -38 | 3,019 | -1 | 273 |
2018-19 | -13 | 543 | -14 | 3,005 | -1 | 272 |
2019-20 | +1 | 544 | -30 | 2,975 | -1 | 273 |
NET CHANGE | -83 | | -526 | | -92 | |
% change from 2010 | 13.2% | | 15% | | 25.7% | |
[source: Scottish Library and Information Council]
The data shows that Scotland has seen library closures over this period, but at a lower level than that seen in England and Wales. Between 2010 to 2020 13.2% of branches closed in Scotland compared with 16% across England and Wales. No libraries in Scotland permanently closed in 2020 or 2021; however, there were temporary closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Building closures in Scotland have largely bottomed out with significant investment in excess of £25 million taking place in the building and mobile infrastructure since 2015. 2016 was the exception to this, due to a reorganisation of library services in Fife.
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have been employed as youth workers in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01070 on 9 July 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) design capacity, (b) number of occupants and (c) occupancy rate was in each prison in January 2021.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table details the (a) average occupancy (b) design capacity and (c) the occupancy rate of each prison over January 2021;
JANUARY 2021
The occupancy rate and the design capacity rates provided are the average for the calendar month.
Establishment | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 713 | 702 | 102% |
Barlinnie | 1214 | 987 | 123% |
Cornton Vale | 64 | 109 | 59% |
Dumfries | 182 | 176 | 104% |
Edinburgh | 859 | 867 | 99% |
Glenochil | 668 | 668 | 100% |
Grampian | 437 | 552 | 79% |
Greenock | 191 | 218 | 88% |
Inverness | 101 | 93 | 109% |
Kilmarnock | 524 | 501 | 105% |
Low Moss | 805 | 785 | 103% |
Open Estate | 147 | 284 | 52% |
Perth | 669 | 631 | 106% |
Polmont | 362 | 758 | 48% |
Shotts | 544 | 538 | 101% |
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of purposeful activity prisoners had, on average, per week in each month between December 2020 and December 2021, broken down by each prison.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table details the average number of purposeful activity (PA) hours that individuals in custody engaged in, within each public sector establishment, between December 2020 and December 2021.
SPS Establishment | Dec 20 | Jan 21 | Feb 21 | Mar 21 | Apr 21 | May 21 | Jun 21 | Jul 21 | Aug 21 | Sep 21 | Oct 21 | Nov 21 | Dec 21 |
Barlinnie | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Cornton Vale | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 20 |
Dumfries | 9 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Edinburgh | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 |
Glenochil | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Grampian | 22 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Greenock | 21 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 24 |
Inverness | 25 | 22 | 22 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 22 | 29 | 30 |
Low Moss | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Castle Huntly | 21 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 17 |
Perth | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 |
Polmont | 16 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 17 |
Shotts | 15 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
HMPs Addiewell and Kilmarnock are privately operated prisons and are not required to provide PA hours on a monthly basis. The delivery of PA hours within these establishments is monitored through contractual arrangements with SPS Controllers and Contract Managers to ensure compliance.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of purposeful activity prisoners had, on average, per week in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021, broken down by prison.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table details the average number of purposeful activity hours per week for convicted prisoners across the prison estate, in each financial year that incorporates 2019, 2020 and 2021: -
Year | April 2018 – March 2019 | April 2019 – March 2020 | April 2020 – March 2021 | April 2021 – January 2022 |
Establishment | Average PA hours | Average PA hours | Average PA hours | Average PA hours |
Barlinnie | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
Cornton Vale | 19 | 20 | 20 | 26 |
Dumfries | 18 | 15 | 8 | 10 |
Edinburgh | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 |
Glenochil | 17 | 16 | 11 | 11 |
Grampian | 25 | 25 | 19 | 16 |
Greenock | 20 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
Inverness | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 |
Low Moss | 23 | 22 | 16 | 18 |
Castle Huntly | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Perth | 18 | 14 | 9 | 14 |
Polmont | 21 | 18 | 14 | 19 |
Shotts | 25 | 25 | 9 | 10 |
HMP Addiewell and Kilmarnock are privately operated prisons and are not required to provide PA hours on a monthly basis. The delivery of PA hours within these two establishments is monitored through contractual arrangements with SPS Controllers and Contract Managers to ensure compliance.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) design capacity, (b) average number of occupants and (c) average occupancy rate was in each prison in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following tables detail the (a) Average occupancy (b) Design capacity and (c) the Average occupancy rate of each prison over 2019, 2020 and 2021.
2019
Name | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 758 | 702 | 108% |
Barlinnie | 1431 | 987 | 145% |
Cornton Vale | 97 | 112 | 87% |
Dumfries | 194 | 176 | 110% |
Edinburgh | 914 | 867 | 105% |
Glenochil | 728 | 668 | 109% |
Grampian | 455 | 552 | 83% |
Greenock | 214 | 237 | 90% |
Inverness | 118 | 93 | 127% |
Kilmarnock | 574 | 501 | 115% |
Low Moss | 798 | 784 | 102% |
Open Estate | 189 | 284 | 66% |
Perth | 700 | 631 | 111% |
Polmont | 472 | 758 | 62% |
Shotts | 541 | 538 | 100% |
2020
Name | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 728 | 702 | 104% |
Barlinnie | 1215 | 987 | 123% |
Cornton Vale | 70 | 109 | 64% |
Dumfries | 182 | 176 | 103% |
Edinburgh | 866 | 867 | 100% |
Glenochil | 660 | 668 | 99% |
Grampian | 427 | 552 | 77% |
Greenock | 192 | 230 | 83% |
Inverness | 103 | 93 | 110% |
Kilmarnock | 547 | 501 | 109% |
Low Moss | 795 | 785 | 101% |
Open Estate | 139 | 284 | 49% |
Perth | 642 | 631 | 102% |
Polmont | 389 | 758 | 51% |
Shotts | 544 | 538 | 101% |
2021
Name | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 699 | 702 | 100% |
Barlinnie | 1208 | 987 | 122% |
Cornton Vale | 57 | 109 | 52% |
Dumfries | 183 | 176 | 104% |
Edinburgh | 867 | 867 | 100% |
Glenochil | 700 | 668 | 105% |
Grampian | 435 | 552 | 79% |
Greenock | 191 | 218 | 88% |
Inverness | 107 | 93 | 115% |
Kilmarnock | 529 | 501 | 106% |
Low Moss | 827 | 785 | 105% |
Open Estate | 145 | 284 | 51% |
Perth | 648 | 631 | 103% |
Polmont | 341 | 758 | 45% |
Shotts | 543 | 538 | 101% |
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage youth work as a career, including any specific support for those seeking to leave their current employment in a different sector.
Answer
Scottish Government is taking steps to encourage youth work as a career by offering targeted qualifications and professional learning opportunities, building awareness of the sector, and offering support to gain qualifications.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) offers a Youth Work Modern Apprenticeship that teaches practical skills needed for a successful career in youth work. SDS also manage Individual Training Accounts, offering those who are unemployed or with an income of less than £22,000 access of up to £200 per year to support entry to or progression in work; and supports people to develop new skills and progress their careers.
Scottish Government also funds Youth Scotland to deliver the PDA in Youth Work to youth workers across Scotland, including volunteers. Furthermore, the Community Learning & Development Standards Council for Scotland (CLDSC) offers various opportunities to its members for professional learning & development, including buddying and mentoring programmes for early-career CLD practitioners, including youth workers. The CLDSC are also currently working with a range of stakeholders (including Further and Higher Education providers and Scottish employers) to host a CLD open day later in 2022 where youth work as a career or voluntary opportunity will be promoted to those not already involved in Community Learning & Development.
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what specific interventions are currently underway to ensure that BAME young people can access youth and community services that meet their needs locally.
Answer
The Scottish Government believes that all young people in Scotland should have access to youth work services at the right time, and in the best place, for them. Various groups representing young people with protected characteristics, including young people from minority ethnic communities, have been involved in the consultation for Scotland’s new youth work strategy. The strategy aims to see more joined up services for young people where schools, colleges, service providers, local authorities and education partners are better connected around the youth work offer, meaning better opportunities locally for young people across Scotland, including those from minority ethnic communities.
The Scottish Government also provide core funding to Intercultural Youth Scotland to ensure young people from a minority ethnic background are supported and encouraged to take part in youth work activities. The funding has also supported a range of mental health programmes, in particular during the pandemic. In addition to this, a range of local, national and grassroots organisations are funded to promote youth work among the minority ethnic community and advance race equality in general to improve outcomes for young people.