Russell Findlay

31 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce commencement regulations for the fireworks licensing scheme, as set out in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 was passed by the Scottish Parliament in June of this year and received Royal Assent on 10 August. Firework licensing, Part 2 of the Act, will require further secondary legislation, as well as develo…

3 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland's (HMICS) Assurance Review of Police Scotland Strategic Workforce Planning, including in particular the recommendation that "the Scottish Government, SPA and Police Scotland should collectively cease to use 17…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government welcomes the recommendations made in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland’s (HMICS) Assurance Review of Police Scotland Strategic Workforce Planning. I look forward to discussing the recommendations with both Police S…

20 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to establish a judicial register of interests.

Answer · Keith Brown: In ‘A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22’, the Scottish Government committed to begin work on establishing a register of interests for the judiciary to increase public confidence and improve transparency. To date, preparatory work on …

20 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken for the legislative process to appoint a Victims’ Commissioner.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is consulting on potential legislative reforms to strengthen victims’ rights and improve their experiences of the justice system in the ‘ Improving victims’ experiences of the justice system ’ consultation. This includes proposals for …

13 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all local authorities that currently have access to the Caledonian System will continue to do so throughout the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Keith Brown: Currently, 19 local authority areas deliver the Caledonian System on a court mandated basis, which accounts for approximately 75% of the population. This is funded by the Scottish Government, and access is expected to continue throughout this parliamentary se…

13 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to extend the Caledonian System to all 32 local authorities.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Programme for Government 2021-22 committed to expanding the availability of the Caledonian System, with the aim of making it available to all Scottish local authorities by the end of the parliamentary term. Consideration must be given to the impacts of …

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35742 by Humza Yousaf on 12 March 2021, whether it will provide an update on when it plans to reform the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 2001.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to a full rewrite of the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 2001 and this is currently underway. On Friday 22 nd July 2022, the Scottish Government launched a public consultation ( Consultation on changes to the Parole Board (…

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill would allow the Scottish Ministers to direct the release of prisoners where the Parole Board for Scotland has not recommended release and has not subsequently altered that recommendation.

Answer · Keith Brown: Section 7 of the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill, introduces a new temporary release licence for certain eligible long-term prisoners. Release on this licence would be subject to risk assessment and consultation with the Parole Board. This lic…

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it plans to retain 1,000 more police officers on Scotland’s streets compared to Q1 2007, when the number was reportedly 16,234.

Answer · Keith Brown: The recruitment and deployment of Police Officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, who along with the Scottish Police Authority, will continue to ensure the capability and capacity of Police Scotland to improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places a…

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many victims of crime the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans has met since being appointed in May 2021.

Answer · Keith Brown: Since May 2021 the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans has taken a number of meetings and attended events at which victims/survivors have been present. As people will not always disclose or wish to mention the nature of their experiences, or want these…

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current reported prison population of 7,427 is too high.

Answer · Keith Brown: There continues to be an increase in the prison population since the easing of lockdown, which has been largely driven by growth in the remand population. We continue to monitor the prison population to ensure prisons remain safe and well ordered. We are tak…

7 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Scotland's Census 2022.

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next monthly recorded crime in Scotland statistics are due for publication.

Answer · Keith Brown: When the monthly recorded crime in Scotland statistics were last published in April, they highlighted to users that these official statistics would be replaced with a quarterly release of National Statistics, which will present the latest rolling 12-month per…

18 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reasonable period of time for households to install interlinked fire alarms in line with the new legislation has now passed.

11 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding returning rail services to pre-pandemic levels.

5 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any financial implications, including pension liabilities, of its decision to take HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE) apply when a service is transferred from one employer to another, in this case ‘insourcing’. It provides those who are carrying out work which will be provided by a new employer with p…

5 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the reported proposal by Serco to meet the cost of building an extension to HMP Kilmarnock, which would have created an additional 265 prisoner places, was rejected.

Answer · Keith Brown: Any proposal to extend a contract for a private sector prison would be at odds with Scottish Government policy that prisons should be owned and operated by the public sector. In addition, an extension to an existing PFI contract would not be permissible under…

4 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the relevant minister signed off the decision by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board to hire the outside agency, Dorothy McKinney Ltd, to investigate complaints made against the Chief Officer.

Answer · Ash Regan: The investigation of any complaints against the Chief Officer of SFRS is entirely a matter for the SFRS Board. The Scottish Government has no role in the process and therefore no approval would be required by Scottish Ministers.

4 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service brought to the relevant minister's attention details of any complaints made against the Chief Officer.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has robust procedures in place to ensure complaints are fully investigated and any complaint is considered confidential while being progressed. I am not aware of the details of any complaints made against the SFRS Chief Of…

3 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for income tax.

26 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people convicted of possessing indecent images of children have been given a custodial sentence, broken down by the length of sentence, in each of the last 10 full financial years.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08272 on 10 May 2022 . 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…

26 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of possessing indecent images of children, broken down by type of disposal, in each of the last 10 full financial years.

Answer · Keith Brown: The latest available information from the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database is for 2019-20 and is provided in the following tables. Information for 2020-21 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2020-…

20 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any discussions or communication it has had with Police Scotland regarding the force’s obligation to record the sex of suspects in line with the Equality Act 2010 definition of sex.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government expects all relevant organisations to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, including published guidance and codes of practice. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the body responsible for regulating mat…

19 Apr 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in response to sanctions announced by US authorities against members of the Kinahan organised crime group, in light of the group's reported connections to Scotland.

13 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the school curriculum should be free from party political bias.

22 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many of its staff members are working on the prospectus for another independence referendum.

21 Mar 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any measures in place to prevent serious violent offenders from changing their names.

15 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with scientists regarding gene editing of crops.

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has hosted another roundtable event on actions taken to tackle spiking crimes following an initial meeting on 4 November 2021.

Answer · Keith Brown: Following the roundtable meeting I chaired on 4 November, a further roundtable was convened on 8 December 2021 to discuss the prevalence of spiking crimes and to agree what action should be taken. It was agreed that the key immediate and ongoing activity shou…

23 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce emissions produced by its ministerial cars.