Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases were subject to the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) process in each of the last five years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table details the number of cases for which a FAI was held in each of the last 5 years.YearTotal2019-2020572020-2021592021-2022422022-2023512023-2024302024-2025 (as at 15 October 2024)30
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many procurator fiscals are currently employed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Answer · Dorothy Bain: As at 30 November 2024, COPFS employs 733 legal staff.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many criminal cases in the last year have been discontinued by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) due to lack of evidence.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table details the number of criminal cases marked no further action - now insufficient admissible evidence in the financial year 2023-24. The count is by case. 2023-2024No further action - Now Insufficient Evidence6,609
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been reffered to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for precognition in each of the last five years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies throughout Scotland. It is designed to meet business needs in the processing of criminal cases, rather than …
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has consulted with victims and families before proceeding with cases involving fatalities in each of the last three years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS communicates with bereaved relatives in every case before proceeding with cases involving fatalities and continues to do so during those court proceedings. The Family Liaison Charter sets out the Crown’s obligations in relation to liaising with an…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of cases handled by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) resulted in a conviction in each of the last five years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: In the last 5 years, almost 100,000 charges have been reported to the Aberdeen Office of COPFS.COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies throughout Sc…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of cases handled by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the last year involved alleged offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table shows percentage of cases reported to the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal’s Office containing one or more charge under - Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.Criminal cases reported to COPFS Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal office during the financial year…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many summary cases handled by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) were closed without prosecution in the last reporting year.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table shows the number of criminal cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal Office, Aberdeen where either the decision was made for no action to be taken or was marked for action other than prosecution in court. (Count is by case). Direct measure…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trials were scheduled but not proceeded with by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the last reporting year.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The assigning of a hearing for trial is an order of the court and is recorded within the court’s interlocutor for each case.COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and oth…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases prosecuted by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the last reporting year resulted in a conviction.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies throughout Scotland. It is designed to meet business needs in the processing of criminal cases, rather than …
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of appeals lodged against convictions following a prosecution by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) were upheld in each of the last three years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: All appeals against conviction, either in summary or solemn procedure, require to be lodged with court and intimated to COPFS.Not all appeals lodged, either in summary or solemn procedure, pass sift by the court and therefore not all progress to a court heari…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist procurator fiscals are currently employed by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), broken down by specialisation.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: As at 30 November 2024 the number of procurator fiscals working within specialised units based within the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal Office is:3 High Court Sexual Offences2 High Court Hub4 Serious Casework group, Scottish fatalities Investigations Unit1 Serio…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure equitable access to justice for people from minority backgrounds in cases prosecuted by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS is a national organisation, with 37 offices located across Scotland, including three in the Sheriffdom of Grampian: Aberdeen, Peterhead and Banff. Provision of services to ensure equitable access to justice is therefore delivered nationally.For those wh…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is issued to the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) regarding the prioritisation of cases involving domestic abuse.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS is a key partner in the multi-agency work flowing from the Scottish Government’s Equally Safe strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse. Effectively tackling domestic abuse is an organisatio…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current average time is for the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to bring cases to court, broken down by case type.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: Information in respect of journey times of cases brought to court is produced by the Scottish Government, using data provided both by COPFS and SCTS. These are national figures and are not produced for individual courts or Procurator Fiscal Offices.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deferred sentences have been issued in cases prosecuted by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in each of the last three years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The assigning of a hearing for deferral of sentence is an order of the court and is recorded within the court’s interlocutor for each case.COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training and development opportunities to address complex case types are available to staff in the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Scottish Prosecution College delivers a variety of training courses including online and in-person training which is available to all staff within COPFS. This encompasses a wide range of topics, and case types, ranging from domestic abuse and sexual offen…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many court sittings were cancelled due to a lack of resources at Aberdeen courts in each of the last five years.
Answer · Angela Constance: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases were handled by Aberdeen courts in each of the last five years, broken down by court type.
Answer · Angela Constance: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many alleged cases of fraud have been referred to the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in each of the last three years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table shows cases reported to the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal’s Office which include at least one charge under the Scottish Government classification of "Fraud" for the period 1 April 2021-31 March 2024 Financial Year Reported &nb…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases involving human trafficking have been prosecuted by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in each year since 2020.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table shows Human Trafficking (HT) charges or any charge with a HT aggravation reported to Procurator Fiscal Office, Aberdeen for the period 1 April 2020-31 March 2024 subsequently marked for court proceedings (prosecuted). Financial …
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutors are currently employed by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS employs both legal and non-legal members of staff. As at 30 November 2024, COPFS employed 37 members of legal staff who are based at the Procurator Fiscal’s Office Aberdeen.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) procurator fiscals and (b) support staff are currently (i) employed by and (ii) based in the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS employs 2501 staff comprised of 733 legal staff and 1768 support and administrative staff. As referred to in the answer for S6W-32302 on 9 January 2025 based within the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal’s Office, there are 37 legal members of staff. In A…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of corporate crime have been prosecuted by the Aberdeen office of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in each of the last five years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table shows charges reported to Procurator Fiscal Office, Aberdeen for the period 1 April 2019-31 March 2024 subsequently marked for court proceedings (prosecuted) – in cases where the accused is recorded as a company. The table shows the …
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to address any resource challenges faced by the Aberdeen office of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in prosecuting cases.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: Allocation of COPFS resources is considered on a national basis to ensure delivery of its priorities: to improve the experiences of women and children within the justice system; to improve communication with its customers and partners and the support offered …
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many houses have been bought as second homes or investment properties at a value of less than £40,000, thus making them exempt from liabilty to the additional dwelling supplement, in each year since the supplement was introduced.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Scotland) Act 2013 provides that land transactions with a chargeable consideration of less than £40,000 are not notifiable and that no tax return is therefore required. As such, this information is not available.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the £40,000 threshold for the additional dwelling supplement.
Answer · Shona Robison: No review has been undertaken of the threshold for the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) threshold since its introduction. The setting of the threshold for the ADS reflects that The Land and Buildings Transaction T…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much private investment it expects to attract from the capital funding of £150 million to support the offshore wind sector, and how it has calculated this.
Answer · Gillian Martin: This investment is year two of our five-year commitment to invest up to £500m over five years, which is expected to leverage additional private investment of £1.5 billion in the infrastructure and manufacturing facilities critical to growing the o…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much potential tax revenue it estimates is lost by maintaining the additional dwelling supplement threshold of £40,000.
Answer · Shona Robison: As transactions with a value of under £40,000 are not liable to make an LBTT return, this information is not held.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the investment of £21 billion in health and social care in its draft Budget 2025-26 will be allocated across different services and regions.
Answer · Neil Gray: The draft budget for 2025-26 includes £21.7 billion of investment in health and social care services – an uplift exceeding consequentials and taking funding to an all-time high.A full breakdown of how the £21.7 billion will be allocated acro…