Parliamentary questions

Angela Constance

227 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Victims Taskforce will address the needs of the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances, and how the taskforce will use the experiences of the families to help inform its approach on these matters.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Victims Taskforce has been established to improve support, advice and information for victims of crime and their families as they interact with the Scottish criminal justice system. I am aware that there are a range of issues which Scottish families face…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be a central point of expertise to support and guide the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I do not believe that the current system is wholly satisfactory. I look forward to the publication of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad and Consular Services report and any recommendations it makes in this area which lie within the competence…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on 24 October 2018 (Official Report, c. 99), whether the issues regarding the granting of second post mortems for resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances has been raised with the Lord Advocate and, if s…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following the debate of 24 October I wrote to the Lord Advocate outlining the concerns raised during the debate. The Lord Advocate replied on 11 December explaining the arrangements under which second post mortems may be undertaken in relation to a death over…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports third sector organisations that support the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is providing £13.8 million to Victim Support Scotland over the period 2018-19 – 2020-21 to help victims of crime. Victim Support Scotland has an agreement with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to provide emotional and practical sup…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with the UK Government to improve the support that is provided to the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances; whether it has discussed with UK ministers the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad and Consul…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government looks forward to the publication of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad and Consular Services report and will consider if there are improvements it can make within its areas of responsibility. It is for Foreign Office Mi…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) allowing the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances to request a second post mortem and (b) whether the threshold for permitting second post mortems, which is usually at the discretion of the Lord Advocate, needs to be re-e…

Answer · James Wolffe QC: When the remains of a person resident in Scotland who has died abroad are repatriated to Scotland the repatriation requires to be reported to the Death Certification Review Service (DCRS). Medical examiners within DCRS are responsible for ensuring that no bu…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided by (a) it and (b) its agencies to the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances in (i) accessing and liaising with oversea justice agencies and (ii) meeting the costs of repatriation, translation services, legal services and trav…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government would ordinarily refer individuals to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) who offer support to British nationals in difficulty abroad and to their families (either in the UK or elsewhere) to help them deal with the immediate effe…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reviewing the fatal accident inquiry legislation to include incidents in which resident Scots have died abroad in suspicious circumstances.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following Lord Cullen’s review of Fatal Accident Inquiry legislation which published its report in 2009 there followed a lengthy period of consideration and consultation. This led to the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 201…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances can access relevant emotional, financial and legal support services, and what action it is taking to improve such access.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Consular assistance, including the notification of a death abroad in suspicious circumstances and subsequent advice to bereaved families, is a reserved matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Government would ordinarily refer individuals to the Foreign and…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Police Scotland should have a duty to treat the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances in the same manner as it would had the incident occurred in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is important to remember that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are responsible for providing consular support to families whose loved ones have died abroad. However, throughout any investigation process, the family must be treated with respect and in ac…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Police Scotland should have a duty to provide a service for the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances, including (a) deploying family liaison officers and (b) working with other organisations where necessary.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is important to remember that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are responsible for providing consular support to families whose loved ones have died abroad. However, one of the most important considerations throughout the investigation of a death is pr…

29 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding informing the families or next of kin of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances; how Police Scotland cooperates with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding this, and what plans it has to impro…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland receive notification regarding a death abroad in a number of ways, including direct contact from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), information from family members and, occasionally, media interest. While it is the responsibility of t…

8 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the food and drink industry in the Almond Valley constituency.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I’ve already outlined that a wide range of support that is available to food and drink producers throughout the country. In addition, I am delighted that West Lothian Council has recently achieved the Soil Association Scotland’s Bronze Food for Life award for…

7 Jan 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the Kaiam Europe Ltd employees who were made redundant without notice and were not paid before Christmas.

18 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its draft Budget will have in the Almond Valley constituency.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The impact of the local government part of the Scottish Government's 2019-20 budget in the Almond Valley constituency will depend on how West Lothian Council allocates the total resources available to them. West Lothian Council will receive £342.4 million to…

19 Nov 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report on the fact-finding visit to the UK by the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, and how this will inform its plan to tackle child poverty in Scotland.

26 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents involving (a) firearms and (b) air weapons have been recorded in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following tables provide information on the number of firearm offences by main firearm recorded, for Scotland and by police force area, 2000-01 to 2009-10. Scotland <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td …

23 Sep 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made in health services in West Lothian since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There have been a number of positive developments in health services for the area. A prime example is St. John''s Hospital which has gone from strength to strength in recent years. There has been considerable investment in the hospital, such as …

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people live in one-bedroomed houses for older people in community locations and what the council tax banding is for such property, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: The number of people living in one-bedroomed houses for older people in community locations is not held centrally. However information on the number of sheltered housing units provided by councils and housing associations is collected by the Scottish…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people live in sheltered housing and what the council tax banding is for such accommodation, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: The number of people living in sheltered housing is not held centrally. However information on the number of sheltered housing units provided by councils and housing associations is collected by the Scottish Government. These figures are published an…

11 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether women are tested for Hughes syndrome only after a third miscarriage and, if so, for what reason the test cannot be offered to all women who have miscarried.

Answer · Shona Robison: For all intra-uterine fetal deaths or stillbirths this is a standard test in all maternity units and hospitals. Specialists will offer this test to all women with recurrent early miscarriage as set out in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists'…

11 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability is of the two blood tests taken six to eight weeks apart to confirm whether a woman who has had one or more miscarriages has Hughes syndrome.

Answer · Shona Robison: The blood tests for Hughes syndrome or antiphospholipid syndrome, are available in all NHS boards, and should be taken 12 weeks apart.

11 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the prevalence in Scotland is of miscarriages arising from Hughes syndrome.

Answer · Shona Robison: This is a rare cause of miscarriage and adverse pregnancy outcome, and for this reason, information is not collected or held centrally.

20 May 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what external affairs issues will be discussed at the first meeting with the new Secretary of State for Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth have already had their first meeting with the new Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland on 14 May 2010 at St Andrews House. I spoke to the Secretary of State yesterday by…

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of receptions to prison involves ex-service personnel.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The proportion of ex service personnel within overall admissions is shown below on a year-by-year basis. <table borde…

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific systems are in place to support offending ex-service personnel with regard to (a) mental health, (b) drug abuse and (c) alcohol abuse when they leave prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service delivers Primary Care Mental Health Services and Addiction Services to all prisoners based on a…

4 Feb 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Scottish Funding Council uses in allocating funding for strategic growth to colleges.

Answer · Keith Brown: The allocation of funding to individual colleges is a matter exclusively for the Scottish Funding Council and not ministers. In general terms we expect the funding council to take funding decisions in a way which supports its statutory duty to secure the cohe…

21 Jan 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the needs of veterans in the criminal justice system.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government appreciates that it can be difficult for some former Service personnel to make the transition from military to civilian life. The Scottish Government continues to work with and provide funding to Scottish veterans'' organisations to pr…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to raise awareness of the needs of current and former service personnel in the criminal justice system.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Current and ex-service personnel are subject to the law but there are various ways that the justice system takes into account the individual circumstances of those who come before it. For example, accused persons will normally have access to legal advice that…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ex-service personnel serving a community sentence have a mental health problem.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.