Parliamentary questions

Annabel Goldie

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

27 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to provide heroin addicts with heroin on the NHS.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We have no plans for a centrally-supported initiative. However, it is already possible for suitably qualified clinicians in Scotland to apply for Home Office licences to prescribe diamorphine as a treatment for drug addiction. Decisions on treatment plans are…

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations are involved in the "Have a Heart Paisley" National Health Demonstration Project.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Have a Heart Paisley, the national health demonstration project was established in 2000 and funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department. During their first and transition phases, Have a Heart Paisley worked with a wide range of partners – these …

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to inform residents in Port Glasgow of the work of the Inverclyde Energy and Safety Team Port Glasgow.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I launched the Invest Port Glasgow project at the St Stephen’s Business Centre on 11 March 2005. There have been several press releases through local media outlets and a series of door-to-door visits by the Invest team to residents and to local businesses aim…

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has overall responsibility for the Inverclyde Energy and Safety Team Port Glasgow.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Solas Scotland, which is a community based organisation, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, is responsible for the Inverclyde Energy and Safety Team. The company’s board is made up of representatives from tenants’ associations, housing a…

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has overall responsibility for the Inverclyde Energy and Safety Team.

17 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when and where the the announcement referred to in its news release of 15 March 2005 that "Last week First Minister Jack McConnell announced plans to end the automatic early release without condition of sex offenders on short sentences" was made.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive proposes to end the practice of unconditional early release for all sex offenders serving over six months. On 25 November 2004, the First Minister indicated to the Parliament that the Executive believes that there is a strong case for end…

16 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it has taken in respect of endometriosis since the matter was debated in the Parliament on 28 June 2001.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: One of the most significant effects of endometriosis is infertility and the Executive has taken forward work on infertility services through the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland. The Executive has reviewed criteria for a…

11 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that there are sufficient numbers of prison officers and adequate training for such officers.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: Yes. The SPS workforce planning and monitoring group consisting of both management and trade union representatives meets regularly t…

11 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the robustness of the inspectorate regime in prisons.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have confidence in the work of HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

10 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the financial analysis in the McInnes Report on the review of summary justice which backed up the call for lay justices to be abolished.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In May 2004 the Executive informed stakeholders and consultees that it did not intend to base decisions on the future structure of the court system on the results of research undertaken on behalf of the McInnes Committee into district court costs, because of …

10 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on what action it will take as a result of the McInnes Report on the review of summary justice.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Smarter Justice, Safer Communities, which contains details of our proposals for reforms to the summary justice system, is being published today. Details of our proposals will be sent to all key stakeholders today and copies will be lodged in the Parlia…

4 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any attempts to use neuroelectric therapy in the treatment of drug addiction.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Neuroelectric therapy has been used since the 1970s in the treatment of drug and other addictions. Whilst the Executive has received some correspondence on this issue, we are not aware of any widespread interest in the therapy from current practitioners in th…

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the provisions for (a) antisocial behaviour orders for under-16s, (b) dispersal orders, (c) closure notices, (d) fixed penalty notices for noise nuisance, (e) antisocial behaviour notices, (f) parenting orders, (g) restriction of liberty orders for under-16s and (h) charges…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 received Royal Assent on 26 July 2004. Many of the measures came into force on 28 October, including antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) for under 16s, dispersal of groups and closure of premises. Other measur…

21 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11803 by Hugh Henry on 14 January 2005, what information was used to justify the comment in Review of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services: Summary and Actions that "waiting times remain unacceptably high in some parts of Scotland".

Answer · Hugh Henry: Concerns about long waiting times in some parts of Scotland contributed to the Partnership Agreement commitment to review drug treatment and rehabilitation services. Respondents to the review told us that waiting times were unacceptably high in some areas. Th…

20 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of fine defaulters given a custodial sentence served another custodial sentence concurrently in each of the last five years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The available information is given in the following table.Total fine default receptions and percentage with an existing custodial se…

23 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a database exists which allows traffic police from different police forces to share information on serious traffic offences.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There is no central database dedicated to serious traffic offences. However, the Scottish Criminal Record Office Criminal History System stores conviction information from Scottish courts including for traffic offences. This enables forces across Scotland to …

22 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12015 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 December 2004, whether it has any proposals for addressing the current level of arrears of financial penalties imposed by the courts.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-12013 and S2W-12014, on 19 November 2004, detailing the measures already available to enforce or encourage the payment of financial penalties. The question S2W–12015, answered on 8 December 2004, made clear t…

21 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training is given to sheriffs to deal with cases where the accused represents himself or herself.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Judicial Studies Committee, who are responsible for training of the judiciary, have published guidance to sheriffs on handling of cases involving accused who represent themselves. This information is available to all on the committee’s internet website <a…

30 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research into drug abuse it has commissioned and how much such research has cost in each of the last five years.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The information in the following tables summarises projects conducted in the following research areas: Drugs Misuse Research Programme; Criminal Justice, Transport, Education, Information and Statistics Directorate, Health and Community Care, Mental Health an…

16 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure accommodation places there will be by 2007.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10863 on 4 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much in outstanding fines was due to each sheriffdom at 31 October 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The amount in outstanding financial penalties as at 30 September 2004 due to each Sheriffdom is shown in the following table. These are the most up to date figures held. The amount shown for financial penalties includes fines, compensation orders and confisca…

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect outstanding fines.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Fine enforcement is a matter for the courts. I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-12013, on 19 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:<…

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it has available for collecting outstanding fines.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There are a number of measures available to the courts to enforce or encourage the payment of fines. These include giving an offender time to pay, arrangements for payment to be made by instalments, warning letters, citation to a means enquiry court, adjustin…

3 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the current system whereby members of the public are able to make a complaint or complaints against a police officer or officers.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We plan to consult next yearon a new Scottish Police Bill which will include measures to reform the police complaintssystem by establishing a police complaints body, as outlined in our PartnershipAgreement.

28 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3925 by Hugh Henry on 20 November 2003 and in light of the statement in Review of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services: Summary and Actions that “waiting times remain unacceptably high in some parts of Scotland”, how many (a) residential and (b…

Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. Information on “treatment places” for drugs services is not collected.Average waiting times are not regarded as a particularly effective measure of the availability and efficiency of drugs services. <p…

27 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the normal timescale is between a drug-addicted person first consulting a GP and being referred for clinical rehabilitation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. Our national waiting times information framework for drugs services began in April 2004. The first information output will be available by the end of November 2004.This initiative to improve the collection…

25 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners sentenced to more than four years imprisonment have applied for (a) parole, (b) release on licence, having served half or less of the original term of imprisonment, in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on the number of prisoners who were eligible for and have been granted release on parole licence is contained in the annual reports of the Parole Board for Scotland which are published and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. A pr…

25 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to courts regarding the provision of information on basic court procedures in cases where accused persons are representing themselves.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Guidance for judges and sheriffs when dealing with cases where the accused is representing himself is contained in Chapter 12 of the Equal Treatment Bench Book issued to the judiciary by the Judicial Studies Committee and in appropriate Appeal Court ju…

25 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is available within police offices to inform and assist persons who wish to make a complaint against a police officer or officers.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Copies of a Scottish Executive leaflet entitled Complaints against the Police are routinely sent to police forces and should be available at every police office in Scotland. The leaflet, which is offered in community languages, is also freely available…

25 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether procedures for accused persons representing themselves are adequate.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are satisfied as to the adequacy of summary and solemn trial procedures as contained in the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 both for accused persons representing themselves and for those who engage a solicitor.