Parliamentary questions

Christine Grahame

3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure public accountability of professional associations, such as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, which are wholly or partially funded from the public purse.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Any organisation in receipt of Scottish Government funding will be subject to conditions of grant attached to that funding. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between ACPOS and the Scottish Government agreed in October 2007 setting out the pro…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was received in public funds by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) accounts is held by the Association. The Scottish Government has contributed to the costs of the association''s secretariat. Details of the amounts involved are as follows: Scott…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders released on licence have been recalled to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates those offenders who have been recalled having been released on licence. <table border=1 cellspacing=…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners, eligible for parole and serving sentences in Scottish prisons, were refused parole in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information sought is as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > Year </td> <td width=172 valign=top > Number of Eligible Prisoners Refused P…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners required inpatient hospital treatment from (a) an NHS hospital and (b) a prison hospital in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: This information is not available.

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents there have been of illegal drugs recovered by prison authorities from individuals who have attempted to smuggle drugs into prison in each year since 1999, broken down by category of drug and prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the number incidents where drugs have been recovered from visitors attending Scottish Prisons. Reliable da…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents there have been involving the recovery of illegal drugs by prison officers carrying out searches of prisoner accommodation and prisoners in each year since 1999, broken down by category of drug recovered and prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=152 nowrap valign=bottom > Incident Establishment Name </td> <td width=52 nowrap valign=bottom > 2001 </td> <td w…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many weapons that individuals have attempted to smuggle into prison have been recovered by prison authorities for each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS does not record where weapons are specifically recovered from visitors. Any such recovery is included in the overall weapon find c…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many weapons have been recovered from (a) prisoner accommodation and (b) prisoners following searches by prison authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The following table displays the total number of weapons recovered in each SPS establishment. Reliable data is not available prior t…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attempted prisoner escapes have been identified and prevented by prison authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the number of instances of attempted escape. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001. <table bo…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicides have taken place in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-14693 on 9 March 2005, and S2W-15577 on 14 April 2005, for the years 1999-2000 to 2003-…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicide attempts have been made by prisoners serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9092 on 18 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many reported incidents of self-harm by prisoners have taken place in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9092 on 18 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in segregated protective custody whilst serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS does not have a category of prisoners who are held in segregated protective custody. The following table displays the number…

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers were assaulted in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of assault.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the number of incidents recorded as Assault by Prisoner or Visitor on Staff in each year from 2001. …

28 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were assaulted in Scottish prisons while (a) on remand and (b) serving their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of assault.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the total number of assaults broken down by establishment and gender. Reliable data is not available prior…

24 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints made to police forces in relation to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 was agreed.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8921 on 7 February 2008.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…

24 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the details of the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints made to police forces in relation to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: There is no protocol betweenthe Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and ACPOS in relation to allegationsof contraventions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.There is, however, a protocol of this nature between ACPOS and the El…

24 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all existing protocols between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office which determine and set out when police investigations should be undertaken.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The current formal protocols between ACPOS and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) which determine and set out when police investigations should be undertaken are as follows: Joint Protocol between ACPOS and COPFS on Domestic Abuse.</…

24 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the protocol agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints in relation to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

24 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role of police forces, under their statutory duties set out in the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, in the investigation of allegations of criminality related to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police forces havea duty, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, where an offence has been committed to take all such lawful measures,and make such reports to the appropriate prosecutor, as may be necessary for thepurpose of bringing the of…

24 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal status is of the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office with regard to complaints made related to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

23 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a fatal accident inquiry into the death from anthrax of Christopher Norris will now take place, following NHS Borders’ report into the matter.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Crown Counsel havenow taken the decision that there will be a fatal accident inquiry into the circumstancessurrounding the death of Christopher or Pascal Norris.

11 Jan 2008 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the announcement of the appointment of MSPs to the Art Advisory Group, which MSPs applied for membership but were unsuccessful; whether unsuccessful applicants were notified prior to the announcement being made; what the process was for selection; what crite…

Answer · Tricia Marwick: The Art Advisory Group was firstestablished in 2005. Its membership included MSPs and three experts. The three expertshave agreed to be members of the new group. The SPCB invited expressions of interestfrom MSPs on 8 October 2007 for the remainder of position…

6 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses have achieved a diploma in asthma under Education for Health's education and training programme in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The informationis not available in the format requested, but I understand that 450 nurses havebeen supported to undertake this course.

3 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32 by Richard Lochhead on 31 May 2007, when the regulations in respect of the transportation of puppies pursuant to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 will be laid.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The draft Regulationson the licensing of dealers in puppies and kittens will be laid before Parliamentearly in the New Year. This is slightly later then anticipated as further legalwork on the detail of the regulations was delayed due to essential work result…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of NHS staff are still waiting for a salary banding under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) profession.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: At the end of Novemberthere were around 18,000 substantive staff still to be assimilated to the new Agendafor Change pay bands across NHSScotland. However, the substantial majority of thosehave been through the job evaluation process, and therefore know which…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of staff working in the NHS in the last 12 months are appealing their new salary bandings under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) profession.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are currently inthe early stages of gathering data on the number of job evaluation review requestswhich have been received by health boards. Initial indications are that approximately20% members of staff are seeking a review of their Agenda for Change job …

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many job analysis questionnaires have been completed in the last year by NHS boards for staff who have yet to be salary banded under Agenda for Change, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information isnot held centrally.I can, however, advisethat approximately 7% of the NHSScotland workforce covered by Agenda for Changedo not match national job profiles, and will therefore have to complete a job evaluationquestionnaire as part of …

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what target date NHS boards have set for completing the banding process for NHS staff under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) profession and (b) board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There has been notarget date set for the conclusion of the implementation of Agenda for Change pay.However, I can confirm that health boards are very close to completing this process,with around 18,000 of the 140,000 plus substantive staff across NHSScotland …