Christine Grahame

27 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what fee was charged by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the financial review of the Scottish Prison Service Estates.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>£107,584 excluding VAT.

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19094 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, what measures to encourage the use of alternatives to custody for female offenders are being considered by the ministerial group on women's offending.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Ministerial Report on Women's Offending, <I>A Better Way</I>, was published on 28 February 2002.<P>The report looks at the pressure points in the Criminal Justice System in respect of women offenders i.e. remands, imprisonment for fine default and short s…

22 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to introduce scale fees for junior counsel appearing in the sheriff court in legally aided cases.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Fees for junior counsel in criminal proceedings in the sheriff court are prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989. Legal aid fees for junior counsel undertaking civil work in the Sheriff Court are prescribed in Reg…

21 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-23283 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002 regarding security in the woodwork shed at HM Prison Kilmarnock, whether the Executive endorses the position of Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) that the "SPS is satisfied wit…

Answer · Jim Wallace: Contractual matters are the responsibility of and are monitored carefully by Scottish Prison Service, who continue to regard the performance of the establishment as satisfactory, notwithstanding occasional incidents with which all prisons have to deal with.

21 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23288 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002, when it will report to (a) the Justice Committees and (b) the Parliament on its conclusions from its consultation exercise on Huts and Hutters and the report on the Carbeth Hutters by the former Justice and H…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am aware that constructive discussions are taking place at local level to resolve the difficulties at Carbeth which prompted the committee's report. All of us who are keen to see a fair and amicable settlement to this issue will hope for a positive outcome …

21 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a young person to be placed in the Young People's Unit.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information is not available in the form requested, however current waiting times range from one week to 24 weeks. All referrals to the Young People's Unit are prioritised according to clinical need.

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which accounts HM Prison Kilmarnock appears as a "property asset", given that paragraph 4 of the Auditor General for Scotland's report in the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2000-01 states that the prison does not appear in the Scottish Prison Service's accounts …

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The reversionary interest property asset value for HMP Kilmarnock is included in the 2000-01 accounts of the Scottish Prison Service.

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what HM Treasury guidance the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has complied with, as referred to in paragraph 4 of the report by the Auditor General for Scotland in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts for 2000-01 which states that the SPS has "complied with HM Treasury guidance" in regard to …

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Treasury Task Force, Private Finance, Technical Note (Revised).

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of building insurance cover is for HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>This is a matter for Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited.

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service has building insurance cover for HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>No. Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited is responsible for insurance matters, as specified in the contract.

20 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will comment on the report by the Auditor General for Scotland in Appendix 13 of the Scottish Prison Service's Annual Report and Accounts 2000-01.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Annual Report and Accounts for 2000-01 fully disclose the accounting policies which SPS has complied with in accordance with Governme…

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what inquiry or other investigations are currently taking place in respect of the recent fire in a cell at HM Prison Cornton Vale.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>An investigation was carried out by the prison's Fire Safety Officer and the SPS Fire Safety Adviser.

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place at HM Prison Cornton Vale to separate drug users from other inmates.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>SPS estimate that up to 97% of prisoners at Cornton Vale are drug users on admission. Cornton Vale at present maintains 27 drug-free spac…

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of a recent fire at HM Prison Cornton Vale, the current fire evacuation system in the prison is satisfactory.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Establishment plans for evacuation were followed and worked effectively.

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish an open prison for women.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Scottish Prison Service is currently evaluating the need to provide an open facility for women.

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) target waiting time and (b) average waiting time is for patients on the waiting list for maxillofacial and oral surgery to receive a first appointment with a consultant in (i) Scotland and (ii) each NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in oral surgery, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the year ended 30 September 2001, is given in th…

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are currently on the waiting list for maxillofacial and oral surgery in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The number of patients waiting for hospital admission for in-patient and day case treatment in the specialty of oral surgery, by NHS board of residence, on 31 December 2001, is given in the following table.<P>NHSScotland: Number Of Patients Waiting For Hospit…

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortage of consultants in maxillofacial and oral surgery and, if so, what the shortage is, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The latest available information from ISD Scotland indicates that there were three consultant vacancies in the specialty of oral surgery, one each in Dumfries and Galloway, Forth Valley and Grampian. This information is as at 30 September 2000 and includes ma…

13 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the full report on the cost of upgrading Peebles sheriff court will be made available and what factors, other than the cost of upgrading, will be taken into account in regard to the future of the court.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The report by consultants is currently being evaluated by the Scottish Court Service. In addition to the cost of repair and upgrading, consideration will be given to the level of business transacted at the court and the impact on court users will be taken int…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the finalised Structure Plan submitted by Scottish Borders Council in May 2001 has been agreed.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The finalised Scottish Borders Structure Plan is still under consideration by the Scottish ministers. However, an announcement on the plan will be made soon.

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed sale of 4.25 acres of land at Broomlands Primary School complies with policy C5 of the finalised Structure Plan submitted by Scottish Borders Council in May 2001.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Policy C5 of the submitted finalised Scottish Borders Structure Plan deals with the protection of playing fields and sports pitches. However, as the finalised plan is still under consideration by the Scottish ministers, it would be inappropriate for me to com…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory protection there is for the preservation of school playing fields.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, there is a requirement for every school to have available to it playing fields of an area related to the school roll. <P>Town and country planning legislation provides…

6 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the letter to me from the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice on 26 February 2002 about the publication of the contract between the Scottish Prison Service and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited, what is meant by "early next month".

Answer · Jim Wallace: The contract was published on the Scottish Prison Service website (www.sps.gov.uk) on 8 March 2002.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of civil legal aid cases (a) sought and (b) were refused a sanction for (i) junior and (ii) senior counsel in each of the past three years, broken down by subject matter (such as matrimonial, reparation or contract).

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that an anomaly has arisen as a consequence of the implementation of the McCrone Agreement in regard to the guarantee of a placement for the one probation year for new graduates which affects the 2-year probation of graduates intending to qualify in primary or second…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Currently those teachers graduating with a teaching qualification in a secondary subject can teach their subject in a primary school. However, to gain full registration they must complete two years probation within a secondary setting. They cannot become full…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the letter by the Minister for Finance and Public Services to the Finance Spokesman for COSLA dated 25 February 2002, whether the minister will allocate #3-4 million of the identified under-spend of #200 million to Scottish Borders Council to prevent the present round o…

Answer · Peter Peacock: No. It is for Scottish Borders Council to set a budget which is within its means. I understand that it has done so.

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the answer to question S1W-22619 by Peter Peacock on 21 February 2002 and the answer to the fourth supplementary question to question S10-4764 by Peter Peacock on 28 February 2002, what the difference in circumstances is between the position of Western Isles Coun…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The position of Western Isles Council in 1991, is significantly different from that in the Scottish Borders, in that Western Isles Council had acted ultra vires, in investing in BCCI and faced loses equal to around one third of its total annual budget for ser…

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its press release SE4015/2001 on 19 September 2001, how many NHS trusts have had their financial deficits written off; how much was written off; when the deficits were written off, and who authorised the writing off of each deficit, broken down by NHS trust.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Susan Deacon announced on 19 September 2001, an allocation of an additional £90 million for the NHS in Scotland. Using these resources, seven trusts had their financial deficits written off in this financial year (2001-02).<P>The following amounts were applie…

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the #300 million repayable grant offered to Glasgow Housing Association over a period of 10 years at 0% interest (a) what the repayment regime for the grant will be and (b) how much, in total, the grant will cost the association.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23406 on 24 April 2002.

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the fourth supplementary question to question S10-4674 by Peter Peacock on 28 February 2002, whether it would respond favourably to an application for special borrowing consent by the Scottish Borders Council if the council applied part or all of its proposed res…

Answer · Peter Peacock: No such request has been received. The level and use of reserves is a matter for the council.