Parliamentary questions
Margaret Curran
254 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review procedures in relation to policy on the handling of cases of rape and sexual assault.
Answer · Elish Angiolini: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1358<b> </b>on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of work undertaken by family protection units is committed to rape and sexual assault.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Every Scottish forcehas specialist officers dedicated to the investigation of sexual offences. The allocationof duties within family protection units is a matter for individual chiefconstables.</p>
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is undertaken by police forces about rape and sexual assault.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Training in how tohandle rape and sexual assault offences features as part of the initial trainingprogramme which all recruits to the police service must undertake on appointment.Specific courses on offer at the Scottish Police College also cover in depth tra…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the evaluation of the provisions relating to sexual history and character evidence in the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We do not yet havea date for publication, but hope to publish shortly. A research briefing providinginitial findings from the first phase of the evaluation was published in December2006 and is available at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund the national helpline for victims of rape and sexual violence and whether this will be given priority in the forthcoming spending review.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In January 2007, £305,555was awarded to Rape Crisis Scotland to cover the start-up costs and first yearrevenue costs for a National free phone rape crisis helpline. Any additional offerof funding after March 2008 will be subject to satisfactory evaluation of …
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue funding rape crisis centres at their existing level and whether this will be maintained within the forthcoming spending review.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: All rape crisis centresin Scotland have funding until March 2008. All centresfunded under the Rape Crisis Specific Fund were required to consider the issue ofon-going funding in their applications, in the event that central funding was notcontinued after Marc…
1 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers tackling religious intolerance a priority.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2744 on 16 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
1 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards religious intolerance as an issue facing Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2744 on 16 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
1 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take specifically to tackle religious intolerance in Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Executivetakes the issue of religious intolerance very seriously and is committed to achievinga Scotland free from bigotry, intolerance and religiousdiscrimination. Working at both government and community level we will engage withall faith commu…
1 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which Cabinet Secretary has specific responsibility for sectarianism.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Justice has overall lead responsibility for the co-ordination of thegovernment’s drive to tackle sectarianism in Scotland. Individual Cabinet Secretariesretain responsibility for the initiatives which are being taken forward in relati…
1 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the First Minister has discussed sectarianism with the partners who participated in the Summit on Sectarianism.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Governmentwill continue to build on initiatives like the two Summits on Sectarianism by maintainingmeaningful relationships with the partners involved in these events. This was confirmedby the First Minister on 19 June 2007 when he hosted a recep…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1960 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 July 2007, to what extent and in what ways local communities and victims of antisocial behaviour will be involved in the review process.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The term of referencefor the review of our national antisocial behaviour strategy, which will outlinethe review process, including engagement with local communities, will be announcedshortly.</p>
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1960 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 July 2007, what the timetables for the reviews are; who is involved in the reviews and whether it will seek to involve parliamentary committees in the process.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Details of the currentposition on the reviews of antisocial behaviour strategy and community sentencesare set out in the following table. We propose that the review on retention of DNAwill consider options for enhancing the operational effectiveness of provis…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will legislate on judicial appointments.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Governmentwill announce its legislative programme in the Autumn.</p>
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its consultation plans regarding the future of prison services in north-east Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The requirementfor prison services in the north-east will be considered as part of the currentspending review process. Decisions will be annou…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to rebuild Peterhead prison and, if so, at what anticipated cost and what the timescale is.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The requirementfor prison services in the north-east will be considered as part of the currentspending review process. Decisions will be annou…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase resources for criminal justice social work and, if so, when and whether this will be guaranteed in the 2007 spending review.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1044 on 25 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1041 by Kenny MacAskill on 14 June 2007, whether it plans to implement an SNP Manifesto commitment to move £35 million from the prison budget to fund community sentences and, if so, whether this will be guaranteed in the 2007 spending review.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The 2007 SpendingReview will determine the financial settlement for the Scottish Prison Service andfor local authority criminal justice social work for the three years commencingnext April. Decisions will be announced to the Parliament when that exercise isco…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and how it plans to reform and revitalise community sentences, as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on 6 June 2007, and what assessment has been made of the impact this will have on prison numbers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executivehas met a wide range of organisations over the summer about its plans to reformand revitalise community sentences. This work includes examining the case for anynew sentences as well as building confidence in the use of existing measures.…
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement an SNP Manifesto commitment to increase drug rehabilitation services by 20% and, if so, whether it will guarantee this in the 2007 spending review.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1045 on 21 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search…
5 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions and meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice had with relevant parties prior to his decision to lift the ban on alcohol at Murrayfield.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Prior to the de-designationof Senior International Men’s Rugby matches, officials held discussions on my behalfwith Lothian and Borders Police, Strathclyde Police, Edinburgh Licensing Board andrepresentatives of the Scottish Rugby Union.</p>
5 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of frontline it uses in respect of the deployment of police officers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: What constitutes frontlinepolicing will vary from force to force and day to day. This is dependent on theoperational demands and the specific level of incidents which officers arerequired to deal with. How officers are deployed is a matter for the relevantchi…
5 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reviews of policy are under way in the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since the electionwe have commissioned three reviews: a review to consider options for enhancing theoperational effectiveness of the provisions governing the destruction of DNA datain specific circumstances; a review of the existing antisocial behaviour strat…
5 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the introduction of positive behaviour orders.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We plan to take a fresh lookat our antisocial behaviour strategy to see where it can be strengthened and improvedand to ensure greater community involvement. Nothing has been ruled in or outat this stage. Our evaluation of anti-social behaviour orders, which …
5 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms and timescale will be of its review of antisocial behaviour legislation and whether the outcome of the review will be reported to the Parliament.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The terms and timescale ofour review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy will be announced shortly.The outcome of the review will, of course, be reported to the Parliament.</p>
22 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support Easterhouse as the location of the Scottish National Theatre.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Yes. The National Theatre of Scotland remains committed to its homebase at the Bridge in Easterhouse and to maintaining and enhancing its relationship with the community there. The lease on the National Theatre’s other offices in Hope Street in central Glasg…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will implement the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 and what action it will take to promote this reform.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are committed totaking forward the measures to restrict the sale of swords and non-domestic knivesand work is already underway to look at a wide range of measures to tackle re-offending.This includes an extensive review of community sentences and plans for…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals to deliver the commitment to a publicly owned and run prison service.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Followingconsideration of the available options and implications, proposals will bedeveloped in relation to this commitment. It is expected th…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to build any new prisons.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>The Scottish PrisonService has no current plans to construct any new prisons other than the prisonsannounced following the consultation on the …
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will implement a commitment to drastically reduce the number of petty criminals in the prison population.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are examining whatmore can be done to improve reparation and rehabilitation, to improve outcomes forpersistent offenders and to drive up the quality, and change attitudes to, the delivery,of community sentences as part of our plans for their reform, announ…