Pauline McNeill

27 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what prisoner number capacity is being planned for HMP Glasgow.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25373 on 26 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are availab…

27 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will decide on a final design plan for HMP Glasgow.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: HMP Glasgow will deliver safe and secure accommodation, with maximum possible benefit and opportunity to those who live and work there…

14 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect the welfare of bees.

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) the Scottish Prison Service has any concerns regarding prison officers having to work until the age of 68.

Answer · Angela Constance: It is well established that some occupations are restricted by capacity and age due to the physical demands of those roles, making it untenable to expect them to be carried out until the State Pension Age. This was recognised by the Public Service Pensions Ac…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average age is of a prisoner in Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: Based on the latest publication of National Statistics on the prison population, the average age of individuals spending any time in prison in 2022-23 was 37.4 years. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-prison-population-statistics-2022-23/pages/indiv…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it and (b) the Scottish Prison Service has undertaken of any impact of prison officers having to work until the age of 68.

Answer · Angela Constance: It is well established that some occupations are restricted by capacity and age due to the physical demands of those roles, making it untenable to expect them to be carried out until the State Pension Age. This was recognised by the Public Service Pensions Ac…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it and (b) the Scottish Prison Service is taking to reduce the impact of illicit drugs on the prison population.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) recognise the impact of illicit drugs in prisons and the importance of supporting prisoners on their recovery journey. We are committed to ensuring that the prison population have access to health…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it and (b) the Scottish Prison Service is taking to protect prison staff from the effects of illicit drugs being used by prisoners.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in our prisons is a key priority for the Scottish Prison Service. Investment in …

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents have occurred, in each of the last five years, in which (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff have received medical attention as a result of coming into contact with illicit drugs in Scotland's prisons.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in our prisons is a key priority for the Scottish Prison Service and we continue t…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many seizures of illicit drugs have occurred in prisons in each of the last five years, also broken down by (a) establishment and (b) drug type.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in our prisons is a key priority for the Scottish Prison Service and we continue t…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how many prison officers need to be recruited to ensure that all prisons are able to adhere to minimum staffing requirements.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS has agreed prison officer staffing complements which are tailored to the needs of each establishment and agreed in partnership wit…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times prisons have been unable to meet minimum staffing requirements in each of the last five years, also broken down by establishment.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25533 on 21 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are availab…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action (a) it and (b) the Scottish Prison Service is taking to address any overcrowding in Scotland's prisons.

Answer · Angela Constance: In collaboration with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), and other key justice organisations, we are taking action to tackle the rising prison population. Prison will always be necessary for those who pose a risk of harm or threaten the delivery of justice. …

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners HMP Glasgow is planned to hold.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: HMP Glasgow will deliver safe and secure accommodation, with maximum possible benefit and opportunity to those who live and work there…

24 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, for what reason it decided to include provisions that reportedly allow for murder to be prosecuted in the proposed specialist Sexual Offences Court if the crime had a sexual element involved.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Sexual Offences Court will be of equivalent status to the High Court when sitting as a court of first instance. Its processes and procedures will be the same as the High Court unless specifically provided for otherwise by the Bill, or subsequent secondary…

24 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, whether the rape of a child would be considered in the proposed specialist Sexual Offences Court.

Answer · Angela Constance: The range of sexual offences that fall under the proposed jurisdiction of the Sexual Offences Court is set out at Schedule 3 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Schedule 3 includes the offence of rape of a child under common law and…

24 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, what range of sexual offences would be covered by the proposed Sexual Offences Court.

Answer · Angela Constance: The range of sexual offences that fall under the proposed jurisdiction of the Sexual Offences Court is set out at Schedule 3 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. This list includes offences such as rape, sexual assault as well as dis…

22 Jan 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government plans to take in response to the reported rise in attacks on prison guards and weapons found in prisons.

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider long-term funding for support work in relation to violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Answer · Siobhian Brown: We remain steadfast in our commitment to preventing and eradicating all violence against women and girls and it is vital, now more than ever, that we make the best use of resources available to tackle this issue. The Independent Strategic Review of Funding a…

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend funding for Rape Crisis Centres beyond March 2024, in light of reported concerns that, if it is not continued, it will result in the loss of 28 support worker positions nationwide.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: We are committed to addressing violence against women and girls and acknowledge the crucial role that Rape Crisis centres across Scotland play in providing support to victim-survivors. Frontline services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence a…

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the reported concerns of organisations that the current funding model for Rape Crisis services is competitive, delivered unequally across the country and diverts resources away from service delivery and towards competing for limited funding.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government recognises the vital work that Rape Crisis centres across Scotland do to provide support for survivors of sexual violence. We will continue to work collaboratively with our stakeholders, including the Rape Crisis network, to develop a …

10 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to whether there is a need for regulatory oversight of companies that install low emissions heating systems and upgrade homes to be more energy efficient.

18 Dec 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether, and how, the Scottish Government plans to increase awareness of spiking ahead of Christmas and New Year.

13 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the GP services model, including in relation to whether patients are getting appointments when they need them.

6 Dec 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current options available to record the relationship status of a deceased person are sufficient for the purposes of this information being accurately represented on death certificates.

28 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing in schools to educate boys to prevent violence against women and girls.

24 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all available information on the operation of the Fund to Leave pilot scheme, including the number of any (a) women who have applied to the scheme and (b) grants provided to date by Scottish Women’s Aid-affiliated groups.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Scottish Women’s Aid is administering the pilot on behalf of the Scottish Government. The information requested is being collected by individual Women’s Aid groups involved in the pilot and will be provided to Scottish Women’s Aid to support administration. …

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has asked Police Scotland to return to it in each financial year since 2019-20, including 2023-24 to date.

Answer · Angela Constance: In accordance with the guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual, grant in aid funding to public bodies should not be paid in advance of need. Due to this requirement, the Scottish Government has not asked the Scottish Police Authority or P…

6 Nov 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that Scottish Water has issued bonus payments to executives in excess of public sector pay rules.

29 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland will have in funding the Clyde Metro.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Clyde Metro will be transformational for the region. It is likely to be a programme which will be delivered over a number of years, with the scale and capital costs required making it one of the largest programme of works Scotland will have ever seen. The de…