Questions · Rhoda Grant

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training prosecution service staff receive regarding domestic abuse in order to understand its effects and the likely behaviour of witnesses who have spoken out about their personal experiences after a long period of abuse.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: All new procurators fiscal receive training on domestic abuse during their induction training. This training provides them with a basic understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse and the policy and practice which should be followed when taking decisions …

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when considering plea bargains, what emphasis is placed on the sentence, particularly in domestic abuse cases, in order to give comfort to victims who are also witnesses so that they know society and the legal system will not tolerate domestic abuse.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The possible sentence is one of many factors the Procurator Fiscal considers in deciding whether to accept any plea which the accused is prepared to offer. A plea will only be accepted when it is considered to be in the public interest to do so. Ther…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, when considering plea bargains, what emphasis is placed on the sentence, particularly in domestic abuse cases, in order to give comfort to victims who are also witnesses so that they know that they have been believed.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Procurators fiscal have a duty to consider all pleas of guilty offered by the defence and to accept them where it is in the public interest to do so. The likely sentence is one factor in the process of considering whether to accept any pleas which the accused…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, when considering plea bargains, what recognition is given to the views of victims who are also witnesses.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Procurators fiscal have a duty to consider all pleas of guilty offered by the defence and to accept them where it is in the public interest to do so. The views of the victim may, where known, be taken into account at the discretion of the Procurator Fiscal as…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to ensure that cases relating to domestic abuse are referred to the Victims Advice and Information service.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: All cases of domestic abuse are referred electronically to Victim Information and Advice (VIA) staff by the Procurator Fiscal who has marked the case for criminal proceedings. procurators fiscal are provided with guidance and training on the referral procedur…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for the Victims Advice and Information service to contact family members in the case of a domestic abuse situation.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: All victims of domestic abuse are referred to Victim Information and Advice (VIA) where proceedings are taken. VIA staff provide information to victims of domestic abuse following any key court hearings and when there is any other significant progress in a ca…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for a procurator fiscal to refer a case to the Victims Advice and Information service.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Procurators Fiscal refer to Victim Information and Advice (VIA) staff in their office of all cases with victims, witnesses and/or families, who are eligible for the VIA service. This service is available to victims of, and witnesses to, crimes reported to the…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for the Victims Advice and Information service to contact family members in the case of a domestic abuse situation.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22707 on 29 April 2009. 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/Apps2/…

3 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to deal with local authorities in breach of the Parental Involvement in Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher Appointments (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/132).

Answer · Keith Brown: Local authority appointment procedures for senior posts must comply with the legislation contained in the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 (the Act) and related regulations. Section 15 of the Act allows for parental representation to HM Inspec…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it first became aware of problems with the fishing quota management system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The shortcomings of the current UK quota management system has been recognised for a number of years. Indeed, many of the deficiencies with quota management, common across Europe, have also been highlighted in the European Commission''s recently launched cons…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the fishing industry regarding the quota settlement.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are multifarious parts to the quota settlement which impact on the management of fisheries. Since December there has been discussion of many aspects of the settlement in a number of government/industry groups including the Scottish Fisheries Council and…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what way the circumstances that impact on the quota settlement for the fishing industry have changed since December 2008.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas are set on the basis of scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The 2009 quotas were set on the basis of stock assessment advice received from ICES in 2008 and we expect…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21806 by Richard Lochhead on 26 March 2009, what impacts on business were identified in the regulatory impact assessment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Regulatory Impact Assessment published in May 2008, contains an impact summary.

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative arrangements it has put in place in the event that Scottish-based fishing quota owners and boats do not join the proposed fishing quota and management licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Int…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21808 and S3W-21809 by Richard Lochhead on 23 March 2009, what sanctions it will impose on Scottish-based fishing quota owners and boats should they not sign up to the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Int…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21808 and S3W-21809 by Richard Lochhead on 23 March 2009, for what reasons it is unable to compel Scottish-based fishing quota owners and boats to join the proposed fishing quota and management licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Int…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21810 by Richard Lochhead on 26 March 2009, what enforcement measures it intends to use if fishing quota owners do not sign up to the proposed fishing quota and management licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Int…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will make available to the agricultural industry to meet the additional costs of implementing the sheep electronic identification scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has made available up to £3 million on a large scale electronic research pilot which has the aim of finding workable and cost effective solutions for implementation in Scotland.

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what flexibility will be available to crofters and farmers regarding the implementation of the sheep electronic identification scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish and UK Governments have previously secured flexibility within the Regulation that will aid implementation. We have secured the delayed introduction of electronic identification until 31 December 2009 and have delayed the introduction of individua…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it intends to hold regarding the sheep electronic identification scheme legislation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government will hold a public consultation on sheep electronic identification prior to its introduction on 1 January 2010.

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local agreements with no statutory basis should take precedence over the Parental Involvement in Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher Appointments (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/132).

Answer · Keith Brown: Local authorities must ensure that their locally agreed procedures for the appointment of senior staff comply with any statutory regulations drawn up by Scottish ministers and must also pay due regard to any supporting guidance.

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to have an orthoptist pre-school screening programme in every NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: A date has not been specified. The NHS boards who have not yet introduced an orthoptist pre-school screening programme are working towards doing so, or towards introducing a programme supervised by an orthoptist or an optometrist.

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS board areas have an orthoptist pre-school screening programme in place.

Answer · Shona Robison: A pre-school screening programme is in place in NHS Ayrshire and Arran; NHS Borders; NHS Dumfries and Galloway; NHS Fife; in two areas in NHS Forth Valley; in all areas in NHS Grampian by end of May 2009; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; in two areas in NHS Hig…

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recommendations from the Health for All Children 4: Guidance on Implementation in Scotland report have been implemented in all NHS board areas.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are aware of variations in the implementation of certain aspects of Health for all Children across NHS board areas. However, the Scottish Government is currently working with NHS boards through the Hall 4 Implementation Network to address the variation. We…

25 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Housing Association Grant can be used to fund renewables when no other government funding is available.

Answer · Alex Neil: Housing Association Grant can be used to fund renewables in registered social landlord (RSL) projects which meet our published grant benchmarks or other published value for money criteria such as the New Indicatives Cost System. Otherwise we will exp…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what happens to any surplus in the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme budget at the end of a financial year after all outstanding claims have been processed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: LFASS expenditure in any one year is a function of fixed payments rates and levels of demand in a constant eligible area. The indicative LFASS budget is £61 million a year, and is part of the overall Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) budget. Any var…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what power it has to remove fishing quotas from owners who do not sign up to the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are confident that our proposals are both legal and enforceable.

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can compel Scottish-based fishing boats to join the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals are for a Scottish quota management and licensing system which will apply to Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can compel Scottish-based fishing quota owners to join the proposed quota management and licensing system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals are for a Scottish quota management and licensing system which will apply to Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system will place on non-Scottish boats working out of and landing at Scottish ports.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No restrictions are proposed for non-Scottish boats currently working out of and landing at Scottish ports. Our proposals are designed to ensure no detriment arises to fishermen elsewhere in the UK.