Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16679 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 June 2005, on how many occasions the Director of HM Prison Kilmarnock has consulted the Scottish Prison Service about visits to the prison since its opening.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The information requested is not available as it is not collected or collated.

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17794 by Patricia Ferguson on 3 August 2005, whether it has ruled out undertaking an independent and detailed assessment of the costs and benefits to Scotland of the 2012 Olympic Games being hosted in London.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: There are no plans to undertake such an assessment at this time. Scotland is well placed to assess the costs and benefits of the London Olympics through membership of the Nations and Regions group, London 2012. The Scottish steering group for London 20…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17563 by Patricia Ferguson on 18 July 2005, whether it will be making estimates at any stage as to how much additional growth the Scottish economy will accrue as a direct result of London hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: All efforts to maximise the economic, social and cultural benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games to Scotland will be co-ordinated through the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 which will meet for the first time in January 2006. It will be part of the remit …

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been confirmed that Hampden Park will be used as a venue in the 2012 Olympic Games and whether it is now in a position to state whether any other venues in Scotland will be used for events at the Games.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17793 on 3 August 2005. 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/webapp…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17566 by Patricia Ferguson on 18 July 2005, what the reasons are for its position that the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games “could feasibly only be staged in London” rather than anywhere else in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Previously both Birmingham and Manchester have produced bids to stage the Olympic Games. The feedback received by the UK government from the International Olympic Committee after the failure of those bids was that the IOC would only consider a bid from Londo…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17794 by Patricia Ferguson on 3 August 2005, how it was in a position to support London’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games without undertaking an independent and detailed assessment of the costs and benefits to Scotland of the Games beforehand.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive was proud to support London’s bid to bring the Olympics to the UK in 2012. The benefits to a nation from hosting the Olympic Games are well established. It can lead to increased participation in sport, better health and increase…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if it believes that a successful bid by Glasgow to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games will have a UK-wide benefit, it considers that it would be equitable for Her Majesty’s Government to either create a Commonwealth Games lottery or make the newly-created Olympics Games lottery a j…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-18526 on 5 September 2005. 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…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if Glasgow is successful in securing the 2014 Commonwealth Games, it considers that there will be a similar benefit to all of the United Kingdom that Her Majesty’s Government considers that there will be by virtue of London hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is committed to working with UK government departments to ensure continued support for Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games 2014 bid. The Commonwealth Games is not as large an event as the Olympics. Whilst it is difficult to quantify the benefi…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20282 by Mr Andy Kerr on 10 November 2005, which particular higher education institutions have responsibility for delivering the Overseas Nurses Programme.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Education Scotland (NES) will be responsible for acting as agents for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and for the scrutiny, approval and on-going monitoring of the Overseas Nurses Programme. Currently the University of Stirling and the University …

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20282 by Mr Andy Kerr on 10 November 2005, when it expects to be able to make an announcement in respect of its considerations of the recommendations of the IQN Working Group.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The recommendations of the Internationally Qualified Nurse (IQN) Working Group will be put to me for approval within the next few weeks and an announcement will be made later this month. The recommendations will outline a national model and infrastructure to …

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many instances of prisoners in the open estate absconding there have been in the last 25 years compared to the number of instances of prisoners absconding from regular prisons in the same period.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The available information is given in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts from 1993-94 onwards. No records are available prior to cre…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20860 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 November 2005 and whilst Scottish Prison Service staff turnover is significantly below the UK average, what information it has on how it compares to the turnover level of prison service staff of each (a) OECD nation and …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS does not hold such information.

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20860 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 November 2005, whether the Scottish Prison Service aims to meet or exceed performance targets set by ministers.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service aims to deliver Key Performance Indicators set by ministers and reported to Parliament. Figures containe…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20860 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 November 2005, whether the only way in which the Scottish Prison Service measures whether staff turnover adversely affects the performance of its services is by comparing the level of staff turnover to the UK average and…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: Yes.

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20861 by Cathy Jamieson on 30 November 2005 and without specific reference to the contract between the Scottish Prison Service and Premier Prison Services Ltd for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock, whether it considers that, in general, a contrac…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Yes, so long as it is complemented with mechanisms appropriate to the particular contract to monitor performance in pursuit of best value for money for the tax payer.

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per prisoner is for (a) prisoners on the open estate and (b) prisoners in regular prisons.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to my answer to S2W-16418 on 18 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliamen…

12 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21073 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 December 2005, how much taxpayers money has been saved by not placing carefully selected prisoners in a regular prison but in the open estate instead in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: No such figures are available. SPS calculate annually an average cost per prisoner place which is reported in our Annual Reports and Accou…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of US agencies using Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the practice of torture is used for the purposes of interrogation.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21092 on 8 December 2005. 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/webap…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any member of the police has made representations to it requesting an investigation into allegations that US agencies may be using Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the practice o…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive isnot aware of any representations from the police regarding this matter.

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International their allegations that US agencies may be transporting individuals suspected of being involved in terrorism to countries that practice torture to assess whether there is any veracity in the allegations that planes …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive hasnot had any discussions with Human Rights Watch or Amnesty Internationalregarding these allegations.

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the details of the case being pursued by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the German national Khaled al-Masri, who alleges he was seized in Macedonia and taken to a US prison in Afghanistan in 2004 where he was tortured whilst being int…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Whether or not toinvestigate an allegation of any criminal matter is an operational decision forthe Chief Constable of the relevant local police force.

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, the Scottish Law Officers or the Procurator Fiscal Service are considering investigating the allegations that US agencies may be using Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the pr…

Answer · Colin Boyd: As indicated in my previous answerto question S2W-21576 on 22 December 2005, to date, the police have not received any specific reports of incidents involvingsuch flights occurring at Scottish airports and have not submitted any reports toprocurators fiscal.<…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the issue of US agencies using Scottish airports for refuelling for flights in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the practice of torture is used for the purposes of interrogation with either (a) Her Majesty’s Govern…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Officials have had routinediscussions with counterparts in the UK Government primarily in relation to theanswering of Scottish parliamentary questions and other enquiries about theseallegations. No discussions have taken place with representatives of the USGo…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the definition of torture is within Scots Law and how this differs from the definition in the UN Convention Against Torture.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Article 1 of the UN Convention Against Torture states that; “torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would expect the police force with the appropriate jurisdiction to inspect a plane stopping over at a Scottish airport for refuelling if there was a suspicion that the plane was transporting individuals against their will to a country where they might be tortured.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21579 on 22 December 2005. 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/web…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would expect the police force with the appropriate jurisdiction to inspect a plane stopping over at a Scottish airport for refuelling if there was a suspicion that drugs or arms were being transported illegally on that plane.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The police will take suchaction as is necessary if credible and reliable information is received that acrime is being planned, is being committed, or has occurred within Scottishjurisdiction.

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture in respect of the allegations that rendition flights organised by US agencies, in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the practice of torture is used for the pu…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Torture is a crime underScots law as required by our international obligations. The investigation ofalleged crimes is a matter for the police.

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the implications for it if planes being used by US agencies for the purposes of rendition flights, in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the practice of torture is used for the purposes of investigation have stopped…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is an offence under Scots law to aid and abet an act which constitutes a crime in statute or common law. However, the Scottish Executive is not aware of any evidence to support allegations that the flights in question have involved any criminal activities.…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate has instructed any police force to search any planes stopping over in a Scottish airport which is reportedly being used by the United States of America for rendition flights, in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where th…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The Lord Advocate has not issuedinstructions to any police force to search a plane under these circumstances anddoes not have authority to instruct search without warrant. The Scottish policehave not received any specific reports of incidents involving so cal…

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planes stopping over at Scottish airports, in which it is alleged that suspected terrorists are being carried to countries where the practice of torture is used for the purposes of interrogation, have been searched by the police to investigate these claims.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This is a matter for thepolice. Whether or not to undertake an investigation is an operational decisionfor the Chief Constable of the relevant police force.