David McLetchie

Answer · Kenny MacAskill · 3 Oct 2012

I announced on 13 December my decision to ask Professor Andrew Coyle (Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies in London University and Visiting Professor in the University of Essex) formally to review the Scottish Government’s proposals on independent monitoring of prisons. Professor Coyle will produce a report on his findings and recommendations by 31 January 2013. The remit of the review will be to consider specifically:
the extent to which the proposals meet the government’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT)
responses of prisoners, prison staff and stakeholders to the new proposals
independent monitoring of legalised police cells.
I informed the Parliament by responding to a parliamentary question, from John Finnie MSP on 13 September 2012 – (S4W-09606). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill · 28 Sep 2012

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Prison Service does not routinely publish these papers. However, on this occasion, I have sent a copy of the relevant document to the member.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham · 28 Sep 2012

Officials in the Justice Directorate and in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) are presently considering the terms of the report commissioned by the Scottish Campaign against Irresponsible Driving (SCID) entitled Access in Europe by a bereaved family to information gathered during an investigation into a fatal road collision.
The investigation of road traffic fatalities and the provision of information to bereaved relatives is the responsibility of COPFS. Policies are already in place to ensure that the appropriate information is provided to bereaved relatives as quickly as possible.
Keith Brown, the Minister for Transport and Veterans, met representatives from SCID to discuss the report on 19 September. COPFS have written to SCID about the content of the report and have invited them to meet officials to discuss it further.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham · 13 Sep 2012

There has been no official published review of the law of defamation by the Scottish Government, Scottish Law Commission or any other public body for which the Scottish Government is responsible. However, the Scottish Government did consult on a specific aspect of defamation law in “Defamation and the Deceased: Death of a Good Name” between January and April 2011. In October 2011, I wrote to the Public Petitions Committee advising of the outcome of the consultation. The consultation and my response can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/damages/damagesetc.

Answer · Alex Neil · 13 Sep 2012

The investigation into the Legionella outbreak by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is ongoing.
A joint investigation, by Lothian and Borders Police and the HSE, under the direction of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) Health and Safety Division, into the deaths of three men who died in June 2012 during the course of the outbreak, is also ongoing. Any reports submitted to COPFS in due course will be confidential and will not be the subject of publication.
The final report of NHS Lothian’s Incident Management Team will be published no later than three months after investigations have concluded.

Answer · Michael Russell · 12 Sep 2012

There are no plans to bring the repayment threshold for Scottish students studying in the rest of the UK (RUK) in line with English and Welsh based students.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill · 13 Sep 2012

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09293 and S4W-09294 on 13 September 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.