Parliamentary questions
Gil Paterson
788 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any consideration of introducing third party reporting sites for hate crimes and domestic violence.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Recommendation 16 of the<I> Macpherson Report into the Murder of Stephen Lawrence</I> stated: "That all possible steps should be taken by police services at local level in consultation with local government and other agencies and local communities to enc…
1 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights has had on the way cases of domestic abuse are dealt with by all organisations who have contact with victims of domestic abuse.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive takes a positive and proactive approach to human rights. Public bodies in Scotland also have a duty to comply with their obligations under the Human Rights Act. Whilst the primary responsibility remains with public bodies themselves, we…
21 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how information regarding the establishment of the Central Registered Body Scotland was transmitted to voluntary organisations.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Following the appointment of the Head of the Central Registered Body Scotland (CRBS) and the Information and Training Officer on 3 January 2002, a number of measures were taken to transmit information to the sector about the work of the unit. This included:<O…
21 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes for checks on volunteers in the voluntary sector working with children, young people and vulnerable adults to be processed by Disclosure Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Disclosure Scotland has a working agreement to process and return 90% of applications for a disclosure within 10 working days.
21 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes voluntary organisations to enrol with the Central Registered Body Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Voluntary organisations will normally be enrolled within three weeks of receipt of the completed enrolment form. This is the case as long as the appropriate documentary evidence, such as confirmation of the lead signatory's identity and relevant policy statem…
21 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research has been carried out to evaluate the usefulness of hair analysis in detecting drugs in a person's system in order to provide corroborating evidence when a drug-assisted sexual assault has been alleged.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Research is being carried out in Scotland by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science at Glasgow University in relation to the detection of benzodiazepines, in particular flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), in hair.
21 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service intends to follow the good practice guidelines on working with perpetrators of violence against women developed by RESPECT in April 2001 when developing custodial programmes for men convicted of violence against their partners.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>We are currently investigating the acquisition of programmes for men convicted of violence. Our wish to follow good practice as set out in the …
19 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Group on Domestic Abuse will publish its report.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland has been established to oversee the implementation of the three-year Action Plan in the National Strategy. The Executive plans to publish a progress report in the autumn.
19 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations regarding the licensing of lap dancing clubs.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has received three representations regarding the licensing of lap dancing clubs.
19 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into any links between child abuse and prostitution.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The reasons why young people become involved in prostitution are many and complex. Some surveys have shown linkages between child abuse and prostitution. In one reported survey by the Children's Society 50 young adults who were, or had been, involved in prost…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures should be followed by the police when they are informed that there may be children working as prostitutes in their area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Children should not be involved in prostitution and it is important that proper prevention, protection and re-integration strategies are in place to deal with this where it occurs. Children do not enter prostitution willingly. Their involvement is usually the…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for offences involving child prostitution in each of the last five years.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Data is only available for the last three years.<P>Records indicate that there have been no reports of offences involving child prostitution in that period.
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to the police in regard to abuse of children through prostitution.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is for Chief Constables to decide how best to tackle operational issues taking account of local guidance and also local needs and circumstances. Forces know the importance of using experienced interviewing officers and of developing in-force training, with…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is received by midwives in relation to domestic abuse.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Audit of NHS Board strategies for maternity services indicates that 11 NHS boards provide post qualifying training on domestic abuse, one was considering developing a training programme and in another analysis of midwives' training needs was under way. Of the…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to midwives in relation to domestic abuse.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: National guidelines for all health care workers on responding to domestic abuse were issued for public consultation on 28 June 2002. These guidelines will help midwives and other health care professionals recognise when women are experiencing domestic abuse a…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the prevalence of domestic abuse amongst pregnant women.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) report on <I>Domestic Violence</I> (1997) gave an overview of research, which shows that women are more likely to report domestic abuse during pregnancy and that the majority experience repeated acts of violence.…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the prevalence of domestic abuse amongst people with disabilities.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has commissioned a number of domestic abuse related research projects but none specifically into the prevalence of domestic abuse amongst people with disabilities.<P>The Scottish Executive's <I>National Strategy to Address Domestic Abus…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides for services which cater for people with disabilities who are suffering domestic abuse.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive, through Communities Scotland, is currently funding 13 projects under the three-year £10 million Refuge Development Programme. All projects contain proposals to provide access to refuge provision for women and children with disabilities…
17 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what services it provides for people with disabilities who are suffering domestic abuse.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive does not provide direct services to women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
10 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies are involved when a child has been found to have been abused through participation in the sex industry; what actions are taken by these agencies to return such a child to a safe environment and to assess the effects on a child of such participation, and what resources are i…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Agencies including social work, police, education, health, the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration and the voluntary sector, work together to protect children considered to be at risk of harm through participation in the sex industry. Action taken wou…
6 May 2002 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to provide guidance and information to prevent drug rape.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Information and guidance on how to reduce the risk of drug assisted sexual assault is available through the Know The Score website and information line.<P>We will take into account the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency's Strategic Assessments on the drug GHB …
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Justice will reply to my letter of 22 February 2002 regarding Clive Fairweather's comments in the intermediate inspection report on HM Prison Edinburgh.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The letter was replied to on 2 May 2002.
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a date has been set for the release of the evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust's "Respect" educational project.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have approved the publication of the evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust's "Respect" educational project and, whilst I cannot give a specific date at this stage, it is likely to be in early June.
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided for domestic abuse prevention projects in each of the last three years.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Since March 2000, the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund has supported or is still currently supporting, over 80 local multi-agency projects set up to tackle domestic abuse. A large number of these projects include preventative elements. However, funding…
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to strengthen awareness and action around linkages between domestic violence and other forms of male violence at a local level.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland has a remit to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland. This includes the consideration of links between domestic abuse and the wider…
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to councils regarding planning applications and all types of licence applications from businesses in the sex industry and how any such guidance ties in with its strategy on preventing violence against women.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The control of the use of local premises is a matter for local authorities through the planning and licensing systems and we have not issued guidance of the type mentioned. However, we deplore violence against women in any form and our strategies on equality …
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into links between pornography and sexual violence.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No specific research has been undertaken on this topic but the broader issue of sex offenders is an important part of our current research programme. We have also commissioned further research on the treatment of violent and sexual offenders.
25 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rapes were reported in 2000-01 and how many convictions were obtained in each police force area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information on crimes of rape which were recorded by the police, and on persons with a charge proved in court, where the main offence was rape, is given in the following table:<P>Crimes of Rape Recorded by the Police and Persons with Charge Prov…
25 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation of proposals it carries out before making decisions to award funding to voluntary organisations.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25381.
25 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it follows in deciding whether and where funding should be awarded when it receives a recommendation that action should be taken in a certain area and whether it is its practice that, when funding is made available, the funding opportunity is advertised so that relevant volu…
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive provides a range of funding to the voluntary sector. Funding opportunities are advertised in the leaflet <I>A Guide for the Voluntary Sector to Scottish Executive Grants.</I> This guide is updated annually, is distributed widely through…