Gil Paterson

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations from the report Fife Council Independent Enquiry Established by the Chief Executive Following The Conviction of David Logan Murphy For the Sexual Abuse of Children it will recommend be implemented across all local authorities.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This was a report commissioned by Fife Council and the recommendations were mainly directed to the council. However, other local authorities may have lessons to learn from the report. We are aware that Fife Council has sent the report to all local authorities…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement recommendation 14 of the report Fife Council Independent Enquiry Established by the Chief Executive Following The Conviction of David Logan Murphy For the Sexual Abuse of Children in regard to the funding of services for survivors of abuse.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Recommendation 14 was aimed at local authorities and health boards as well as central government. Services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse are provided by a range of health, education, social care and criminal justice services funded by the Scottish E…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what processes are in place to ensure that no short-term sex offenders are released without a proper risk assessment and consultation with the relevant police force being undertaken and when these processes were put in place.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The requirement to notify the police is placed on the offender. It has, nevertheless, been agreed following discussion with the other Cri…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what processes are used by the Scottish Prison Service to notify police force areas of the release of short-term sex offenders.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The legal requirement to notify the police is placed on the offender. It has nevertheless been agreed following discussion with the other…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which police force areas have been notified of the release of short-term sex offenders in each month since September 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Governors notify the relevant police forces, of those prisoners who are on the Sex Offender Register and are due for release. The specific info…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many short-term sex offenders have been released from HM Prison Edinburgh in each month since September 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=106><TR><TD WIDTH="73%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><P>September </TD><TD WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIG…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has funded into the effects of sexual abuse and what the conclusions of any such research have been.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) funded a research project in 1995-97, to evaluate the effectiveness of open learning training on sexual abuse in services to people with learning disabilities: Universities of Dundee, Keele and St Andrews; costing £89,998, Pri…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what services it funds for survivors of sexual abuse.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I announced on 19 February grant of £120,000 over the next three years to the Moira Anderson Foundation, to help raise awareness of the needs of survivors and to expand local self help groups, and £53,000 over the next two years to the Edinburgh Association f…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been offered to the judiciary in regard to (a) sentencing and (b) what circumstances should be taken into account when deciding on the sentence for offences relating to (i) domestic abuse and (ii) sexual assault.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary and ministers do not issue sentencing guidelines. Sentencing in cases involving domestic abuse or sexual assault will depend on all the circumstances of the case, including any previous convictions of the a…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many press releases it has issued in each of the last 12 months about issues concerning the judiciary.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We do not keep records of the number of press releases issued on particular topics. The total number of press releases issued in the categories "Law and Order" and "Justice" in that period was 213. A full archive of these press releases can be found at: <A HR…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training has been offered to judges and sheriffs in the last three years and how many have taken part in these training courses.

Answer · Jim Wallace: All new members of the judiciary have participated in induction courses. There have also been refresher courses for serving sheriffs and a number of special events, for all the judiciary in particular on Human Rights legislation. All Supreme Court Judges and …

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the current situation in regard to training for the judiciary, so that training in issues such as domestic abuse, sexual assault and vulnerable witnesses is compulsory.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Training is in the hands of the independent Judicial Studies Committee. I am satisfied that the committee have arrangements to tackle the subjects to which the question refers.

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-18517 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 October 2001, how many judges and sheriffs have received training relating to (a) domestic abuse, (b) sexual assault and (c) vulnerable witnesses.

Answer · Jim Wallace: These subjects have been, and are, covered in training exercises which have been attended by all the judiciary.

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to combat the trafficking of people who are subsequently sold into the sex industry.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Scots criminal law contains a range of provisions - in statute and common law - which protect people from being held unlawfully and from sexual exploitation and abuse. Those involved in sexual exploitation could be committing one or more of a variety of crime…

22 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government on combating the trafficking in human beings.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. Officials in the Scottish Executive Justice Department are working with the Home Office on the development of the EU Framework Decision on combating trafficking in …

11 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to review the Sexual Offenders Act 1997.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Part I of the Sex Offenders Act was reviewed jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Home Office in 2000 and the results published as part of a public consultation in July 2001. Consideration is currently being given to what further steps are needed to stre…

11 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the arrangements made for child witnesses within the criminal justice system.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Officials from the Justice Department are currently chairing the Implementation Group set up to carry into effect the recommendations of the Lord Advocate's Working Group on Child Witness Support. These recommendations cover a wide range of issues related to …

11 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes for sex offenders are currently available in (a) prison and (b) the community, where these programmes are provided and what criteria must be met before sex offenders can access them.

Answer · Jim Wallace: (a) The Core Sex Offender Programme (STOP 2000) is currently available at HMP Barlinnie and HMP Peterhead.<P>Criteria for this programme include a history of sex offending and appropriate cognitive ability. Those referred must agree to go onto the programme. …

11 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on developing and providing rehabilitation programmes in (a) prison and (b) the community for sex offenders who deny their crime.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Apart from those who deny their offence completely, sex offenders who deny elements of their case are accepted for participation in SPS …

11 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to provide sex offenders with learning disabilities with access to sex offender programmes while in (a) prison and (b) the community.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Scottish Prison Service runs a sex offender programme developed by HMPS specifically for sex offenders with borderline or learning disabil…

6 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to ensure that convicted sex offenders notify the UK authorities of their address when travelling abroad and that Scottish nationals and residents who have been convicted of sex offences abroad are automatically put on the UK register of sex offenders.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We have already strengthened the Sex Offenders Act by requiring certain sex offenders to inform the police when they travel overseas. <P>Although there are practical difficulties in automatic registration of UK and foreign nationals convicted of sex offences …

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to increase the number of convictions for offences relating to domestic abuse and what changes are being implemented by the police in the way they investigate and gather evidence and by prosecutors fiscal in respect of the evidence they request from the polic…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to raising awareness about domestic abuse, improving information about the scale and nature of the problem and ensuring that victims get the protection and support they need. This is being achieved through the implementatio…

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken at present, and is planned, to challenge and change the behaviour of men who abuse women and who have not been through the criminal justice process.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The current Scottish Executive awareness raising campaign aims to change attitudes of both men and women through a variety of media.<P>The Action Plan in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland recommends the further development of volunta…

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21740 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 January 2001, which NHS boards are providing the match funding for the seven domestic abuse projects being supported and how much each board is providing.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The following health boards have made funding available for Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund projects in 2001-02:<P>Dumfries and Galloway (two projects) - £17,500<P>Forth Valley Health Board - £3,000<P>Highland Health Board - £5,000<P>Ayrshire and Arra…

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20556 by Colin Boyd QC on 18 December 2001, why the information requested regarding the breakdown by crime and offence of the number of no proceedings in 2000 is not available and whether it will, from now, collate this information, detailing the rea…

Answer · Colin Boyd: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22584.

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20557 by Colin Boyd QC on 18 December 2001, why the information requested regarding the breakdown by crime and offence of the number of fiscal fines in 2000 is not available and whether it will, from now, collate this information, detailing the reaso…

Answer · Colin Boyd: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22584.

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20558 by Colin Boyd QC on 18 December 2001, why the information requested regarding the breakdown by crime and offence of the number of fiscal warnings in 2000 is not available and whether it will, from now, collate this information, detailing the re…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The records of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are kept electronically. The computer system was designed for case tracking and handling, not for statistical analysis. The cost of developing such a statistical capability would be extremely high …

29 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20358 by Nicol Stephen on 7 December 2001, whether it plans to review the appropriateness of allowing parents convicted of abusing their children to participate in a children's hearing.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have no current plans to review the arrangements described by Nicol Stephen in his answer given to question S1W-20358 on 7 December 2001.

29 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19852 by Iain Gray on 23 November 2001, how many individuals convicted of domestic abuse-related offences took part in treatment programmes offered by the prison service in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>This information is not recorded by the Prison Service.

29 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18520 by Ms Margaret Curran on 9 October 2001, when it will publish its evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust's "Respect" educational project.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The final draft of the evaluation report has been passed to the project's steering group for their consideration and it will be published as soon as possible thereafter.