Parliamentary questions
Gil Paterson
788 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review the use of exclusion orders.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20362.
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any issues have been identified that prevent exclusion orders from being applied for.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive has identified a number of problems with exclusion orders and matrimonial interdicts under the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981, and these are referred to in the white paper <I>Parents and Children</I>. Some have been ad…
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many exclusion orders were (a) applied for and (b) granted in the last year for which figures are available.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No figures are collected centrally for exclusion orders under either Part II of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or section 4 of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection)(Scotland) Act 1981.
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects are currently being funded that aim to work with men who are violent to women but who have not been through the criminal justice process.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund is supporting a project to encourage agencies in Edinburgh to tackle male violence by working with men who have abused or are abusing their partners. This pilot is to encourage services, both statutory and voluntary…
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds statistics on child protection that show the number of abused (a) male and (b) female children, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) relationship of abuser to abused and (iii) specific category of abuse and whether it will make any such information publicly available.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: National statistics on child protection are compiled and published annually by the Scottish Executive, using data supplied by local authorities about children who have been referred to them because of concerns that they have been abused or may be at risk of a…
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps can be taken, in the interests of protecting children's human rights, to ensure that they are not confronted by abusers at hearings of children's panels.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Abusers, either alleged or proven, cannot attend a Children's Hearing unless that person holds parental rights over the child in question. In that event, the hearing must balance the human rights of the parent and child. This can be achieved through the Child…
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the relationship between alcohol and substance abuse and violence against women.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research specifically into the relationship between alcohol and substance abuse and violence against women. However, there are a small number of on-going and recently completed research projects in the UK into the re…
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of violence against women were reported in the last year for which figures are available and how many convictions were obtained, broken down by police area.
Answer · Iain Gray: The most relevant information available is given in Table 1 of the statistical bulletin <I>Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 1 April - 31 December 1999, </I>a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17267)…
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the reasons for cases involving violence against women failing to reach court and what reasons were highlighted by any such research.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned research into the reasons for cases involving violence against women failing to reach court. I would, however, refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19180 on 15 November 2001 concerning research into …
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to health boards regarding the impact on public health of domestic abuse.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The<I> National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland</I>, prepared by the Scottish Partnership, is applicable to NHS services in Scotland and includes a detailed plan of action and guidelines for all agencies involved in tackling domestic abuse. Thi…
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allow children access to counselling services before giving evidence at a criminal trial.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The Scottish Executive has set up a group to implement the recommendations of the Lord Advocate's Working Group on Child Witness Support. One of the recommendations seeks to clarify the roles of those making decisions relating to therapy before court proceedi…
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it now has any plans to set up specialised domestic abuse courts.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is committed to implementing the Action Plan in the<I> National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland</I>. This will include a review of legislation and legal processes. A working group has recently been set up to consider this…
9 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what treatment programmes are currently operated by the Scottish Prison Service for convicted perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>There are a range of programmes/activities available for offenders to enable them to address their offending behaviour. Although not all offen…
8 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time has been for giving (a) substantive answers to all written parliamentary questions and (b) substantive answers to written parliamentary questions which received a holding answer, since May 1999.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the light of the provisions of the Parliament's Standing Orders, ministers aim to answer parliamentary questions for written answer within 14 days (or 28 days for those lodg…
18 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the reasons for rape cases failing to reach court and what reasons were highlighted by any such research.
Answer · Iain Gray: Research completed in 1999 followed a sample of sex offence cases, which included complaints of rape, retrospectively through each stage of the criminal justice system from the first report of the incident to its outcome. The research found no overriding reas…
18 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rapes were reported in the last year for which figures are available and how many convictions were obtained, broken down by police area and division.
Answer · Iain Gray: The available information, on the 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 tables:<P>Crimes of rape recorded by the police and persons with a charg…
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enlist the assistance of organisations such as Open Secret, Women's Aid and Zero Tolerance in the training of professionals such as judges, the police, teachers, local authorities and housing associations who come into contact with those who have experienced domestic …
Answer · Margaret Curran: The National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland will consider these matters in due course.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people (a) applied for refuge accommodation, (b) received such accommodation and (c) were refused a place in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Margaret Curran: This information is not held centrally. Scottish Women's Aid Annual Reports provide a breakdown of requests for and provision of, information, support and refuge for each affiliated local group.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available for the furnishing, running and staffing of new refuge places.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Refuge Development Programme is providing £10 million for capital projects to increase and improve refuge provision. This may include furnishing. Funding for revenue costs are the responsibility of the local authorities.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend programmes such as the Domestic Violence Probation Project in Edinburgh and Midlothian and the Fergus Project in Angus to other areas of Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: Criminal justice social work services are provided by groupings of local authorities and they are currently finalising their strategic plans for the period 2002-05. A number of these plans include proposals for domestic violence programmes. The bids for Execu…
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects dealing with children who abuse other children it is currently funding.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are a wide range of services run by local authorities, health trusts and the voluntary sector which include provision for tackling sexually aggressive and abusing behaviour by children. There are also services dealing with non-sexual abuse by children. …
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been funded into children who abuse other children.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: <I>A Chance to Change: An Intervention With Young People Who Have Sexually Abused Others,</I> was published in 1997 and summarised research into a project for children who had sexually abused other children. The research was jointly funded by the Scottish Off…
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out on the development of teaching programmes and in-service teacher training in respect of violence against women.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The breadth of primary and secondary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes does not permit detailed consideration of any one topic. The 1998 Guidelines, with which all courses of initial teacher education must comply, contain a set of competences which t…
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out on the development of curriculum materials relating to violence against women as set out in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is working with the Zero Tolerance Trust to make its "Respect" package available to schools. As stated in my reply to question S1W-18518 on 9 October 2001, the Scottish Executive is currently awaiting the final evaluation of the pilot p…
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how organisations are being monitored to ensure that good practice guidelines and service standards in respect of domestic abuse are being put into practice as set out in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: This is a matter for the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland to consider in due course.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of all current legislation relating to domestic abuse as set out in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland will be completed and what plans it has to bring forward proposals following this review.
Answer · Margaret Curran: As stated in my answer to question S1W-19069, a working group to review legislation is currently being established. It is expected to take about three months to complete its review. Further action will then be considered.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to evaluate the progress of its domestic abuse strategy.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The <I>National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland</I> will be reviewed in 2003 in accordance with the quantitative and qualitative measures described in the strategy.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the annual progress report of the National Group on Domestic Abuse will be published.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland first met in June 2001. Its annual report will therefore be prepared in June 2002.
12 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what groups have been set up by the National Group on Domestic Abuse in Scotland to explore particular issues relating to domestic abuse as recommended in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland and what the membership and remit of each group is.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Three working groups are currently being established, each chaired by a member of the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Keir Bloomer will chair a group to produce a Prevention Strategy. Sheriff Pamela Bowman will chair a …
25 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12714 by Jackie Baillie on 5 February 2001, what the outcome has been of its evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust's "Respect" educational project.
Answer · Margaret Curran: A draft evaluation report on the "Respect" educational pilot has been received by the department and is being considered prior to its completion. Subject to this it would then be intended to publish it as well as using it to inform future policy and…