Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19545 by Colin Boyd QC on 25 October 2005, what the criteria are for opposing bail in respect of the offences listed in the question; at what level of seniority the decision is made; whether any record is made of whether or not the opposition to bail…
Answer · Colin Boyd: In determining whether to oppose bail, the Crown must act in a manner compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires a balancing of the rights of individuals and the presumption of innocence with the interests of the community in gene…
15 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what each NHS board’s annual budget has been since 1999 for the promotion of grassroots sports or the involvement of youngsters in a healthy lifestyle through sports participation.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
15 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual advertising budget for health promotion and awareness schemes has been since 1999, showing the percentage share given to (a) grassroots sports organisations and (b) advertising agencies and media companies.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-26485 on 3 July 2002 providing information on advertising spend by the Scottish Office/Scottish Executive Departments from 1991-92 to 2001-02.</p> <p>For information on the Scottish Executive’s advertising spen…
15 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) sectarian, (b) Orange Order and (c) republican marches have been held in each local authority area annually since 1997, showing the (a) number of arrests at, and (b) cost of policing, the marches.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: These figures are not held centrally. Sir John Orr’s report of the Review of Marches and Parades in Scotland was published in January and included recommendations on maintaining records on the number of processions held and associated policing costs. We are c…
14 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to advertise, or has given any consideration to advertising, the Fresh Talent initiative, or any other scheme designed to attract visitors, workers or investment into Scotland, on BBC World and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer · Tom McCabe: We have no current plans to advertise the Fresh Talent initiative on BBC World. However, as we take forward our activity to promote the initiative, we will consider all appropriate communication channels, including BBC World.</p>
11 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum number of prisoners is that HM Prison Kilmarnock is contracted to take.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p>Six hundred and twenty-nine.</p>
7 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the savings would be of moving to (a) three and (b) five police forces and, if such information is not available, what information it has on the potential savings of reducing the number of police forces in operation.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have no current plans to rationalise police forces in Scotland, and consequently have no estimates of the potential resource implications involved in reducing the number of police forces in operation.</p>
7 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners suffered from, or presented with, (a) mental health problems, (b) dyslexia, (c) other literacy problems, (d) numeracy problems, (e) alcoholism or drink-related problems, (f) drug addiction or substance abuse, (g) homelessness and (h) debt or financial problems in each y…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p>(a) This information is not available.</p><p>(b) This information is not available.</p><p>(c) and (d) </p><p>Not all prisoners are s…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the police have spent investigating road accidents in each month since 1999, broken down by constabulary.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of (a) public and (b) private sector workers who have left Scotland for employment elsewhere in each year since 1999.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Information on the number ofworkers, split by public and private sector, who have left Scotland foremployment elsewhere is not held centrally.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional staff have been employed in the fire and rescue services as a direct result of the new dimension programme.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The purpose of the new dimensionprogramme in Scotland is to improve overall fire and rescue service capabilityand resilience to deal with major incidents, including terrorist-related incidents,and relatively less serious incidents which may occur. The program…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional equipment has been given to fire and rescue services to deal with terrorist incidents.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Since 2004, details of equipmentprovided to fire and rescue services have been included in the <i>Annual Reportsof Her Majesty’s Fire Services Inspectorate</i>. A copy of the reports for the reportingyears 2002-03 and 2003-04 are available in the Scottish Par…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will afford full liability insurance cover to fire and rescue service personnel attending terrorist incidents, given that the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 places a legal requirement on fire and rescue authorities to attend terrorist incidents.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Dependant on the circumstancesof an individual, the Firefighters Pension Scheme and the Scheme of Conditions ofService for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services provide lump sums of up toseven times pensionable pay in the event of death and up to 85% of sa…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who advises it on fire service matters, following the abolition of the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council.
Answer · Hugh Henry: In addition to consulting a wide range of stakeholders on specific fire and rescue service issues, the Scottish ministers have the benefit of advice prepared by HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services in Scotland.</p> <p>The Scottish Executive has consulted widel…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being carried out to improve the recruitment and retention of staff in the retained duty system in each fire and rescue authority and what support this work receives from central government.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Recruitment and retention ofstaff is primarily a matter for individual fire and rescue authorities and jointfire and rescue board. The Scottish Executive provides central funding, supportand guidance. This has included two independent research programmes on i…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are in the retained duty system in each fire and rescue authority.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommended number of firefighters required is to deal with a (a) house fire and (b) fire in a multi-storey block.
Answer · Hugh Henry: It is for individual fire andrescue services to determine the weight and speed of operational response to incidentsin their areas, in the context of their Integrated Risk Management Plan. In doingso, fire and rescue services take cognisance of relevant nation…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the standard attendance time is for the first fire engine to arrive at a house fire in each fire and rescue authority.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not heldcentrally. Individual fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boardsinclude target attendance times within their Integrated Risk Management Plans, whichare subject to wide consultation before they are implemented. Ind…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what stage each fire and rescue authority’s integrated risk management plan is and what the projected dates are for completing each stage.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The introduction of IntegratedRisk Management Plans (IRMPs) took effect from April 2005. All fire and rescue authoritiesand joint fire and rescue boards have completed the compilation of, and consultationon, their initial IRMPs, which are now being implemente…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a freeze has been put on spending on existing fire control rooms pending a decision on their future and, if so, when this freeze was implemented.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has notplaced a “freeze” on investment in emergency fire control rooms. Decisions on investmentin individual control rooms are primarily a matter for fire and rescue authoritiesand joint fire and rescue boards.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when each fire control room was last upgraded and what the expected lifespan of each upgrade was.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. Equipment required within a control room to discharge statutory and operational requirements is upgraded by individual fire and rescue authorities or joint fire and rescue boards as and when required, in order to mainta…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has been consulted as part of the further consultation on the future of emergency fire control rooms.
Answer · Hugh Henry: We have been undertaking further work in respect of the issues raised in response to the consultation exercise on this issue. Ministers are considering a number of options and I will report the conclusions to Parliament in due course, consulting other stakeho…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected lifespan is of each emergency fire control room.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. The lifespan of control room equipment varies and will reflect periodic upgrading by individual fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boards in order to ensure that statutory and operational requirements…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made in respect of proposals to amalgamate emergency fire control rooms.
Answer · Hugh Henry: We have been undertakingfurther work in respect of the issues raised in response to the consultationexercise on this issue. Ministers are considering a number of options and Iwill report the conclusions to Parliament in due course.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been recruited to the fire and rescue services under the new procedure of multi-tier entry and accelerated promotion, broken down by equality strand.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This is primarily a matter for fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boards. Procedures for promoting multi-tier entry to uniformed roles will be considered further once the change from a rank-based structure to a role-based structure (the Int…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what advice it was decided to move to multi-tier entry and accelerated promotion system in the fire and rescue services in order to move towards greater diversity in the services.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The need to review a range of cultural and leadership matters, including appointments and promotion, within the fire and rescue services was highlighted by several reports and thematic reviews, including <i>The Independent Review of the Fire Service</i> publi…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken in respect of equality issues within the fire and rescue services.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Measures taken include:</p> <p>The revision, and later repeal, of the regulations in respect of appointments and promotion, and the consequent facilitation of the Integrated Personal Development system and multi-tier entry to the Fire and Rescue Service</p><p…
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets the fire and rescue authorities have set for recruitment of (a) uniformed and (b) non-uniformed (i) female, (ii) black and ethnic minority and (iii) lesbian, gay and transsexual staff and when these targets must be met.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This is a matter forindividual fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boards, notthe Scottish Executive.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) uniformed and (b) non-uniformed lesbian, gay or transsexual personnel are employed in the fire and rescue services in (i) retained posts, (ii) wholetime posts, (iii) emergency fire control rooms and (iv) volunteer and auxiliary posts.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally.</p>
31 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) uniformed and (b) non-uniformed black and ethnic minority personnel are employed in the fire and rescue services in (i) retained posts, (ii) wholetime posts, (iii) emergency fire control rooms and (iv) volunteer and auxiliary posts.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20182 on 9 November 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…