Parliamentary questions

Kenny MacAskill

2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its target number is in respect of the number of police officers per head of population in (a) urban and (b) rural areas.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has no such targets. The recruitment and deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. However, the levels of police grant aided expenditure have been set so that they are sufficient to maintain the reco…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the net expenditure on policing has been in each year since 1979, expressed in real terms at today’s prices and broken down by police force area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>(£ millIon)</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Central</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Dumfries & Galloway</p> </td…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of reported crimes were (a) injured and (b) killed by knives or other bladed weapons in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information available centrally relates to homicide victims killed by a sharp instrument. Figures for the period 1999 to 2003 are given in the following table. Information on the number of victims of reported crimes injured by knives or other bladed weap…

24 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what catagories of offences have been dealt with by way of a fixed penalty or fiscal fine in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) offence and (b) sheriff court.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information on police conditional offers of fixed penalties for moving vehicle offences and police fixed penalty notices for stationary vehicle offences is given in the following tables. The information held by Crown Office in respect of fiscal …

24 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information or reports it or its agencies have regarding the relationship between poverty and imprisonment; whether such information is, or will be, published, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A report <i>Reducing re-offending by ex-prisoners (Social Exclusion Unit, London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)</i> was published in July 2002 Following publication of that report, the Scottish Prison Service commissioned similar work to be undertaken …

24 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders have been imprisoned as a result of fine defaults and how many nights were spent in prison by (a) male, (b) female, (c) youth and (d) adult fine defaulters in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The available information is given in tables 29, 29A, 29B, 32, 32A and 32B of <i>Prison Statistics Scotland, 2003</i> published by the Scot…

24 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or regulations there are in respect of social workers dealing with children and families and, in particular, on the level at which decisions should be taken.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Three volumes of Regulations and Guidance on the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 were published in 1997. They cover:</p><p>Volume 1 – Support and Protection for Children and Their Families.</p><p>Volume 2 – Children Looked After by Local Authorities.</p><p>Volum…

23 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of (a) housebreaking, (b) theft of a motor vehicle, (c) shoplifting, (d) fraud and (e) other theft have been committed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The requested information isshown in the following tables, with the exception of the number of frauds from1999 to 2002, for which I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1081answered on 22 July 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questio…

23 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of (a) rape and attempted rape, (b) indecent assault and (c) lewd and indecent behaviour have been committed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The requested information is given in the following tables.</p><h4>Crimes of Rape and Attempted Rape Recorded by The Police by Council Area, 1999 to 2003.</h4><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=487> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Council Area</p> …

22 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) illegal importation of drugs offences, (b) illegal cultivation of drugs offences, (c) offences of possession of drugs with intent to supply, (d) offences of possession of drugs, (e) drug money laundering and related offences and (f) other drugs offences have been committed in…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: For information from 1999 to 2001 on the numbers of crimes of illegal importation of drugs, illegal cultivation of drugs and possession of drugs with intent to supply, I refer the member to the question S1W-30310 answered on 18 October 2002. For the equivalen…

22 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) crimes against public justice and (b) drugs offences have been committed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following tables .</p><h4>Crimes Against Public Justice, Recorded by the Police by Council Area, 1999 to 2003</h4><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Council Area</p> …

22 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of (a) dangerous and careless driving, (b) drink driving, (c) speeding and (d) unlawful use of a vehicle have been committed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is shown in the following tables.</p><p>Offences of Dangerous and Careless Driving Recorded by the Police by Council Area, 1999-2003</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Council Area</p> </td…

22 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1087 by Hugh Henry on 23 July 2003, how many offences of (a) petty assault, (b) breach of the peace and (c) drunkenness were committed in 2003, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table .</p><p>Crimes of Petty Assault, Breach of the Peace and Drunkenness Recorded by the Police by Council Area, 2003</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Council Are…

22 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of police officers was probationers in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on probationers is not held centrally. The probationary period for most officers lasts two years. Some officers have their probation extended, while others leave the force before their probation ends. The numbers of officers recruited in each year…

22 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of costs it has incurred for contracting out the work of parliamentary draftsmen to private legal firms in each year since 1999.

Answer · Margaret Curran: No costs associated with contracting out drafting of Scottish Executive legislation have been incurred in any year since 1999 as Scottish Executive Bills have in all cases been prepared in the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel (OSPC) within the Sco…

19 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many parliamentary counsel it has employed in each year since 1999 and what plans it has to recruit more counsel.

Answer · Tom McCabe: In each of the years 1999 to 2004 the maximum numbers of parliamentary counsel employed in the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel (OSPC) was as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>1999</p> </td> <td> <p>8</p> …

19 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria have been issued to local authorities regarding the standard of pitches to be included in PPP/PFI projects; what specific directions have been given with regard to synthetic/artificial turf; whether directions will be updated to ensure that pitches meet FIFA specified standa…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not issue advice or collect information on pitches. The inclusion of pitches or other playing field facilities in school building projects, whether through PPP or other forms of procurement, is a matter for local authorities. <b>Sp…

19 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11897 by Ms Patricia Ferguson on 18 November 2004, which football clubs have benefited from, and what funding has been allocated under, the Building for Sport programme since inception.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Since the establishment of the Building for Sport programme on 1 May 2004, only Kyleakin Football Club has received an award (£46,186) for a new playing field. Over the years 2003–07 of <b>sport</b>scotland’s Lottery Distribution Strategy, details of which ca…

15 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9341 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 July 2004, how many unrepresented accused persons have conducted their own trial in sheriff courts since April 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=right> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>April to October 2004</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td> <p>Aberdeen<…

15 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11049 by Hugh Henry on 8 November 2004, how much was paid for acts of criminal legal assistance (a) in total and (b) to the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office (PDSO), broken down into (i) solemn and (ii) summary legal aid and (iii) advice by way of re…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The table shows expenditure on Criminal Legal Aid broken down into the main expenditure types, the total cost of Criminal Legal Assistance and the total cost of the PDSO for each of the last five years.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead>…

15 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11708 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 November 2004, whether it considers that the position whereby the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office (PDSO) in Edinburgh has an allocated percentage of the custody court duty plan in Edinburgh constitutes an automatic righ…

Answer · Hugh Henry: No. Solicitors acting as duty solicitor, whether from the PDSO or a private firm, will act for any person held in custody who requests their services. This does not restrict the freedom of any individual to choose a solicitor to act for him or her. </p><p>The…

11 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor and review the implementation of children’s hearing decisions and the effectiveness of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

Answer · Euan Robson: It is the statutory duty of local authorities to give effect to the decisions made by the children’s hearings. The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 allows local authorities to be held to account where they have not complied with that duty. The Sc…