Lewis Macdonald

23 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided for cycling in each year since 2007 and will provide in 2013-14.

Answer · Keith Brown: Funding for Cycling 2007-08 to 2013-14 Grant (m) 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 CWSS 9.090 9.09 9.09 9.09 7.458 6.069 5.577 School Travel Coordinators (now in LA settlement) 1.050 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N…

12 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial engagements the First Minister carried out in the City of Aberdeen in the period 14 to 18 June 2013 and, as specified in section 9.20 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, on what date(s) the constituency and regional members for the area were informed of these.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister undertook one ministerial engagement, in Aberdeen, in this period. On Monday 17 June he announced that the Scottish Government would donate £100,000 to the Pound for Piper Memorial Trust to help maintain a memorial garden to the victims of …

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) correspondence it has had with the UK Government since April 2012 regarding (i) the Aberdeen Coastguard and (ii) coastguard management in Scotland, what matters were considered and who participated.

Answer · Keith Brown: Since April 2012, Scottish Ministers have written to the UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport three times, and once to the Chair of the UK Parliament Transport Committee regarding the UK Government’s modernisation of the Coastguard. Scottis…

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the FDA union regarding the impact of workload pressure on staff of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: COPFS enjoys productive partnership working agreements with both FDA and PCS Trade Unions. A variety of regular meetings occur with TUS representatives including monthly meetings with senior management board members at which workload and staffing matters are …

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is taking to address allegations of bullying in the organisation.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: COPFS Fair Treatment at Work Policy highlights the rights and responsibilities of all employees in relation to fair treatment and re-iterates our organisational values, ‘Being Professional and Showing Respect’. The policy was last reviewed in 2012 and all our…

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been issued to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff regarding the prioritising of high court cases since April 2007.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: A number of factors inform the priority with which high court cases are prepared within COPFS. COPFS staff work to strict time limits imposed by the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 both where accused persons are remanded in custody awaiting trial and …

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many sheriff court trials have been (a) abandoned and (b) delayed in each month since April 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within twenty days.

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of ad hoc assistance has been provided by legal staff not normally employed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each month since April 2007.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: Since 2010 COPFS has had a practice of offering fixed term contracts to legal staff not normally employed by COPFS rather than daily ad hoc assistance. This allows COPFS to better manage situations where cover has been required for permanent staff as a result…

31 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) permanent and (b) temporary legal staff have been employed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each month since April 2007.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: The following table shows the breakdown as requested. Trainee Solicitors are normally employed on a fixed term basis for a period of two years.   Legal Staffing Figures (FTE):               Date Permanent Fixed Term Trainee Solicitors Total 0…

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, how it has calculated any reduction in the Scottish Court Service’s anticipated income from (a) fiscal direct penalties and (b) police antisocial behaviour penalties in 2013-14 as a result of the closure of 16 Justice of the Peace courts.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Scottish Court Service’s anticipated income from (a) fiscal direct penalties and (b) police antisocial behaviour penalties in 2013-14 will be lost as a result of the closure of 16 Justice of the Peace courts.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the income generated for the Scottish Court Service by (a) fiscal direct penalties and (b) police antisocial behaviour penalties is calculated.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much income (a) Justice of the Peace court fines, (b) fiscal direct penalties and (c) police antisocial behaviour penalties generated for the Scottish Court Service in 2012-13 and are expected to generate in 2013-14.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

12 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, how it has calculated any reduction in the Scottish Court Service’s anticipated income from (a) fiscal direct penalties and (b) police antisocial behaviour penalties in 2013-14 as a result of the closure of 16 Justice of the Peace courts.

12 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Scottish Court Service’s anticipated income from (a) fiscal direct penalties and (b) police antisocial behaviour penalties in 2013-14 will be lost as a result of the closure of 16 Justice of the Peace courts.

12 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the income generated for the Scottish Court Service by (a) fiscal direct penalties and (b) police antisocial behaviour penalties is calculated.

12 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much income (a) Justice of the Peace court fines, (b) fiscal direct penalties and (c) police antisocial behaviour penalties generated for the Scottish Court Service in 2012-13 and are expected to generate in 2013-14.

4 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15091 by Alasdair Allan on 30 May 2013, whether Education Scotland's role at the institution will change as a result of the Scottish Prison Service's initiative, Improving Life Chances for Young People, and, if so, how.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Education Scotland’s role will not change in relation to Improving Life Chances for Young People. Education Scotland’s commitment to supporting Scottish Prison Service is to help build opportunities for learning and skills acquisition and development for youn…

30 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Scottish Legal Aid Board to report back with its findings on the development of proposals for contracting with criminal legal aid suppliers.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15388 on 14 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

30 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it had contact with the Scottish Legal Aid Board regarding the development of proposals for contracting with criminal legal aid suppliers prior to the publication of the report, A Sustainable Future for Legal Aid.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15388 on 14 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

30 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the Scottish Legal Aid Board regarding the development of proposals for contracting with criminal legal aid suppliers.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15388 on 14 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

30 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what instructions it gave to the Scottish Legal Aid Board when asking it to develop proposals for contracting with criminal legal aid suppliers.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15388 on 14 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

30 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it first asked the Scottish Legal Aid Board to develop proposals for contracting with criminal legal aid suppliers.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The issue of contracting is not a new one, and the Scottish Legal Aid Board has a statutory duty to keep the legal system under review and report to Ministers. Most recently, the Board has been looking at this as one of a range of options for responding to f…

16 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what costs are involved in funding the work of Education Scotland in HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont and how those costs will be met.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Education Scotland has a role in offender learning so supporting this initiative is part of their core remit. As such, the costs are met from existing staffing budgets.

16 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Education Scotland will be responsible for (a) maintaining and (b) improving standards in education and training at HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont and, if so, what targets (i) it and (ii) the Scottish Prison Service has set for these.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Education Scotland will support the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to deliver the highest possible standards in education and training at HMYOI Polmont. Education Scotland and the SPS will work with a wide range of learning provider partners, including Carnegi…

16 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what services Education Scotland will provide at HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Education Scotland will provide relevant expertise, advice and guidance to Scottish Prison Service in relation to the range of learning opportunities available at HMYOI Polmont. The aim is to improve education, skills and life chances for young people in cust…

3 May 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Aberdeen and Dundee bids for UK City of Culture 2017.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am delighted that both Dundee and Aberdeen have bid to be the UK City of Culture 2017 which reflects the strength of arts and culture in the cities. However, as this is a UK Government scheme, the Scottish Government has not been involved in the bidding pro…

29 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what company the Scottish Prison Service has selected to provide the technology for its mobile phone blocking pilot and what others were considered in the selection process.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The procurement process for blocking equipment has not yet begun. The type of equipment to be used will be subject to a Memorandum of Under…

29 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Scottish Prison Service will launch its piloting of mobile phone blocking technology and which two prisons have been chosen for the pilot.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “We are not currently able to provide a definitive date for the introduction of this technology, but it is our intention to have the two pil…

26 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12627 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2013, what targets it (a) has set or (b) plans to introduce for prisoners (i) across the prison estate, (ii) in HMYOI Polmont and (iii) aged 15 to 17-years-old and what the reasons are for its position on this…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “In relation to targets, as I advised in response to question S4W-12628 on 26 February 2013, the delivery of purposeful activity in the Scot…