Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-01594 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2012 (Official Report, c.14637), what powers currently held by the Department of Work and Pensions it considers would help it improve the collection of fiscal direct penalties.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Court Service (SCS) is responsible for collecting unpaid fines and penalties in Scotland and to do so often requires them to access information about a known offender held by other public sector bodies. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) …
13 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-01594 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2012 (Official Report, c.14637), on what basis it has calculated that 78% of the fines imposed in 2009-10 have been, or are on track to be, paid.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The latest quarterly fines report published by the Scottish Court Service reports that 78% of the total value of Fiscal direct penalties imposed in 2009-10 has either been paid or is on track to be paid. This is an increase of 3 percentage points on the rates…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it changed the key performance indicator for sheriff court trials from the percentage completed within 20 to within 26 weeks, and whether any further changes are planned.
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.
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the results of any consultation that was held prior to deciding to amend section 16 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Our proposed changes to the law in this area will clarify the existing powers of courts in the area of consecutive sentencing. As such, they will not represent a change in sentencing policy and we do not plan to consult formally on these. We have already disc…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whom it consulted before deciding to amend section 16 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Our proposed changes to the law in this area will clarify the existing powers of courts in the area of consecutive sentencing. As such, they will not represent a change in sentencing policy and we do not plan to consult formally, though we will consider caref…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the decision to amend section 16 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 was prompted by concerns arising from a particular case or cases.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have decided to clarify the law concerning consecutive sentencing for offenders who commit a further offence having been released from prison prior to their sentence end date following general concerns being expressed by justice stakeholders that the law i…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its decision to amend section 16 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 was taken in response to advice from the Lord President.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have decided to clarify the law concerning consecutive sentencing for offenders who commit a further offence having been released from prison prior to their sentence end date following some concerns being expressed that the law in this area is not as clear…
3 Dec 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fiscal direct penalties have been discharged without having been fully paid since 2009.
3 Dec 2012 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people appeared in court without legal representation on 3 December 2012 as a result of protest action by defence solicitors in Aberdeen, Forfar, Arbroath, Dundee, Perth, Alloa, Falkirk and Dunfermline.
26 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the business rates incentivisation scheme will allow a local authority to retain 50% of any additional non-domestic rates that it raises beyond a set annual target.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The business rates incentivisation scheme allows local authorities to retain 50% of any additional non-domestic rates income over and above their agreed annual targets. The 2012-13 targets are currently subject to review and final agreement with COSLA.
26 Nov 2012 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what changes it will make in relation to people who have been released from prison early and then reoffend before the end of their original sentence.
19 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether representatives of the Scottish Police Authority have participated in meetings between officials from the Directorate for Justice and organisers of independent custody visiting schemes regarding plans for independent custody visiting and, if so, when.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. However, officials held an initial meeting on this issue with newly appointed representatives of the Scottish Police Authority on 21 November 2012.
19 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will make a decision on the operation of the independent custody visiting scheme and when it will make this available to the (a) Scottish Police Authority, (b) chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland and (c) Parliament.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As I said in response to the member’s question S4W-10175, answered on 2 November 2012, decisions on the administration and operation of the custody visiting scheme will be a matter for the Scottish Police Authority. All answers to written parliamentary quest…
19 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings officials from the Directorate for Justice have had with organisers of independent custody visiting schemes since January 2012 regarding the management of independent custody under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and on what dates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Officials have met organisers of the present custody visiting schemes on five occasions in 2012 to date. These meetings took place on 26 January; 24 February; 27 February; 25 June; and 23 October 2012.
19 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings officials from the Directorate for Justice have had with organisers of independent custody visiting schemes since May 2007 and on what dates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10174 on 2 November 2012. 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/parliamentar…
19 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase access to college courses for senior school pupils.
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many CCTV cameras have been in operation in each year since 2007 broken down by (a) local authority and (b) police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not routinely gathered centrally. The references provided below apply to public space CCTV provision and not to all CCTV cameras in any given area. Cameras not included in these references might be in a variety of locations and operated by…
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process will be for setting the Police Service of Scotland’s 2013-14 budget.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As set out in Section 3 (c) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 the Scottish Police Authority must before the beginning of the each financial year, provide to the chief constable details of how it intends to allocate the financial resources it e…
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of police officers has carried out operational roles for (a) 100%, (b) at least 50% and (c) under 50% of their working hours in each year since 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. This would be a matter for chief constables.
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what police roles are classified as operational and whether the classification for any of these roles will change when the Police Service of Scotland becomes operational.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the classification of police roles. This would be a matter for chief constables. It will be for the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland to decide on the deployment of constables and staff in t…
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used to assess the Police Service of Scotland’s performance.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish ministers will set strategic police priorities for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), which will be reflected in the SPA’s strategic plan. Her majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary for Scotland has been reviewing the Scottish policing performance …
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) Scottish Police Authority or (b) chief constable will determine the size of the Police Service of Scotland’s fleet of police cars.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Authority and the chief constable will determine such matters, taking into account the operational needs of the service and the resources available.
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) Scottish Police Authority or (b) chief constable will be responsible for terms and conditions of the Police Service of Scotland’s (i) officers and (ii) civilian staff.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The terms and conditions of police officers are set out in regulations made under Section 48 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and are subject to negotiation through the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). The Scottish Police Authority and the chi…
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Authority will have responsibility for how the Police Service of Scotland deploys civilian staff.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As set out at Section 17 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the chief constable has direction and control of the Police service of Scotland and is responsible for its day to day administration.
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Authority will be the employer of the Police Service of Scotland’s officers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As office holders police constables are not employees. The Scottish Police Authority will pay police officers’ pay, allowances and expenses under Section 3 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
15 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Authority will (a) administer and (b) distribute the budget of the Police Service of Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Authority has overall responsibility for administering the budget for the police service of Scotland. As set out at Section 17 (b) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 the chief constable is responsible for the day to day admi…
12 Nov 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans that the Scottish Energy Skills Academy, as stated by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, will be anchored in the north east of Scotland.
12 Nov 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the purpose is of the Scottish Government's proposed changes to criminal legal aid.
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Futures Trust grouped the applications for tax incremental financing pilot projects according to scale or content and how the shortlisted applications were grouped.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. All the 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/parliamen…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what feedback each local authority received regarding the criteria used to select the tax incremental financing pilot projects.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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/parliamentary…