Michael Matheson

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations received grants for 2002-03 under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for the provision of services to disabled persons, stating the level of grant awarded.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A 2002-03 breakdown of grantoffers for the voluntary sector can be found on the Scottish Executive website at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/?pageID=379">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/?pageID=379</a>.This database includes grant offers for sec…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used for assessing grant applications under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: There is no generic guidanceavailable to organisations seeking grants under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland)Act 1968, as this is the legislative power used to provide funding from anumber of Scottish Executive programmes. Instead, individual departmen…

20 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been provided to each local authority in each of the last three years to meet the needs of carers, excluding the provision of respite care.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Under the Carers Strategy £10million a year has been provided to local authorities from April 2000 todevelop local services that support carers. The following table sets out theresources available to each local authority. Councils should be determining, inpar…

28 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any record of compliance with section 19(2)(b) of the Race Relations Act 1976 by companies operating public private partnerships.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Although the questionerrefers to section 19(2)(b) of the Race Relations Act 1976, the relevantScottish provision was section 19(3). The whole of section 19 of the 1976 actwas repealed by Schedule 3 of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 witheffect from 2 …

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which fire brigades have yet to complete the issuing of jubilee medals; what percentage of operational staff in each brigade are awaiting the issue of their jubilee medal, and when each brigade expects to complete issuing jubilee medals.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I understand that Grampian, Highland andIslands, and Strathclyde have yet to complete issuing the jubilee medal totheir operational staff. Some staff declined to receive a medal. The percentagestill awaiting medals is as follows: Grampian 11%; Highland andIsl…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which fire brigades have presented all their operational staff with the jubilee medal.

Answer · Hugh Henry: This is essentially a matterfor brigades. However, I understand that Central Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Lothianand Borders and Tayside have all issued operational staff with the jubileemedal.</p>

7 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-33964, S2W-1868 and S2O-422 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 February 2003 and Cathy Jamieson on 1 and 18 September 2003 respectively, whether it is considering any alteration of its contract with the operators of HM Prison Kilmarnock to increase the maximu…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>No. The contractual limit is considered by Scottish Prison Service to be at an appropriate level and provides best value for money.</p>

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1869 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2003, whether, as a result of the revision of baseline figures for HM Prison Kilmarnock's performance, any repayment has been made to the operators of the prison.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Yes, a repayment of £10,622 wasmade to Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited.</p>

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1869 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2003, why the baseline figures for HM Prison Kilmarnock's performance have been revised.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>The proportionate increaseto the baseline figures, to reflect the provision of additional prisoner places,was incorrect.</p>

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for not including in-cell showers in the design of the new Iona houseblock at HM Prison Polmont.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond.  His response is asfollows:</p><p>It is not current SPS policyto provide in-cell showers in mainstream young offender accommodation atPolmont because it would increase…

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what body was responsible for the decision not to include in-cell showers in the design of the new Iona houseblock at HM Prison Polmont.

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 Scottish Prison Service.</p>

26 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the underspend in the Justice budget was for 2002-03 and under which budget headings the underspend took place.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The total net underspend forthe Justice budget for the financial year 2002-03 was £50 million. Detailed informationon the underspend and plans to allocate these resources in the current financialyear was sent to all members of Justice 1 and 2 Committees on 25…

17 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve road safety.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is addressing road safety through a wide variety of measures which involvevery substantial engineering, enforcement and education initiatives.</p>

5 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will start consultation on civil partnership registration.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has been carefully considering the issue of civil partnership registrationin recent months. The Department of Trade and Industry published a consultationpaper at the end of June on a possible civil partnership registration schemefor sam…

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1360 by Hugh Henry on 29 July 2003, how many nominations were made by the (a) Lord President for a High Court judge and (b) Convener of the Sheriffs principal group for the Sheriff Principal to sit on the Judicial Appointment Boards.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Lord President nominatedone judge from the group of 10 Inner House Judges. The convener of the SheriffsPrincipal nominated one Sheriff Principal from the group of six.</p>

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1360 by Hugh Henry on 29 July 2003, whether incumbent members of the Judicial Appointments Board will be involved in future interviews for membership of the board.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The current members of theJudicial Appointments Board have all been appointed until mid-2005. Decisionson replacing them will not be taken until late in 2004. I have no plans toinvite board members to play a part in choosing their successors.</p>

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1360 by Hugh Henry on 29 July 2003, who conducted the interviews for membership of the Judicial Appointments Board and how the interview panel was selected.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The process was carried outin accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for PublicAppointments. Interviews were conducted by the Rt Hon Lord Ross (the formerLord Justice Clerk), Mr Alastair Dempster (former Chief Executive of TSBScotland and a …

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training it offers to (a) lay and (b) legal members of the Judicial Appointments Board.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Judicial AppointmentsBoard is independent of ministers and is responsible for the training of itsown membership. During its first year of operation the board has taken a numberof steps to develop its role in the selection of suitable individuals forservic…

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the structure of criminal justice social work.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Our policy is laid out in <i>APartnership for a Better Scotland</i>. Itstates: “our policy is to publishproposals for consultation for a single agency to deliver custodial andnon-custodial sentences in Scotland with the aim of reducing reoffending rates”. We …

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of the performance targets of the Scottish Prison Service for each prison in each year since 1999-2000.

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>The information is notavailable in the form requested. Key performance indicators are set for the Scottish Prison Service as a whole a…

1 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the last four annual reports of the Scottish Prison Service have been published during a parliamentary recess and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It has been long standing governmentpolicy that agency annual reports and accounts should be published as soon aspossible after the end of the year to which they relate, following completionof the audit of the accounts. Since the establishment of the agency o…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by prison of the figures contained in the table in Appendix 6 of the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts 2002-03.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>The information requested in relation tobreaches of discipline and punishments in the year 2002-03 broken down byestablishments is provided i…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-25983 and S1W-32815 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 May 2002 and 13 January 2003 respectively, what information it has on the investigation by the police and whether the operators of HM Prison Kilmarnock are likely to accrue performance points in respect o…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>We understand that an Intermediate diet and trial date of 7<SUP> </SUP>October and 18<SUP> </SUP>October 2003 respectively have been set. The q…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-31154 and S1W-33899 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 November 2002 and 18 February 2003 respectively, what performance-related revenue deductions were incurred under the contract to operate HM Prison Kilmarnock by the prison's operator in the quarters Janua…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>This table includes somefigures which have been corrected since publication of the answer to question S1W-34453on 13 March 2003. Previous fig…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-34453 and S2W-50 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 February and Cathy Jamieson on 5 June 2003 respectively, what the quarterly baseline total, as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule F of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>The following table includessome figures which have been corrected since publication of the answer to questionS1W-34453 on 13 March 2003. Pre…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33964 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 February 2003, whether the maximum limit of 5% of contract price for performance revenue deduction, as referred to in the second paragraph of Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotl…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: <div class=Section1><p>I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p> </td> <td> <p>Quarter</p> <…

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-972 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 June 2003, by what process members of the Judicial Appointments Board are appointed and who appoints them.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The lay members of the board were appointed after public advertisement and interview. Three of the five legal members were also interviewed. The High Court judge was nominated by the Lord President. The Sheriff Principal was nominated by the convener of the S…

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-972 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 June 2003, what interests members of the Judicial Appointments Board are required to declare and whether any such declaration of interests is available for public examination.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Members are required to declare any conflict of interest which may affect prejudicially their performance as members of the board. They are also asked to declare any political activity. Members have confirmed that they see no conflicts of interest and that no…

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-972 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 June 2003, for what period members of the Judicial Appointment Board are appointed.

Answer · Hugh Henry: All members of the board, including the chair, were appointed for three years in the first instance.

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-972 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 June 2003, whether it intends to establish the Judicial Appointments Board on a statutory basis.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Ministers have made clear since the inception of the board that it was their intention to place it on a statutory footing after a period of experience of working administratively. That remains the Executive's policy.