Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it plans to do to increase conviction rates for human trafficking, given that there are no current convictions for trafficking in Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have a comprehensive strategy in place to tackle this crime, set out in the <i >UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, </i>published jointly by the Scottish Government and Home Office. The action plan was most recently updated on the 19 October and …
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by the multi-agency group, led by Strathclyde Police, covering all aspects of security for the 2014 Commonwealth Games on identifying victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation during the construction phase.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28984 on 24 November 2009. 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/App…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how often the multi-agency group, led by Strathclyde Police, covering all aspects of security for the 2014 Commonwealth Games meets.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28984 on 24 November 2009. 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/App…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the multi-agency group, led by Strathclyde Police, covering all aspects of security for the 2014 Commonwealth Games last met.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28984, on 24 November 2009. 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/Ap…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28500 by Shona Robison on 6 November 2009, what the outcome was of considerations on human trafficking during the construction phase by the multi-agency group, led by Strathclyde Police, covering all aspects of security for the 2014 Commonwealth Game…
Answer · Shona Robison: The multi-agency group is a liaison group established by Strathclyde Police B Division (Glasgow East), to consider potential security issues, including human trafficking which may arise a result of the games construction programme in that area (i.e. the NISA/…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the list of lead applicants, including details of project titles and towns, who submitted unsuccessful applications to the second tranche of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is our intention to publish details of unsuccessful projects across both rounds of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund including the lead applicant, project title and relevant towns. We will aim to do so by the middle of December 2009. Details will be made a…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have disputed information from a criminal record check carried out by Disclosure Scotland since 2002, broken down by whether the dispute was based on (a) identity, (b) accuracy or (c) irrelevancy.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Between 28 April 2002 and 31 October 2009, Disclosure Scotland has issued 4,285,762 disclosure certificates. There have been 1,824 disputes about the content of certificates during that period, and 1,054 disputes have been upheld. In all cases where a dispute…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to concerns that a Scottish Policing Board would infringe on the legal functions of the tripartite arrangement.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The foundation document agreed at its first meeting set out a number of guiding principles for the Scottish Policing Board. These include a commitment that the board will occupy a new role and not duplicate work already done by existing bodies, and will recog…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all police authorities and joint boards will have representation on the Scottish Policing Board.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police authorities and joint boards will be represented by the chair of the police authorities'' conveners'' forum and three other nominated conveners.</p>
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Policing Board will have the power to set (a) policies, (b) strategies and (c) standards for police forces.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The role of the Scottish Policing Board is to be a forum for collective discussion and agreement on key strategic issues for policing in Scotland. Further detail on the remit of the board is given in the Scottish Policing Board foundation document, which was …
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Scottish Policing Board will meet following its first meeting.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The second meeting of the board is scheduled for 27 January 2010. The board will meet again in March or April, and thereafter is expected to meet quarterly.</p>
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the first meeting of the Scottish Policing Board will take place.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Policing Board met for the first time on 23 November 2009.</p>
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement in the report, Model-Based Appraisal of Alcohol Minimum Pricing and Off-Licensed Trade Discount Bans in Scotland: A Scottish adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 2, that a 40p minimum alcohol price is estimated to reduce chronic illnesses amon…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The alcohol-related chronic conditions that are included within the Sheffield model for Scotland are shown in the following table, and cover wholly and partly attributable chronic conditions. The Scottish Government does not hold data on how the estimated 14 …
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement in the report, Model-Based Appraisal of Alcohol Minimum Pricing and Off-Licensed Trade Discount Bans in Scotland: A Scottish adaptation of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 2, that a 40p minimum alcohol price is estimated to reduce chronic hospital admis…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The alcohol-related chronic conditions that are included within the Sheffield model for Scotland are shown in the following table, and cover wholly and partly attributable chronic conditions. The Scottish Government does not hold data on how the estimated 25 …
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of alcohol-related hospital admissions was repeat admissions in 2007-08, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The number of repeat admissions for patients with an alcohol-related diagnosis, by NHS board of treatment in 2007-08 is shown in the table below. </p> <p >ISD has recently carried out an in-depth review of its core alcohol-related code set as a result the co…
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much each rape crisis centre has received from the Rape Crisis Specific Fund in each of the last three years.
Answer · Alex Neil: Rape crisis centres have received funding as follows from the Rape Crisis Specific Fund in the last three years.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Rape Crisis Centre</p> </td> …
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a formal announcement on the future of the Bus Route Development Grant.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The concordat between the Scottish Government and COSLA, published on 14 November 2007, shows at Annex B that Bus Route Development Grant is one of the funding streams to be incorporated into the local government finance settlement from 2008-09 onwards. A cop…
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Bus Route Development Grant is still available to fund improvements to commercial bus services.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Bus Route Development Grant (BRDG) is still available to fund improvements to commercial bus services but is now a matter for local government. Under the concordat between the Scottish Government and COSLA, responsibility and funding for BRDG were transfe…
12 Nov 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for personal licences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 remain outstanding.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I would like to congratulate the trade, licensing boards and the police for the work they have undertaken to implement the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Based on information from 28 licensing boards as at 26 October 2009, 27,357 personal licences have been g…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the population of sentenced female prisoners was as of 30 June 2008 and how many of them were incarcerated for (a) non-violent and (b) violent offences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >There were 232 convicted female adults and 26 convicted female young offenders in custody on 30 June 2008. It is not possible to ascertai…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many women aged (a) 16 to 20, (b) 21 to 30, (c) 31 to 40, (d) 41 to 50, (e) 51 to 60 and (f) 61 and over were given custodial sentences in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Females Given a Custodial Sentence by Police Force and Age<sup>1</sup>, 1998-99 To 2007-08</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=109 valign=bottom…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum fine was for possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy, (d) cannabis and (e) amphetamines in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons Fined for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, by Drug Type and Maximum Fine (£), 1999-2000 To 2007-08<sup></sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average fine was for possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy, (d) cannabis and (e) amphetamines in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Average (Mean) Fine (£) for Persons Fined for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, by Drug Type, 1999-2000 To 2007-08<sup>2</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing cannabis received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, Drug Type Cannabis, 1999-2000 To 2007-08<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> …
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing amphetamines received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, Drug Type Amphetamines, 1999-2000 To 2007-08<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing ecstasy received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, Drug Type Ecstasy, 1999-2000 To 2007-08<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing cocaine received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, Drug Type Cocaine, 1999-2000 To 2007-08<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing heroin received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons With a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences<sup>1</sup>, Drug Type Heroin, 1999-2000 to 2007-08<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <t…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of establishing a new Scottish Policing Board has been to date; how much the associated project team has cost to establish, and from where the funding has come.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There have been no additional costs associated with the establishment of the Scottish Policing Board. The project team required no new resource. It was drawn from existing members of staff from the Scottish Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers…
9 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle the problem of people being trafficked into or within Scotland for sex, particularly in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28500 on 6 November 2009. 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/App…