Questions · Robert Brown

9 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering proposing amendments to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill to bring Scots law into line with clause 14 of the Policing and Crime Bill for England and Wales, which is directed in particular at the problem of trafficking and will make it a strict li…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter which the government will consider in the light of the Justice Committee''s Stage 1 Report on the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill. We will conclude those considerations ahead of Stage 2 of the Bill and announce them in due cour…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to identify or ring fence resources specifically to identify and support women already trafficked into Scotland and Glasgow for sexual exploitation during the construction phase of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: 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/Apps…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to identify or ring fence resources specifically to prevent women being trafficked into Scotland and Glasgow for sexual exploitation during (a) the construction phase of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and (b) the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: 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/Apps…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has carried out to minimise opportunities for trafficking women into Scotland and Glasgow for sexual exploitation during (a) the construction phase of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and (b) the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is working closely with the police, other enforcement agencies and the UK Government to combat human trafficking generally. There is an element within the budget for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which covers all aspec…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is within its power to ban the selling of alcohol at below the cost of excise duty plus VAT and, if so, what mechanisms it could use to do so.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no evidence or modelling to suggest that banning the selling of alcohol at below the cost of excise duty and VAT would achieve our objective of protecting and improving public health. Since taxes are not fixed by reference to their anticipat…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the legality of proposals to ban the promotion of alcohol in off-sales premises.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 sets out a range of irresponsible drinks promotions which mean certain promotions of alcohol are already banned in licensed premises. Some of these apply to both on-sales premises and off-sales premises, whereas some apply to…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given 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 50p minimum alcohol price is estimated to reduce…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Minimum pricing is one of the most effective ways of reducing alcohol misuse and harm. The Sheffield modelling shows that health, crime and employment harms will all benefit from this policy. The estimated reduction in crime includes violent crime, c…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the finding in the 2008/09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: First Findings that victims in 58% of violent crimes stated that the offenders were under the influence of alcohol and what action it is taking to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are working with the Violence Reduction Unit to develop innovative approaches to tackling violence. Through our Safer Streets programme we are investing £400,000 in initiatives to address alcohol-fuelled violence in city and town centres over the winter mo…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether automatic number plate recognition cameras are used in Scotland to monitor vehicles associated with protesters and, if so, how many such cameras there are.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is for the police to determine what vehicles are monitored by the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera system. The decision to use ANPR cameras to monitor vehicle movements is made on an individual basis and is relative to the level of interest…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish police forces contribute data on protesters to the intelligence database run by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and, if not, whether there is an equivalent database in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish police forces, in common with all other police forces across the UK, contribute data to the National Public Order Intelligence Unit. The decision on what data is contributed is a matter for the individual police forces.

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a premises or personal licence to sell alcohol that has been revoked under a provision in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 can be reallocated to the same premises or person and, if so, after how long.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A premises licence or personal licence once revoked cannot be reallocated. Following revocation, a new application may be made to the licensing board but there is no guarantee that it will be granted. Section 74 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides t…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , given the uncertainty regarding the legality of its proposals for minimum pricing for alcohol, on what basis it disputes that minimum pricing for alcohol distorts the market and breaches competition rules.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28372, on 9 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…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , given the uncertainty regarding the legality of its proposals for minimum pricing for alcohol, on what basis it considers minimum pricing for alcohol to be legal.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28372 on 9 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/Apps…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the ruling of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice in relation to minimum prices for tobacco products, whether it considers that setting a minimum price for alcohol will distort the market in a way that limits competition and is to the detriment of products w…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28372, on 9 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…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the European Court of Justice’s assessment that, in meeting public health objectives, taxation and excise duties are preferable to setting minimum prices for tobacco products as they may adequately achieve these objectives while safeguarding the principl…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28372 on 9 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/Apps…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the ruling of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice that, in setting minimum prices for tobacco products, Austria, Ireland and France have breached EU competition rules impacts on Scottish Government plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and how it affects its…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The relevant Directive which was considered in the opinion (not a ruling) of the Advocate-General to the European Court of Justice in respect of tobacco pricing is specifically about the excise duty on tobacco and the opinion was based on the precise wording …

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made regarding whether to hold a formal consultation on the possibility of extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to cover contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28109 answered on 26 October 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…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its discussion paper published on 17 November 2008 on the possibility of extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to cover contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts, what further action it plans to take rega…

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28110 answered on 26 October 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…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to concerns raised by the Scottish Information Commissioner that the public have lost rights to information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 from certain bodies due to changes in public service delivery, whether it will proceed to formal consultation on an ext…

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28109 on 26 October 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/Apps…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to bring contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts within the scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: A discussion paper was published in November 2008, which explored the key issues around extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act to these types of bodies. The responses to the discussion paper are under active consideration and an annou…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to carry out a consultation on the possibility of making an order under section 5 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in relation to contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will announce in due course its conclusions on the issue of making such an order which may extend the coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

8 Oct 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the redevelopment of Dalmarnock Station as a key public transport hub for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-01.htm">http://www.scott…

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Health Survey 2008, showing that between 2003 and 2008 the proportion of men and women drinking over the weekly recommended limit declined from 34 to 30% and 23 to 20% respectively, whether it considers that the use of these data in the University of…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27926 on 27 October 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/Apps2…

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the impact that the most recent consumption figures, showing that the proportion of men and women drinking over the weekly recommended limit has declined since 2003, would have on the minimum pricing modelling used in the University of Sheffield appraisa…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27926 on 27 October 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/Apps2…

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason consumption data from the Scottish Health Survey 2003, rather than the recently published 2008 survey, was used in the University of Sheffield appraisal of alcohol minimum pricing and off-trade discount bans in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27924 on 27 October 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/Apps2…

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the Scottish Health Survey 2008 shows that weekly alcohol consumption for women is highest among those in managerial and professional households, in the highest income quintile and among those living in the least deprived areas, what assessment it has made of the impact that m…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Health Survey 2008 records consumption in a number of ways, including usual weekly consumption and consumption on the heaviest drinking day in the previous week. It indicates that a significant proportion of women across all demographic g…

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that, of the 17 constituencies with a share of Scotland’s 20% most deprived data zones totalling 0.5% or less, 13 have alcohol-related death rates above the UK average, what assessment it has made of the impact that minimum pricing will have on alcohol-related deaths among the affl…

Answer · Shona Robison: The response to question S3W-27050 provided on 15 September 2009 indicated that of the Scottish Parliament''s 73 single member constituencies, 64 have an alcohol-related death rate higher than the UK average. The University of Sheffield report Model-Based …

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27050 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 September 2009 showing that alcohol-related deaths rates in the Western Isles, Moray and Edinburgh Central were 208, 195 and 226% of the UK average respectively, what assessment it has made of the impact that minimum pr…

Answer · Shona Robison: The response to question S3W-27050 indicated that 64 of the 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies have an alcohol-related death rate higher than the UK average. The University of Sheffield report Model-Based Appraisal of Alcohol Minimum Pricing and Off-Lic…

24 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation places are available and what action it is taking to support their use to full capacity.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information from the National Directory of Drug Services, maintained by the Scottish Drugs Forum, showed that there is currently a total of 451 beds across 28 residential services in Scotland. The number of beds does not equate to the number of plac…

17 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities have the potential to be used further to help meet the current high demand for treatment services.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-27470 answered on 25 September 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.…