Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities are used to their full capacity.
Answer · Shona Robison: The provision of services is for each local area to consider, taking account of local needs, circumstances and resources. It is for individual NHS boards, local authorities and alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPs) to ensure that appropriate health care servic…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-residential places there are for community-based (a) alcohol and (b) drug rehabilitation, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of non-residential places for community-based alcohol and drug rehabilitation is not held centrally. However, information from the national Directory of Drug Services, maintained by the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF), showed that 215 pro…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many residential places there are for (a) alcohol and (b) drug rehabilitation, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. However, information from the National Directory of Drug Services, maintained by the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF), shows that there are currently 451 beds provided by 28 residential services in Scotland. The number of bed…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities offer (a) residential places and (b) non-residential community-based services, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities is not held centrally. However, information from the National Directory of Drug Services, maintained by the Scottish Drugs Forum, showed that 27 facilities currently offer residential pla…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) prosecuted, (b) convicted and (c) given a custodial sentence in cases involving domestic abuse in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons proceeded against for an offence with a domestic aggravator recorded<sup>1</sup>, 2005-06 to 2007-08:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=146 nowra…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of domestic abuse against (a) women and (b) men have been recorded by the police in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following table shows the information available on the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police, by police force area, where sex of victim was recorded, Scotland, 1999-2000 to 2007-08. Approximately half of all incidents recorded lead …
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of possession of illegal drugs, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) type of drug.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons with a Charge Proved for Possession of Drugs<sup>1</sup> by Police Force and Drug Type, 1999-2000 to 2007-08</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for possession of illegal drugs in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) type of drug.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons Proceeded Against for Possession of Drugs<sup>1</sup> by Police Force and Drug Type, 1999-2000 to 2007-08</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold an inquiry into the untested findings of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission report regarding Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s recently dropped second appeal.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27066 on 16 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.parliament.uk/Ap…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to hold an inquiry into the untested findings of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission report regarding Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s recently dropped second appeal.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The proper place for references by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to be dealt with is the Appeal Court. The Scottish Ministers have some powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to establish an inquiry, but the powers of such an inquiry would be lim…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has the power to order disclosure of the evidence compiled by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission regarding Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s recently dropped second appeal and, if so, whether he will do so.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No, I do not have the power to order disclosure of evidence. Section 194J of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 prevents the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission from disclosing any information obtained by it in the exercise of its functions, sub…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to secure the release of evidence compiled by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission regarding Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s recently dropped second appeal.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27063 on 16 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.parliament.uk/Ap…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what options are available for it to make available the evidence compiled by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission regarding Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s recently dropped second appeal and have that and other relevant evidence judicially tested.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I am keen to have as much information about this case in the public domain as possible. I met the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission last week and continue to have productive discussions with them about the possibili…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future meetings are planned between Scottish ministers and officials and representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority.
Answer · Jim Mather: No meetings are currently planned between Scottish ministers and officials and representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority.</p>
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have been held between Scottish ministers and officials and representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority since 2007; who was present at each meeting, and what issues were on the agenda.
Answer · Jim Mather: The only meeting between Scottish ministers and officials and representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority was on 7 May 2008.</p>
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what purpose the First Minister met representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority on 7 May 2008; who was present at the meeting, and for what reasons, and what issues were on the agenda.
Answer · Jim Mather: The primary purpose of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)''s visit to Scotland was to review the potential for private sector investment in Scotland. The visit provided the First Minister and the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism with an opportun…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of plans by any licensing boards to use Schedule 3, section 8(2)(e) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to restrict off-sales promotions and, if so, what its position is on such plans.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. It is for licensing boards to consider whether any promotion is contrary to any condition in the 2005 act. The Scottish Government has already announced its intention to take further action in respect of off-sale promotions in the forthcoming bill to tack…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Schedule 3, section 8(2)(e) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 applies generally to off-sales promotions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the act makes it clear that paragraph 8(2)(e) applies to off-sales.</p>
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with licensing boards regarding the implementation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Transition Timetable and process was drawn up with advice from a transition team which consisted of six licensing clerks. Throughout transition officials have maintained contact with licensing boards and several implementation updates have been issued to …
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is available to licensing boards regarding the implementation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Guidance under section 142 is published on the Scottish Government website at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/13093458/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/13093458/0</a>. The government will be updating this guidance no…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism is in place to scrutinise the implementation of the new alcohol regulations.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Work is being commissioned by the Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group on Alcohol (MERGA) to evaluate the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and, at my request, the Accounts Commission will also examine the impact of the act. We will consider carefully any re…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the implications for business should different police forces and licensing boards implement the new alcohol regulations differently.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No specific assessment was made for the new licensing regime as the previous regime provided for the possibility of local variations to be applied by licensing boards to meet local circumstances. The government continues to support the concept of local soluti…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it the duty of the Scottish Government to provide clear boundaries on how licensing law should be interpreted and implemented.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides a framework which gives licensing boards the flexibility to tackle the local problems which effect their communities. The government has no intention of setting boundaries that would restrict that flexibility and the…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what formal or informal guidance has been given to police forces and licensing boards regarding the enforcement of alcohol regulations.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No formal or informal guidance has been given to the Police regarding enforcement of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. I wrote to all licensing boards on 3 September stating that, it is particularly important that those responsible for enforcement approach t…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many premises were licensed to sell alcohol in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information sought can be accessed from the following links:</p> <p >The Scottish Liquor Licensing Statistics 2007</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/11160147/22">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/11160147/22<…
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that all personal and premises licenses that are required to comply with the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2009 will have been received.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As set out in the 2005 Act the administration of the licensing system is a matter for licensing boards. We hope any licensing board that still has licences to be issued will do so as quickly as possible.</p>
7 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the number of outstanding premises licences, whether it will consider extending the deemed granted status allowed for personal licences until November 2009 to cover also premises licences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A deemed grant system for premises licences is already in place for businesses that met the deadline for applications. Where necessary, for example in respect of applications submitted late, alternatives such as occasional licences exist and are already being…
3 Sep 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government has taken in response to the anticipated problems in implementation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm">http://www.scot…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Scottish Prison Service develops a strategy for more effective engagement of those prisoners who refuse to participate in a change programme.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The SPS applies a number of strategies to motivate suitable prisoners to attend offending behaviour programmes. The SPS operates an…
18 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that every sex offender and serious violent offender on supervision has a full and current risk of harm assessment that is available to all tasked with the responsibility of risk management.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executive is working with agencies to introduce the Level of Service Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) which aims to introduce a common approach for risk assessment and case management across agencies tasked with managing offenders. The version …