Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the publication by the Scottish Human Rights Commission of the draft framework setting out shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns, it maintains that issuing taser guns to frontline police officers is an operational decision requiring no authorisation from Sco…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. 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/Apps2/Busine…
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the assertion by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, as set out in its draft framework on shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns, that Scottish Ministers must authorise taser gun use at a policy and strategic decision making level.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. 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/Apps2/Busine…
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the assertion by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, as set out in its draft framework on shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns, that the Scottish Government bears distinct policy and strategic decision-making responsibility for the Strathclyde taser …
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. 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/Apps2/Busine…
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to fulfil its responsibilities, as identified by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, which include “the duty to continue to monitor how the use of taser guns is operating in practice; whether the continued use of taser is justified and appropriate and whether ad…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. 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/Apps2/Busine…
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to fulfil its responsibilities, as identified by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, which include “a duty to ensure that the system of law and administration in Scotland operates effectively to regulate the use of taser in a manner which respects Article 2 of t…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. 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/Apps2/Busine…
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that use of taser guns by Scottish police forces is consistent with human rights law and standards as is its duty under the Scotland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Firearms legislation is a reserved matter. The primary responsibility for ensuring consistency with human rights law and standards in relation to the regulation of firearms therefore lies with the UK Government. Police forces are public authorities for the pu…
22 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the draft framework produced by the Scottish Human Rights Commission setting out shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The draft framework produced by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is based on an interpretation of the Firearms Act 1968 which is not shared by the Scottish Government. We have written to the SHRC explaining our understanding of the legislation. As …
19 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of measures that police forces are required to report to it each year as part of compiling the Scottish Policing Performance Framework has increased, decreased or remained the same since its introduction.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The number of indicators and context measures each police force is requested to submit for the compilation of the Scottish Policing Performance Framework (SPPF) has increased from 23 in 2007-08 to 30 in 2010-11. </b></p> <p >The following table provides the …
19 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many data measures police forces are required to report to it each year as part of compiling the Scottish Policing Performance Framework.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Policing Performance Framework is the product of significant collaborative working between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Government, Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Constabular…
11 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 25% of the police budget reported to be spent on administration is 25% of the (a) Scottish Government’s policing budget, (b) police grant to local authorities or (c) both.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is 25% of police forces'' budgets for 2010-11, made up of local authority contributions and Scottish Government direct grant to police authorities.</b></p>
11 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 25% of the police budget reported to be spent on administration includes spending on the (a) Scottish Police Services Authority, (b) Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and (c) police training college and, if so, how much.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No, it does not.</b></p>
11 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the reported finding by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland that 25% of the police budget is spent on administration, whether it will provide a breakdown of this spending.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The paper on additional cost saving options presented by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland at the fifth meeting of the Scottish Policing Board includes a breakdown of staff-related expenditure by functional area across the eight force headq…
7 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether chief constables in Scotland would require ministerial approval to issue the X12 Taser weapon to frontline officers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36631 on 21 October 2010. 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/Apps2/Busines…
7 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would consider a decision by a chief constable to issue the X12 Taser weapon to frontline officers as an operational decision.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36631 on 21 October 2010. 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/Apps2/Busines…
7 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any police forces in Scotland use the X12 Taser weapon.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Our understanding is that no Scottish police force has used or trialled the X12 Taser.</b></p>
7 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether chief constables in Scotland must have regard to guidance issued by the Home Secretary to forces in England and Wales regarding the weapons that may be used by police officers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Home Office (2003) Code of Practice on Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons is binding on police forces in England and Wales and is also applied by police forces in Scotland. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) voluntari…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on any attempt by Scottish Government officials to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable because they view the future of the force to be uncertain.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36483 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken regarding claims that Scottish Government officials told members of the Northern Joint Police Board that there was no point wasting time and money recruiting a new chief constable because the future of the force was uncertain.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36483 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of claims that Scottish Government officials told members of the Northern Joint Police Board that there was no point wasting time and money recruiting a new chief constable because the future of the force was uncertain.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36483 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Government officials told members of the Northern Joint Police Board that there was no point wasting time and money recruiting a new chief constable because the future of the force was uncertain.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36483 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken regarding claims that Scottish Government officials tried to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36483 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of claims that Scottish Government officials tried to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable and, if so, when it became aware of this.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36483 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Government officials tried to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable and, if so, when ministers first became aware of this.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. Scottish ministers are responsible for approving the appointment of Chief Officers. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice gave approval on 1 September 2010 for the Northern Joint Police Board to begin the process of recruiting a new chief constable and the po…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that best use is made of the open prison estate.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</b></p> <p >Scottish Prison Service staff, within the closed and open estate, work closely together to ensure that all those prisoners who meet …
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the open prison estate is operating at approximately 60% capacity.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The revised assessment criteria and processes, introduced after the publication of the Foye report, has had a direct impact on the number…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the acceptability of the open prison estate operating at approximately 60% capacity while there is overcrowding in the closed estate.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >In line with the recommendations within the Foye report the key priority is to ensure that prisoners are only sent to the Open Estate wh…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted independent fostering agencies to obtain information regarding the number of children waiting for a place in a fostering household to become available.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36465 on 1 October 2010. 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…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted local authorities to obtain information regarding the number of children waiting for a place in a fostering household to become available.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36465 on 1 October 2010. 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…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted independent fostering agencies to obtain information regarding (a) the number of fostering households that they have and (b) whether there are any shortages of supply of fostering households.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-36465 and S3W-36467 on 1 October 2010. 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.par…
22 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted local authorities to obtain information regarding (a) the number of fostering households that they have and (b) whether there are any shortages of supply of fostering households.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not collect this type of information. If is for local authorities to consider whether there are sufficient foster carers in their area.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities by working closely with, and …