Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of vandalism have been recorded at police stations or of police equipment in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) type of incident and (b) police board area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p>
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted for sex crimes since 2007, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority area
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables.</p> <p >Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Crimes of Indecency<sup>1</sup>, by Police Force, 2007-08 and 2008-09</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr …
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many sex crimes have been reported since 2007, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following tables give the numbers of crimes of indecency recorded by the police in Scotland from 2007-08 to 2008-09, by police force and local authority area.</p> <p >Crimes of Indecency<sup>1 </sup>Recorded by the Police, by Police Force Area, 2007-08 t…
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of (a) attempted and planned and (b) actual self-harm by young offenders have been reported since 2008, broken down by institution.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The Scottish Prison Service does not record data for attempted or planned acts of self-harm. Three establishments, where yo…
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were born in prison in 2009.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >There were no births in prisons. In 2009 there were five babies born to women who were in custody, all were born in Stirlin…
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults by prisoners on prison officers have been recorded in each (a) prison and (b) young offender’s institution since 22 April 2009.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table illustrates the total number of prisoner on staff assaults broken down by Establishment, included are s…
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoner-on-prisoner assaults there have been in each prison since 23 April 2009.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table illustrates the total number of prisoner on prisoner assaults broken down by establishment, included ar…
11 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were admitted to hospital with injuries from (a) assault by a blunt object, (b) assault by a sharp object and (c) gun shots in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table presents the number of children aged 0 to 16 years admitted to hospital as a result of an injury caused by assault by blunt object, assault by sharp object and gun shot.</p> <p >Number of hospital admissions<sup>1</sup> as a result of ass…
10 Jun 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to mitigate the effects of financial cutbacks on public services.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s 2010-11 Budget, which was approved by majority vote in the Parliament, seeks to protect frontline services and prioritise economic recovery in the face of the significant spending reductions imposed by the previous UK Government.</p…
1 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent findings of Big Brother Watch that local authorities are using covert surveillance powers to investigate people for minor offences, whether it plans to review the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 by local authorities.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act is kept under constant review.</p>
1 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the recent finding of Big Brother Watch that local authorities are using covert surveillance powers to investigate people for minor offences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) is responsible for providing independent oversight of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 (RIPSA). Through its routine inspections, the OSC is responsible for ensuring that authorising offi…
1 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recent finding of Big Brother Watch that local authorities are using covert surveillance powers to investigate people for minor offences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Office of Surveillance Commissioners provides independent oversight of the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. The commissioner reports annually to the Scottish and UK Parliaments on the operation of the legislation.</p>
1 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the operation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act is kept under constant review.</p>
1 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1750) transfers responsibility for section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 to the Scottish Ministers while leaving legislation on firearms matters reserved.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 1999 provides for the exercise of functions under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 in or as regards Scotland to be carried out by the Scottish Ministers rather than by a Mini…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what planning is underway to ensure that public safety is not adversely affected by any required budget reductions among police forces.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33768 on 1 June 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/Bu…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what planning is underway to ensure that police forces are able to meet future needs despite any required budget reductions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will work closely with the police on the possible impact on policing of any reductions in the Scottish budget. We are committed to a well resourced police service and to the maintenance of front line services across all public services…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has for the future size of police forces across Scotland in the case that the final tranche of the £40 million funding package is (a) given to forces and (b) withheld.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33766 on 1 June 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/Bu…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the budget deficits facing police forces, what projections it has for the future size of forces across Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to delivering 1,000 additional police officers in our communities by April 2011. Police funding is at a record level - £1.4 billion in 2010-11, including funding specifically for the training, recruitment an sa…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether civil servants told, or indicated to, chief constables that the final tranche of a £40 million Scottish Government funding package would be withheld if forces allowed police numbers to fall and, if so, when ministers first became aware of this.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33743 on 1 June 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/Bu…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of allegations that civil servants told, or indicated to, chief constables that the final tranche of a £40 million Scottish Government funding package would be withheld if forces allowed police numbers to fall and, if so, when they became aware.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33743 on 1 June 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/Bu…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to investigate claims that civil servants urged chief constables not to reduce police numbers prior to the outcome of a UK Government spending review in autumn 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33743 on 1 June 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/Bu…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether civil servants urged chief constables not to reduce police numbers prior to the outcome of a UK Government spending review in autumn 2010 and, if so, when ministers first became aware of this.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33743 on 1 June 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/Bu…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of allegations that civil servants urged chief constables not to reduce police numbers prior to the outcome of a UK Government spending review in autumn 2010 and, if so, when they became aware.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33743 on 1 June 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/Bu…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions each prison breached their Assessed Operational Limit in each of the last three years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table gives a breakdown of occasions where an establishment has exceeded their Assessed Operational Limit. </…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest number of prisoners was in each prison in each of the last three months.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table shows the highest population from each establishment over the last three months.</p> <table border=1 …
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges have been reported to the procurators fiscal under section 23 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges reported to procurators fiscal under section 23 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in each financial year since the act was implemented in October 2006.</p> <p >Of the 22 charges reported in 2…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted under section 23 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government Court Proceedings database, which contains details of court results to March 2009, indicates that no persons have been proceeded against or convicted under section 23 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, where this was…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the evaluation of the injury surveillance pilots underway in accident and emergency departments in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Fife and (c) Lanarkshire will take place.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Violence Reduction Unit led injury surveillance pilot in NHS Lanarkshire will be evaluated once data has been collected for one year in the three hospitals involved. It is estimated that this will be in June 2011. </p> <p >The Violence Reduction Unit is …
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the publication in September 2010 of guidance by the General Medical Council requiring doctors to inform the police whenever they treat a patient who is a victim of a knife attack, the volume of information being shared between hospitals and the police has increased.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
14 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date (a) actual and (b) projected figure is for the spend on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and how that is broken down.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31078 on 4 February 2010, which sets out the costs incurred up until 10 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can…