Stewart Stevenson

8 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in the last five years the publication dates of statistics that it produces have been changed and, in each case, what the subject matter was, what the original and final date of publication were, what the reasons were for the delay in publication and who took the dec…

Answer · Tom McCabe: In accordance with the NationalStatistics Code of Practice (2002), the Chief Statistician has final responsibilityfor determining, pre-announcing and, if necessary, altering the dates of publicationof National Statistics and other relevant statistics produced…

20 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many murders resulting from domestic violence there have been and how many people (a) were charged with, (b) pleaded guilty to charges of and (c) were convicted for domestic violence offences in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information onhomicides recorded by the police where the relationship between the victim and themain accused was partner or ex-partner is given in the following table.</p><p>Victims of Homicide¹where the Relationship Between the Victi…

19 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of (a) less than three months and (b) three to six months.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>On the 31 March 2006 therewere 116 prisoners sentenced to less than three months and 507 sentenced to betweenthree and less than six months…

19 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders are known to have reoffended within (a) 24 hours, (b) 48 hours, (c) one week and (d) one month of release from prison in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isnot available. The most recent availablestatistics relate to reconvictions and are presented in the statistics release <i>Reconvictionsof</i> <i>offenders discharged from custody or given non-custodial sentences in2002-03,</i> <i>S…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of animal cruelty were recorded in each of the last five years and how many have been successfully prosecuted, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isgiven in the following tables. The court proceedings statistics for 2005-06 areplanned for publication in March 2007. The statistics dealing with recorded crimeand court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be pr…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were breached in each of the last two years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Johann Lamont: This information is providedin table 5.3 of <i>Use of Antisocial BehaviourOrders in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>: Report of the 2004-05 Survey </i>and table 4.1 of<i> Use of Antisocial Behaviour Ordersin </i><i>Scotland</i><i>: Report of the 2005-06 Survey</i> whic…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of offences against the person have been linked to (a) alcohol abuse and (b) use of illegal drugs in each year since 1997.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Other than statistics on homicide,information on whether or not particular crimes against the person are “alcohol-related”or linked to the use of illegal drugs is not held centrally. The latest availableinformation on the drink/drug status reported for accuse…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many first-time entrants there were to the youth justice system in the year ended (a) 31 March 2004, (b) 31 March 2005 and (c) 31 March 2006.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on the numbers ofchildren referred to the Children’s Reporter on offence grounds is available inthe <i>Scottish Youth Justice Performance Report 2003-04 to 2005-06</i> which waspublished in July 2006 a copy of which is available in the Scottish Pa…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which maternity units it has identified as being at risk of closure.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter forindividual NHS boards. Significant proposed service changes must be submittedfor approval by Scottish ministers.</p>

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on advertising the risks associated with alcohol addiction in each year since 1997.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the questionS1W-26485 answered on 3 July 2002 providing information on advertising spend bythe Scottish Office/Scottish Executive relating to our alcohol advertising campaignfrom 1991-92 to 2001-02.</p><p>For information for 2002-03 byde…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have sought support from the NHS for alcohol addiction in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally. However, information on the number of individuals treated by the NHSfor alcohol dependency has been placed in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. numbers 40168 and 40169).</p>

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have taken place in Scotland for breaches of the law relating to the aggregates levy.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The Finance Act 2001 (asamended) creates a number of offences in relation to the aggregates levy. Noreports in respect of such offences have been submitted to procurators fiscal.</p>

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal sanctions cover the destruction of any paper or electronic data (a) by Executive staff, (b) when directed by ministers, (c) when undertaken by Executive agencies and (d) by PFI or PPP contractors earlier than the prescribed, advised or contracted periods for retention.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The only legal sanctionwhich might be applicable in this context is section 65 of the Freedom ofInformation (Scotland) Act 2002, under which it is an offence to alterrecords (including destruction) to prevent disclosure. However, this onlyapplies where the in…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rules cover the retention of paper or electronic data which are held by its PFI or PPP contractors or those of its agencies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Scottish Executive agenciesare expected to manage their records in accordance with the Public Records Actsof 1958 and 1967. PFI or PPP contractors are responsible for their own recordsmanagement, and for ensuring that it conforms to any specific legislation w…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation covers the retention, destruction or erasure of (a) electronic and (b) paper data which are received or created by it or its agencies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The key requirement on the Executive and its agencies is public records legislation. Scottish ExecutiveAgencies are therefore expected to manage their records in accordance with thePublic Records Acts of 1958 and 1967. Although these acts have no legal forcei…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of its electronic records are retained for (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years, (e) five years, (f) 10 years, (g) 25 years, (h) more than 25 years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Details of the Executive’sdestruction and retention policy regarding its paper records, includingcategories of records, are contained in its records management manual publishedon the Scottish Executive website, available through the following link:</p><p><ahr…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of its records, correspondence or other paperwork are completely destroyed after (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years, (e) five years, (f) 10 years, (g) 25 years and (h) more than 25 years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Details of the Executive’sdestruction and retention policy regarding its paper and electronic records,including categories of records, are contained in its records management manualpublished on the Scottish Executive website, available through the followingli…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the policies of the Scottish Office on the destruction of paperwork have been modified since the establishment of the Executive and, if so, when and why such changes were made and what the changes were.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive has notmodified its policies on the retention and disposal of its paper records.</p>

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether electronic data which it holds as a legal requirement, as a result of an administrative decision or for other reasons are held in hard copy format at a site secure from physical damage or destruction.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No. It is, of course, Executivepractice to store electronic backup offsite for the appropriate period.</p>

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its paper records are recorded on microfilm or microfiche or stored electronically prior to destruction.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No, no reason has been identifiedfor doing so. Files which are judged to be of continuing public interest are transferredto the National Archives of Scotland for permanent preservation once their immediatebusiness use has expired (typically, 25 years after cr…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the destruction of paper records. 

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive reviews anddisposes of its records in accordance with the Public Records Acts of 1958 and1967. Although these acts have no legal force in Scotland, they have beenapplied by the Executive in reviewing and disposing of its records by agreementwith…

15 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many long-term jobs were created in each year since 1999, broken down by local enterprise area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on the number oflong-term jobs created in each year since 1999, broken down by local enterprisearea is not held centrally.</p>

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of newly qualified (a) secondary and (b) primary school teachers who had not taken up full-time teaching posts one year after qualification in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Comprehensive data relatingto this question is not held centrally.</p><p>The most recent and comprehensiveindication of employment status following induction stems from research in 2005by the General Teaching Council for Scotland among those who completed the…

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) public private partnerships and (b) private finance initiative contracts have been entered into by the Executive; what assets were transferred to the private sector as part of each deal and what the value of these assets was; what the total cost is of each contract, and what esti…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has enteredinto five PFI/PPP contracts: Skye Bridge, M6 DBFO, HM Prison Kilmarnock, M77, and HM Prison Addiewell.Information on Skye Bridge has not been included in this answer as it is no longera PPP contract. No assets have been trans…

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by each of its departments on external legal advice in each of the last five years.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: Over the period since 2001-02,payments by the Scottish Executive and its agencies for external legal serviceshave been made as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=124 valign=top> <p align=center>Year</p> </t…

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) diagnosis and (b) mortality rate was for (i) chronic lung disease, (ii) coronary heart disease and (iii) cancer in each year since 1999, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isgiven in the tables within diagnosis and mortality rates of coronary heartdisease, chronic lung disease and cancer by parliamentary constituency since1999, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (…

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the main causes of death were for (a) men and (b) women in each parliamentary constituency in each year since 1999.

Answer · George Lyon: Tables presenting theinformation available have been placed in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. number 41596).</p>

13 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to conclude negotiations with prison staff over pay increases, in light of additional pressure on staff resulting from overcrowding in prisons and a 1995 agreement to complete negotiations by the end of October every year.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Pay negotiations for prisonstaff are the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). I am advisedby SPS that they will undertake them as a top priority once a pay negotiatingremit has been given.</p>

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost was of training a (a) doctor, (b) nurse, (c) physiotherapist and (d) speech and language therapist for the period between entering a degree or diploma course until full registration, inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs, in the most recent period fo…

Answer · Andy Kerr: <b>&nbsp;</b></p><p>A. Doctors</p><p>The training for a doctor untilfull registration generally consists of five years at medical school and one yearin employment (now called Foundation Year 1). In the period between entry to medicalschool and full registrati…

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of (a) males and (b) females have been economically inactive in each year since 1979, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is not possible to provideinformation on the proportion of males and females who have been economically inactivein each local authority area dating back to 1979. Information on economic activityof males and females by local authority area is only available…