Gavin Brown

1 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of the meetings of the summer Cabinet programme 2010 held in (a) Dornoch, (b) Stirling, (c) the Isle of Bute and (d) Kilmarnock, also broken down by (i) staff time, (ii) staff travel, (iii) staff accommodation, (iv) ministerial accommodation, (v) venue hire and set up …

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51883).</b></p> <p >Work on the Cabinet…

29 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it responded to the UK Government consultation, Financing a private sector recovery, and, if so, on what date it lodged its submission and what it contained.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government submitted its response to the UK Government''s consultation on <i >Financing a private sector recovery</i> on 17 September 2010.</b></p> <p >This response covered the breadth of subject matter covered by the consultation paper, inclu…

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what method it uses to measure the (a) emissions output and (b) energy consumption of non-domestic property stock.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Assessment of the approximate carbon emissions and energy consumption of non-domestic buildings is undertaken using the National Calculation Methodology (NCM) which ensures that such assessments comply with European Directive 2002/91/EC Energy Performance of …

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out an analysis of the register of non-domestic energy performance certificates used in England and Wales.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No, but officials will explore this as an option.</p>

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what purposes it uses the data contained in the Home Energy Efficiency Database, which includes information from domestic energy performance certificates for existing dwellings.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Energy Savings Trust publish information from the Home Energy Efficiency Database (HEED) using a standard report system on their website. There is no record held centrally of who accesses this data and for what purpose.</p> <p >The Surveys Branch within …

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the benefits are of having a register of energy performance certificates for non-domestic properties.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A register could be useful in the delivery of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU recast. A public consultation on implementation of this European legislation will be issued in the first half of 2011.</p>

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are disadvantages in not having a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Generally, no. However, there could be disadvantages if a register was adopted which was not robust and cost-effective, particularly in demanding financial circumstances.</p>

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in providing a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates as required under section 10 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no legislation that specifically requires a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates. However, officials are currently exploring the options for a register.</p>

20 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders are currently incarcerated in HMP Edinburgh for carrying an offensive weapon.

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 >As of 22 September 2010 there were 23 prisoners within HMP Edinburgh with an offence of Offensive Weapon.</p>

20 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction in each NHS board in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible from centrally held information to identify how many people have been treated for (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction.</p> <p >From the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) it is possible to provide information on the number of people recei…

20 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted for an offence with a domestic aggravator in 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on court proceedings for 2009-10 is due to published in January 2011.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34679 on 9 July 2010 for data up to 2008-09. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parli…

15 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2009-10, what disposals were issued to those offenders convicted of (a) serious assault etc, (b) robbery, (c) rape and attempted rape, (d) indecent assault, (e) lewd and indecent behaviour, (f) handling an offensive weapon and (g)…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on court proceedings for 2009-10 is due to published in January 2011.</p> <p >Details of disposals issued in 2008-09 for offences in Lothian and Borders police force area can be found on the Scottish Government web page for Datasets - Criminal Pr…

15 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence dispensed by NHS Lothian in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Shona Robison: The gross ingredient cost of acamprosate calcium (Campral EC) and disulfiram (Antabuse) used in the treatment of alcohol dependence in NHS Lothian is given in the following table. The costs shown relate to items dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensi…

15 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) offences have been recorded and (b) prosecutions there have been in the Lothians region for the (i) sale of alcohol to a person under 18, (ii) purchase of alcohol for consumption by a person under 18, (iii) purchase of alcohol or its consumption in a licensed premises by a pe…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table:</p> <p >Number of Recorded Offences Related to Underage Alcohol Consumption¹, in the Lothians² Region, 2008-09 to 2009-10</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 widt…

7 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoax calls were made to Lothian and Borders (a) Police and (b) Fire and Rescue Service and at what total cost, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The latest figures for the number of malicious false alarms to Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and the number of hoax calls made to the Lothian and Borders Police are shown in the following tables:</p> <p >Table 1. Fire and Rescue Services</p> <…

29 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges were brought as a result of the (a) 45 attacks on prison staff at HMP Addiewell and (b) 16 attacks at HMP Saughton in 2009, broken down by disposals applied.

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 >In the orderly room, (a) a total of 48 charges were brought in respect of these incidents at HMP Addiewell, and (b) 16 char…

29 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17154 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 November 2008, what additional information it has on how much money recovered from convicted criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been spent in the Lothians region, broken down by (a) parliamentary constit…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Monies recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are distributed through the CashBack for Communities programme, which includes a range of partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts and business associations to provide diversionary activities for young pe…

29 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 have been diagnosed with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The number of children in NHS Lothian recorded as having Type 1 diabetes in each year from 2005 to 2009 is set out in the following table.  </b></p> <p >Number of Children Under 15 Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in NHS Lothian</p> <table border=1 cellspaci…

29 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults were diagnosed with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes in the Lothians region in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information is not available in the form requested, but the prevalence of diabetes in NHS Lothian in calendar years 2008 and 2009 is given in the table below.</b></p> <p >Number of People Diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in NHS Lothian</p> <tab…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing cannabis in the Lothian and Borders Police Force area received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in each of the last three year…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is included in the following table.</p> <p >&nbsp;</p> <p >Persons with a Charge Proved for Possession of Cannabis¹ in the Lothian and Borders Police Force Area, 2006-07 to 2008-09</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cel…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average fine was for possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy, (d) cannabis and (e) amphetamines in the Lothians region in each year since 2007-08, broken down by sheriff court and giving the percentage change from the previous year.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information available is given in the following table.</p> <p >&nbsp;</p> <p >Average Fine (£) for Possession of Selected Drugs¹, by Sheriff Court², 2007-08 - 2008-09</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=469 > …

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what quantity of cannabis has been recovered from cannabis farms in the Lothians in each of the last three years and what the estimated street value was.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >The Scottish Government does not hold data on individual drug seizures or offences recorded by the eight police forces in Scotland, and does not therefore hold information on the specific locations in which tho…

17 Jun 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out in the last 12 months in improving the delivery of its China Plan.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The government is committed to strengthening its links with the People''s Republic of China.</p> <p >The China Plan is reviewed on a regular basis with the government''s delivery agents, other government bodies and key stakeholders to ensure that its object…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the annual cost of non-departmental public bodies and government agencies as of May (a) 2007 and (b) 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 51073).</p>

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of staff employed in non-departmental public bodies and government agencies for each year from May 2007 to May 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: Data on staff employed in non-departmental public bodies and government agencies are published on a quarterly basis by the Office for National Statistics and are available at the following web address:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/P…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-departmental public bodies and government agencies there were in May (a) 2007 and (b) 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: In 2007 the Scottish Government redefined the public body landscape as part of its Simplification Programme and in October 2007 it published a comprehensive baseline list of 199 national devolved public bodies. Progress towards achieving the government''s tar…

20 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in April 2010, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure in April 2010.</p> <p >The number of pers…

12 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were not in education, employment or training in the Lothians region in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Annual Population Survey (APS) is the official source for data on people not in education, employment or training. Table 1 shows the latest estimates from the APS, covering the period October 2008 to September 2009, of the numbers of people aged 16 to 19 …

12 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the recycling rates for (a) domestic and (b) municipal waste were in each local authority area in 2009-10, also showing the national average compared with the national target.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Data on recycling rates for domestic/household and municipal waste in each local authority area in 2009-10 is currently not available. We are expecting the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency to publish this data in late September this year (2010).</p>

12 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what disposals were applied to people convicted of assaulting police officers in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Section 41(1)(a) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 provides that any person who assaults, resists, obstructs, molests or hinders a constable shall be guilty of an offence. Offences which spec…