Richard Baker

17 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that an increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% would cost the Scottish Police Services Authority in one year.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Increasing VAT from 17.5% to 20% would cost the Scottish Police Services Authority an estimated additional £722,000 per annum.</p>

17 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that an increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% would cost the Scottish Court Service in one year.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.</p>

17 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that an increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% would cost the Scottish Prison Service in one year.

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 actual increase in cost will depend on the value of qualifying expenditure incurred by SPS in any one year. However, ba…

17 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many racist incidents were recorded in each police force area in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by ethnic origin of the victim.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is given in tables 3 and 4 of <i >Racist incidents by ethnic group of victim, 2007-08 and 2008-09</i> published by the Scottish Government in 2010, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numb…

17 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many racist incidents were recorded in each local authority area in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by ethnic origin of the victim.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is given in tables 1 and 2 of <i >Racist incidents by ethnic group of victim, 2007-08 and 2008-09</i> published by the Scottish Government in 2010, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib numbe…

13 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32937 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 April 2010, on what date it plans to publish Audit of Community Service in Scotland: Comparative Study and what plans it has to publish further audits of the operation of community service.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The <i >Audit of Community Service in Scotland “ Comparative Study</i> will be published on 20 May and a copy placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49886). The audit findings will also be accessible on the Scottish Government websi…

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all prisoners tested positive for illegal substances on liberation in 2008, broken down by prison.

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 available statistics are published by Drug Misuse Information Scotland, Information Statistics Division of the Scottish…

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all prisoners tested positive for illegal substances on liberation in 2009, broken down by prison.

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 available statistics are published by Drug Misuse Information Scotland, Information Statistics Division of the Scottish…

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the finding in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth, published in April 2010, that on liberation 28% of prisoners tested positive for illegal substances, whether it considers that illegal drugs use in prison is a problem across the prison estate and, if so, what act…

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 >Drug problems are highly prevalent in prisoners, with two out of three testing positive for illicit drugs on admission (71%…

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on recommendation 11.6 in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth, published in April 2010, that “The reasons for so many prisoners testing positive for illegal substances on liberation should be explored.”; whether it will implement this recommendation, and, …

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 >HM Prison Perth is conducting a review to explore the reasons for the number of prisoners testing positive for illegal subs…

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth, published in April 2010, that on liberation 28% of prisoners tested positive for illegal substances.

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 >SPS recognises the concerns raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, with 28% of liberations testing positive for illegal subs…

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth, published in April 2010, that very few young offenders were employed in the workshops, even though staff reported a healthy order book and of recommendation 11.1 that young offenders in Friarton…

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 >At the time of inspection Friarton Hall was less than half full with 42 young offenders all of whom were actively engaged …

19 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding that the rape conviction rate has fallen to a 25-year low, with only 3% of cases reported to the police in 2008-09 resulting in a conviction, and what action it plans to take.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-2348 on 22 April 2010 which is available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParlia…

13 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of handling an offensive weapon in each of the last 10 years were on bail at the time of offence.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Handling an offensive weapon covers the crime categories possession of an offensive weapon, restriction of an offensive weapon and having in a public place an article with a blade or point.</p> <p >Persons Convicted for Handling an Offensive Weapon<sup>1</su…

13 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of handling an offensive weapon in each of the last 10 years were (a) male and (b) female.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons Convicted of Handling an Offensive Weapon¹, 1999-2000 to 2008-09</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p …

13 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28445 by Fergus Ewing on 5 November 2009, how many people convicted of handling an offensive weapon in 2008-09 were aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 21, (c) 22 to 30 and (d) over 30 at the time of the offence.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons Convicted of Handling an Offensive Weapon¹by age, 2008-09</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=73 nowrap valign=bottom > <…

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28352 by Fergus Ewing on 12 November 2009, what consideration it has given to the collection of information on the test purchasing of knives as it does in relation to alcohol and whether a decision to do so has been made.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Discussions are still on-going between the Scottish Government and the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards on how best to make information collected locally available at national level.</p>

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27310 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 September 2009, how many prisoners released from custody on compassionate grounds under section 3 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 and on licence before their death had their licence revoked…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: None of the prisoners granted early release on compassionate grounds since 1993 have had their licence revoked.</p>

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27310 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 September 2009, whether it will provide the information sought between 1993 and 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information was provided to Bill Aitken MSP in a letter dated 6 October 2009. A copy of the reply was placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 49431).</p>

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports under section 2(1) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 have been produced since it came into force and when they were published.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The responsibility for the publication of these reports lies with local authorities. Information on the publication of these reports is not held centrally.</p>

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has used its powers under section 2(3)(a) or (b) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 since May 2007 and, if so, when and for what reason.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since the implementation of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 these powers have not been used.</p>

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what aspects of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 it considers have been most effective in tackling antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 contains a range of measures that have helped communities. These measures, including vehicle seizure, dispersal and fixed penalty notice powers have been used effectively by local agencies to tackle antisocial …

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds centrally on the use of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and how this has changed since it came into force.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland was published jointly with COSLA in March 2009 with the support of all relevant agencies. Volume 2 contains the detailed research, analysis and public consultation that …

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued under section 4 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 since 1 April 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to adults and under 16''s between 1 October 2004 and 31 March 2008, by local authority area, can be found on the Scottish Government website at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/">www.scotland.g…

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32124 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 March 2010, whether it will provide the same information also broken down by hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The numbers of emergency and elective hospital admissions due to assault by a sharp object, broken down by gender and location of treatment, discharged during financial years ending 31 March 2000 to 2009 for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Grampian, NHS Greater G…

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of wasting police time were committed in the Grampian police force area in each of the last three years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Offences of public mischief recorded by Grampian Police¹:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=left >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >…

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in relation to how many of those imprisoned for handling an offensive weapon in the last year would proposals in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill to create a legal presumption against custodial sentences of three months or less apply.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33050 on 26 April 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="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busines…

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in relation to how many of those imprisoned for handling an offensive weapon in the last year would proposals in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill to create a legal presumption against custodial sentences of six months or less apply.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The proposals which were contained in section 17 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill sought to create a presumption against short custodial sentences of six months or less, but did not remove the right of judges to impose such a sentence if …

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25109) that “those who are a danger to our communities, who carry knives and who have a propensity to use them should be dealt with firmly and severely”, what its position is …

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for the sentencing judge, who hears all the facts and circumstances surrounding the offence and the offender, and is able to take into account any factors which he or she considers to be relevant.</p> <p >…

1 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25109) that “there are significant problems [with knife crime] in some areas of Edinburgh”, how many offences of handling an offensive weapon were recorded in each police beat…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Offences of handling an offensive weapon¹ recorded by Lothian and Borders Police² 2008-09:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Local Authority</p> </td> <td wid…