Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when phase 1 of project 23 of the Strategic Transport Projects Review is to be completed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I gave a very clear message on the prioritisation of measures within the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). Delivering the Forth Crossing is the strategic transport priority for Scotland. Alongside this, we will deliver rail interventions such as the…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the reasons why the number of diversions from prosecution decreased by 16% from 2006-07 to 2007-08 and what action it intends to take as a result.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: There were no changes in prosecution policy in 2007-08 which impacted on the number of cases dealt with by criminal justice social work diversion. Factors which influence the number of cases where social work diversion has commenced in each year include the …
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time was following sentencing before offenders commenced (a) community sentence, (b) probation, (c) supervised attendance and (d) drug treatment and testing orders in 2007-08, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p>
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) overall cost was of breach applications made in respect of (i) community sentence, (ii) probation, (iii) supervised attendance and (iv) drug treatment and testing orders in 2007-08.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p>
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people breaching (a) community sentence, (b) probation, (c) supervised attendance and (d) drug treatment and testing orders in 2007-08 served a prison sentence as a result.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The number of proportion of people breaching (a) community service (b) probation (c) supervised attendance and (d) drug treatment and testing orders who served a prison sentence as a result is published in the Statistical Bulletin <i >Criminal Justice Social …
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of breaches to supervised attendance orders.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In 2007-08 the number of breach applications made in respect of Supervised Attendance Orders increased by 17%. However, this was against the backdrop of a 46% increase in the number of such orders that same year, which suggests that the overall breach ratio o…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors it believes have contributed to the fact that almost one in three community service orders are breached.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are many factors behind breach rates as recorded in the statistics, including more stringent reporting of breaches. Many breaches relate to failure to observe exactly the terms of the order - for example, turning up late to a work placement or failing t…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of breaches to community service orders.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are taking further steps to reduce breach by more pro-active sentence management. The proposals we announced on 17 December in response to the report of the Scottish Prisons Commission set out our plans for regular sentence review as part of the new Commun…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors it believes have contributed to the 14% increase in the number of breaches to community service orders in 2007-08.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The specific factors contributing to this increase are not easy to identify, although there was an increase in 2007-08 in the overall number of orders given. Breach rates fluctuate from year to year and also from order to order. Criminal justice social work p…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given that 37% of drug treatment and testing order terminations in 2007-08 were completed successfully, what action it is taking to increase this proportion.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) are high tariff disposals, which make stringent demands on a very challenging client group. Offenders on DTTOs are subject to monthly review hearings by the court, which provides opportunity for issues of non-complian…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of drug treatment and testing orders.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18729 on 9 January 2009. Our commitment to Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) remains strong. We are contacting the Chief Officers of the Community Justice Authorities to ask them to assess what measures…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors it believes have contributed to a 14% decrease in the number of drug treatment and testing orders applied in 2007-08.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The drop in the use by the courts of DTTOs in 2007-08 is disappointing, although fluctuations from year to year are to be expected. The position across Scotland also varies significantly from area to area and we are therefore asking the Chief Officers of the …
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for parole were refused in each of the last five years, broken down by length of sentence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally in the detail requested. The Parole Board for Scotland''s Annual Report provides information on the number of cases referred by Scottish ministers for consideration for parole and the eventual outcome. Annual reports for…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Parole Board for Scotland members there were in each of the last two years, broken down by month.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information of the membership of the Parole Board for Scotland is contained in its annual reports. The following table provides information on membership between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2008:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were interviewed by the Parole Board for Scotland in each of the last two years, broken down by month.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for the Parole Board for Scotland which has provided the following information covering the last two years.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=123 valign=top > <p align=center >Month</p> …
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce a timetable for the construction of improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is timetabled to complete in 2012, around the time the STPR starts. Much of the congestion on the Haudagain Roundabout currently comes from traffic which will then travel via the new AWPR route.</p> <p >We will ad…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the funding mechanism for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16207 on 23 September 2008. 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.parli…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what type of offences were committed by people on bail for knife-related offences in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >The following table gives the number of bail orders made in the last five years where the original offence was for handling an offensive weapon. Bail orders for crimes involving knives cannot be identified sepa…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what type of offences were committed by people on bail in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following table contains the number of offences with a charge proved, in each of the last five years for which data is available, where a bail aggravation was recorded. The table is broken down by the main crime category of the offence that was committed …
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is recorded on offences committed by people on bail.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Court proceedings data reported on by the Scottish Government is derived from data held on the Criminal History System at the Scottish Police Services Authority. Among the information collected are the offences which individuals are charged with in Scottish c…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce high-visibility vests for offenders completing community service sentences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. However, this government is determined that communities should be made more aware of the work done by offenders as payback for the damage they have caused. Our strategy is focused on giving communities greater say in the work done, and better information …
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the development of the Scottish Crime Campus and when it expects the new facility to be operational.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The land has been acquired, the necessary site investigations carried out and the design team is working closely with all partners to create a unique and innovative facility.</p> <p >The project is on course to begin construction work next year, with occupat…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its budget for the current spending review period will be spent on the construction of HM Prison Bishopbriggs and HM Prison Grampian.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government <i >Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008</i>, published in March 2008, provides details of the funding and planned investment in the prison estate. The Scottish Prison Service budget for prison development, including HM Prison Bishopbri…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that HM Prison Bishopbriggs will be completed and what the overall cost of building it will be.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The Scottish Government <i >Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008</i>, published in March 2008, provides details of the funding and planned …
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that HM Prison Grampian will be completed and what the overall cost of building it will be.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The Scottish Government <i >Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008</i>, published in March 2008, provides details of the funding and planned …
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in relation to the redevelopment of (a) HM Prison Edinburgh, (b) HM Prison Glenochil, (c) HM Prison Perth and (d) HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont how much funding has been allocated; what work has been planned; what progress has been made, and what the expected completion date is.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The Scottish Government Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008, published in March 2008, provides details of the funding and planned investme…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether powers to provide unwanted but essential treatment for a physical disorder can be obtained under Part 6 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
Answer · Shona Robison: If an adult is deemed to be incapacitated within the definition of part 1 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, then an Intervention or Guardianship Order under Part 6 of the Act may confer powers to the guardian; welfare attorney, or person appo…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the existence of good practice guidelines is sufficient to protect a patient from being prescribed medication that could cause a fatal adverse reaction, if prescribed covertly.
Answer · Shona Robison: Any decision to give medication for mental disorder covertly to a patient who is unable to consent must be made taking account of the principles of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and where appropriate the 2003 Act. In particular any benefit mu…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the existence of good practice guidelines sufficiently protects an elderly dementia patient from being inappropriately prescribed an anti-psychotic drug.
Answer · Shona Robison: Peer review and monitoring arrangements are in place including the 2007 published Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for Dementia which contain specific advice on the use of medication. The Standards are designed to protect all patients and inform best pr…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it might be necessary to covertly administer anti-psychotic drugs.
Answer · Shona Robison: Administering medication covertly may be considered where it is necessary to treat a person for their physical or mental health and they do not have capacity to refuse or consent to such medication.</p>