Richard Baker

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 provides for the covert administration of drugs.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 does not address the issue of covert medication. It does contain safeguards about the types of treatment for mental disorder that can be given compulsorily to a patient and when a second opinion must …

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments by Tom Halpin, Temporary Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, reported in the Edinburgh Evening News on 15 November 2008, whether it is aware of any other police force that has recorded an increased number of crimes of dishonesty in recent months and, if so…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on recorded crime for specific months is not held centrally. As such, we are not aware of any other police force, at this time, that has recorded an increase in the number of crimes of dishonesty in recent months.</p> <p >The latest official figu…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes of dishonesty were recorded by each police force in each of the last 12 months.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on recorded crime for specific months is not held centrally, however annual information on recorded crimes of dishonesty for financial year 2007-08 is contained in the following table.</p> <p >Recorded Crimes of Dishonesty - 2007-08</p> <table …

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to comments from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice published in The Scotsman on 30 October 2008 and in light of the terms of motion S3M-2746: Success as Edinburgh’s Nightclubs “Unight” to Tackle Violent Crime, what action it will take to support the roll-out of schemes such as Un…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all forms of violence and will continue to work with and support partners to make our communities safer places to live. We are therefore supportive of any initiative that will have a positive impact on reducing…

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following comments from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice published in The Scotsman on 3 November 2008, what action it will take in relation to the promoters of mass pub crawls.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 puts in place provisions which will prevent licensed premises taking part in irresponsible promotions. Furthermore, Licensing Boards will be able to review the premises licence on any ground relevant to one or more of the lic…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15976 by Adam Ingram on 10 September 2008, what progress has been made in bringing forward legislation to allow same-sex couples to apply to foster children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We are currently consulting on a revised set of looked after children regulations, following extensive re-drafting in light of consultation earlier this year. In the consultation document we restate our intention to repeal the existing regulation prohibiting …

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-16676, S3W-16677 and S3W-16678 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 October 2008, whether it intends to run the Sex Offender Treatment Programme at any other prisons or young offenders’ institutions where sex offenders are currently held.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Sex Offender Treatment Programmes are currently delivered at four Scottish Prison Service (SPS) sites “ HM Prisons Peterhead, Edinburgh, B…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16679 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 October 2008, whether it has plans to collate information on reoffending rates for sex offenders who have and have not attended the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Yes.</p> <p >The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is currently gathering reoffending information on prisoners who have, and who have not com…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16845 by Maureen Watt on 4 November 2008, whether it intends to take action to address the number of pupils temporarily excluded from school for substance misuse.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The power to exclude a pupil for any reason, including substance misuse, rests with education authorities. It is, therefore, for education authorities in conjunction with schools to take decisions on exclusions based on the individual circumstances of the cas…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16680 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2008, whether it intends to take action to increase the proportion of sex offenders able to access treatment under the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

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 Prison Service (SPS) is in the process of commissioning a new rolling format sex offender programme to meet the needs of a la…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16814 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 October 2008, whether it intends to take action to increase the number of test purchases of alcohol conducted in police force areas where the number conducted is comparatively and disproportionately low.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government believes that test purchasing provides the police with a useful additional tool to help prevent illegal underage sales of alcohol and that active test purchasing encourages licensees to be more vigilant in exercising their legal obliga…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16814 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 October 2008, whether it intends to take action to increase the overall number of test purchases of alcohol.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17759 on 18 November 2008. 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/App…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16814 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 October 2008, whether it intends to take action to increase the number of test purchases of alcohol in on-sales premises.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17759 on 18 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

27 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of convicted sex offenders who did not attend the Sex Offender Treatment Programme in the last year were in receipt of alternative treatment and what that treatment entailed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >This information is not currently available.</p> <p >This will be provided in due course once we have cross-referenced all Prisoner Progr…

20 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been invested in community warden schemes in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7746 on 19 December 2007. 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/Apps…

20 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many community wardens there have been in each local authority in each year since their introduction.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7058 on 7 December 2007. 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…

20 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities combine the role of community warden with that of traffic warden.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: At present, Aberdeen City Council is the only local authority that plans to combine the role of community warden with that of traffic warden. This new service was proposed in early 2008 and is scheduled to begin in January 2009. The scheme will combine the cu…

20 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate for local authorities to combine the role of community warden with that of traffic warden.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Following the concordat between COSLA and the Scottish Government, it is now the responsibility of local authorities to determine the scope of warden services and the wardens'' role.</p> <p >Where prudent and where local needs dictate, local authorities may…

9 Oct 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , given the financial situation of Aberdeen City Council, whether it believes that efficiency savings of 2% are achievable.

Answer · John Swinney: Due to problems that have built up over a long period of time, the council faces a number of challenges. Delivering services efficiently will be a key part in helping to meet those challenges. Efficiency savings release money which can be used for the benefit…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) recommended capacity and (b) average number of inmates held at each (i) prison and (ii) young offenders institutions has been in each of the last 12 months.

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 following table illustrates the average daily population for each establishment in each of the last 12 months against the design capac…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reported incidents, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there have been in the last year, where alcohol was a contributory factor.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on whether alcohol was a contributory factor is only routinely reported for homicide cases. Information for 2006-07 indicates that 65 persons (39%) accused of homicide were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offence.</p> <p >The on…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under the age of 18 have had alcohol confiscated in the last four years in each police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are no statistics held centrally on the number of alcohol confiscations in Scotland in any given year. Only confiscations that subsequently lead to an offence under section 61 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 are recorded.</p> <p >Sectio…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been caught bringing alcohol into school in each local authority area in the last year.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This information requested is not available centrally.</p>

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been suspended for alcohol-related issues in each local authority area in the last year.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The available information on the number of pupils of temporarily excluded from school for Substance misuse “ alcohol in 2006-07, is given in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=204 valign=bot…

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) on-sales and (b) off-sales premises have had their licences suspended for (i) three months, (ii) six months and (iii) nine months in each local authority in the last year.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Such action is the responsibility of local licensing boards. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reported incidents, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions have been recorded in each local authority in each year since 2000 for offences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 relating to sales of alcohol to those under the age of 18.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables:</p> <p >The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and …

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many test purchases of alcohol have been carried out in each of the last two years in (a) on-sales and (b) off-sales premises, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: </p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=160 rowspan=2 valign=top > <p align=center >Police Force</p> </td> <td colspan=2 valign=top > <p align=center >2007</p> </td> <td colspan=2 valign=top > …

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last time was that an (a) on-sales and (b) off-sales premises had its licence removed having been found selling alcohol to people under the age of 18, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Such action is the responsibility of local licensing boards. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) on-sales and (b) off-sales premises have had their licences removed as a result of a test purchase of alcohol in the last year, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Local licensing boards are responsible for taking action against licences. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last time was that an (a) on-sales and (b) off-sales premises had its licence removed as a result of a test purchase of alcohol.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Such action is the responsibility of local licensing boards. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>