Bill Kidd

21 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with a view to encouraging people to become active citizens and to empower them through language skills, whether it plans to extend classes in English for speakers of other languages for refugees and women and long-term residents from abroad.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The adult english for speakers of other languages (ESOL) strategy for Scotland, launched in March 2007 is for all Scottish residents for whom English is not a first language. This includes migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees as well as settled minori…

5 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received direct payments for social care in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is available from the latest statistics release, <i >Direct Payments Scotland 2007</i>, which was published on the Internet on 25 September 2007. The document can be found using the following link:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.u…

20 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing recommendations 29 and 30 of The ACPOS and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service working group formed to develop joint protocols, as recommended in the Bonomy Report.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Both recommendations relate to the disclosure of evidence in criminal proceedings by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish police.</p> <p >Recommendation 29 suggested that the police and COPFS should commit to a process of f…

20 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to implement the recommendations on disclosure contained in Review of the Law and Practice of Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As the Scottish Government announced on 29 April 2008, we will in the near future bring forward legislation to deliver the review''s recommendations on disclosure.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests received by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force, referred to the Scottish Information Commissioner and ordered to be disclosed have been appealed by the Scottish Crimina…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Information Commissioner has never instructed the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to disclose information, therefore no such appeals have ever been made.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests received by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force and referred to the Scottish Information Commissioner have been disclosed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Information Commissioner has never instructed the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to disclose information in relation to any case referred to him.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests received by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force have been referred to the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: One such request had been referred to the Scottish Information Commissioner by 31 March 2008.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests received by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force have been (a) disclosed in the first instance, (b) refused in the first instance, (c) disclosed after review and (d) refu…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Nineteen requests for information, made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, have resulted in information being released, while eight have been refused. Two requests resulted in partial disclosure. To date, four requests for review have been …

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests have been received by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission since the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission had received a total of 32 such requests by 31 March 2008.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission holds records of the names of individual solicitors referred to the commission on grounds of defective representation.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Individual applications from members of the public and/or their legal representatives will include the names of solicitors involved in a case, as will the Statement of Reasons that the Commission provides in relation to each application.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the disclosure of the names of solicitors referred to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission for defective representation would contravene section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12508 on 9 May 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/webapp/wa…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it to be in the public interest to disclose the names of solicitors referred to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission for defective representation.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Solicitors are not referred to the SCCRC. Once an application has been reviewed by the SCCRC it can be referred to the High Court.</p> <p >When the court considers a case, the details of that case (including the names of any solicitors or other legal repres…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken against solicitors referred to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission for defective representation.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Solicitors are not referred to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. Where the Commission refers a case to the High Court, and the court overturns a conviction on the grounds of defective representation, it may be possible for disciplinary proceeding…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes defective representation by solicitors.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The approach to be taken by the courts in cases in which there is an allegation of defective representation is defined in <i >Anderson</i><i > vs H.M. Advocate </i>(1996 SCCR 114). The then Lord Justice General stated that the conduct of the defence by the …

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals against convictions have been referred to the high court in each year since 1999, broken down by grounds of appeal.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is provided in the following table.</p> <p >Conviction Referrals from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2008</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> …

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals against convictions have been received by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year since 1999, broken down by grounds for appeal.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is set out in the following table.</p> <p >Number of applications received by the SCCRC, broken down by main grounds of review - 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2008</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > …

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has to determine what is defined as an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12400 on 8 May 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/webapp/wa…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for determining what is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Under the provisions of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, the operational deployment of individual officers is subject to the direction of the chief constable.</p> <p >However, there are circumstances when chief constables are legitimately influenced in their …

26 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what new arrangements the First Minister has put in place to develop and maintain the relationship between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament following the election of the SNP minority administration in May 2007.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The First Minister has appointed 14 Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs), listed as follows, to play a role in contributing to the effective communication of the government''s policy within the Parliament to support Cabinet Secretaries. Parliamentary Liaison…

18 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the deployment of Taser weapons is an operational matter for Chief Constables and, if so, what (a) legislation or guidelines define such deployment as an operational matter and (b) the scope is of the term “operational matter”.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The deployment of Taser weapons is an operational matter for Chief Constables.</p> <p >Section 17(2) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 states that the performance by a constable of his functions under any enactment or under any rule of law shall be subject t…

18 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Taser weapons are defined as firearms.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Taser weapons are defined as firearms under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended).</p>

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the organisations that have benefited from the Cashback for Communities scheme, broken down by (a) amount of award and (b) activity type.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are at present providing £2.238 million of funding under CashBack for Communities to the Scottish Football Association to roll out a range of free football activities across Scotland. These activities address playing and coach/volunteer development work. F…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which professionals will receive special training and toolkits as a result of the £200,000 funding to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10903 on 25 March 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/webapp/…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the bidding process for funding from the £200,000 to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008, will close.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to question S3W-10903 on 25 March 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/webapp/wa.search">htt…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how organisations should bid for funding from the £200,000 to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10903 on 25 March 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/webapp…

12 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations will receive funding from the £200,000 to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The closing date for applications for a share of the £200,000 was 7 March 2008. Thirty bids from a range of statutory and voluntary organisations have been received and are currently being evaluated. All of the successful bids will deliver a range of educatio…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled and learning-disabled representatives will be on the planning committee for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The delivery of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and the group structure to support that work, is a matter for the Glasgow 2014 Organising Company.</p> <p >The Scottish Government places great importance on its requirements under the public sector equality du…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that children and young people with disabilities have access to leisure and recreational opportunities.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government, through sportscotland, is committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport at all levels, and invests in disability sport in a number of ways through a range of key partners including local autho…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that children and young people with disabilities and their parents are involved in decisions about their care.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and involving children and young people with disabilities and their parents in decisions about their care. We are currently engaging at strategic level with the For Scotland's Disabled Children coalition on r…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to encourage and support good moving and handling practice for children and young people with disabilities.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is developing a coherent approach to the encouragement and support of good moving and handling practice for children and young people with disabilities. This approach will cover practice in health, education, social work and other rele…