John Lamont

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many restriction of liberty orders for children under 16 have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A total of six restriction of liberty orders (RLOs) have been made in relation to young people under the age of 16 since provisions extending the use of RLOs in such cases came into force in April 2005. Applications are not made for such orders; they are a se…

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued on conviction by each sheriff court since the introduction of this option.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested, up to end of March 2008, is available on our website at <a href="http://www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com/">www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com</a>.</p>

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been applied for by local authorities and subsequently granted in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested, up to March 2006, can be found in the report Use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland, laid before Parliament on 20 September 2007 (Bib. number 43671).</p> <p >Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders granted b…

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been applied for by registered social landlords and subsequently granted in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table details the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBO) that have been applied for by registered social landlords …

21 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to introduce a local energy production policy.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government believes that an increase in local energy generation can help us achieve our energy and climate change targets and provide benefits for communities.</p> <p >We will shortly consult on a draft framework for the development and deployme…

21 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to encourage homeowners to install solar panels.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to improving energy efficiency and increasing microgeneration in Scotland''s homes. We have tripled funding for community and microgeneration allocating up to £13.5 million each year over the next three years.</p> <p >Our…

21 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to expand the use of solar power for government buildings.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is currently participating in the latest phase of the Carbon Management Programme, which will identify the most appropriate low carbon technologies that can be introduced to reduce carbon emissions relative to our building operations. …

21 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to expand and improve locally-based energy generation projects.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the provision of locally-based energy generated in Scotland.</p> <p >We have tripled funding support for community and microgeneration projects for the next three years.</p> <p >In June we launched an £18.8…

21 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage homeowners to improve home installation to help energy conservation.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government supports a range of measures to encourage homeowners to improve home installation to help energy conservation: </p> <p >We recently launched the Energy Saving Scotland advice network, which is a one stop shop for advice on a range of …

21 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change building regulations to improve energy conservation in new houses.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A building standards advisory committee working party is presently reviewing the energy standards in building regulations. The intention is to consult on any proposed changes in 2009, with a view to introducing revisions in 2010.</p>

3 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A1 between Dunbar and the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to upgrade the A1 between Dunbar and the Scottish Borders. However, Transport Scotland’s strategic transport projects review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland’s national strategic transport network. This includes cons…

3 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents there have been on the A1 in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) duelled and (b) single carriageway sections.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The number of personal injury accidents recorded on the A1 in each of the last five years broken down by (a) dual carriageway and (b) single carriageway sections is as shown in the following table.</p> <p >A1 Personal Injury Accidents</p> <table border=1 c…

3 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last meeting of the A1 steering group took place.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The last meeting of the A1 Steering Group took place on 16 June 2003.</p>

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average broadband connection speed is in each local authority area.

Answer · Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally.</p>

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average broadband connection speed is in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally.</p>

19 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has in place to protect the public from food shortages.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises the vital role of all those working throughout the supply chain in ensuring the long-term capacity and capability of our food supply. We have established a Food group, under the Resilience Advisory Board for Scotland (RABS) …

9 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what questions relating to drug use are asked of new prisoners when they arive at prison and whether this information is retained.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Every prisoner, when admitted into custody, goes through health screening by a nurse. Prisoners are asked whether they have ever used solv…

9 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what questions relating to drug use are asked of new prisoners when they arrive at prison and whether this information is retained.

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reduce the annual running costs of Forestry Commission Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: Spending by Forestry Commission Scotland is approved by the Parliament annually through the Budget Bill. The bill sets out their expenditure limits, but we also expect all of our directorates and their agencies to contribute to our efficiency targets.</p> <p…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether standard check-in and interview procedures exist in the Scottish Prison Service when new prisoners arrive at prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Standard prisoner admission procedures include searching, recording and storing prisoner property and cash, anti-suicide/self-harm procedu…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many sniffer dogs are used in the Scottish Prison Service to detect drugs.

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 Tactical Dog Unit have currently five drug detection dogs this being made up of three passive detection dogs a…

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to enhance dispensary services provided by GP practices in rural Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Dispensing practices in Scotland provide dispensing for some or all of their patients only where a community pharmacy service is unavailable. This service is subject to a special funding regime. We are currently reviewing the long standing contractual arrange…

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support dispensary services provided by GP practices.

Answer · Shona Robison: Dispensing practices in Scotland provide dispensing for some or all of their patients only where a community pharmacy service is unavailable. This service is subject to a special funding regime. We are currently reviewing the long standing contractual arrange…

15 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement any of the previous administration’s plans to connect more communities to mains gas.

Answer · Jim Mather: We recognise that communities and individuals without access to mains gas may face additional fuel costs and inconvenience. For this reason, we consider that renewable energy presents an opportunity for such communities in particular. We are promoting communi…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners currently receiving a custodial sentence are first time offenders, compared with those in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information on individual offenders receiving a custodial sentence and with no previous convictions is given in the following publications:</p> <p >Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2001 in table 15 (under the Custody column for All prev…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners currently in custody have no previous convictions.

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 available centrally. The Scottish Prison Service holds information on the number of prisoners in custody and their…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people coming before Scottish courts in the last 10 years were first-time offenders.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information on the proportion of individual offenders with a charge proved and with no previous convictions is given in the following publications:</p> <p >Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2001 in table 15 (under the Total column for Al…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners currently in custody have five or more convictions.

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 available centrally. The Scottish Prison Service holds information on the number of prisoners in custody and their…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners currently in custody have committed a serious offence.

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 most recent day for which a representative figure for the prison population can be released publicly is 12 December 2007. The populati…

26 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many parenting orders have been issued under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Adam Ingram: There have been no parenting orders to date.</p> <p >A parenting order should only be considered where a parent has been offered help and support on a voluntary basis and has refused to engage with this support. It is for the professionals working with famil…