Parliamentary questions
Alison McInnes
1,004 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) progress it has made and (b) meetings it has had on developing guidance on restorative justice services since 5 December 2014, and on what date it will be published.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government officials met with the Chair of the Scottish Restorative Justice Forum on 21 January 2015 to discuss, among other things, the collaborative approach to preparing an initial draft of the guidance to be published under the Victims and Witnes…
10 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Extended Courts Working Group has made; how often it has met since 5 December 2014, and on what date it will publish its findings.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Extended Courts Working Group has met on three occasions since 5 December 2014. It continues to report to the Justice Board. It is presently exploring a range of options for managing custodies at weekends, along with establishing the costs and benefits of…
10 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to merge the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland; what other options have been considered; whether there will be a consultation on the plans, and whether the Parliament will have the opportunity to (a) scrutinise and (b) ap…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The timing for the integration of the Scottish Division of the British Transport Police within Police Scotland is subject to the progress of legislation through the UK Parliament. Following the devolution of railway policing in Scotland to the Scottish Parli…
9 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Police Scotland’s restructuring and centralisation of the firearms licensing function.
18 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances information would be given to a child’s named person regarding the (a) instigation and (b) outcome of a children’s hearing, and what information must be provided.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The instigation and processes around a children’s hearing includes local authority social work involvement. The Children and Young People Act under Part 4 will place duties on local authorities and others, including the principal reporter to share information…
21 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths (a) in police custody and (b) following police contact have been recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by Police Scotland division or legacy force.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The chief constable must refer to the police investigations and review commissioner (PIRC) the death or serious injury of any person who had direct or indirect contact with the police at or before their death or serious injury and where there is an indication…
21 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider publishing annual statistics on deaths (a) in police custody and (b) following police contact.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Annual reports of the police investigations and review commissioner already set out the number of cases referred to them relating to deaths in police custody and deaths following police contact. The Scottish Government will consider with stakeholders the most…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years prisoner and custody escort services have handcuffed detainees during (a) a journey and (b) embarkation or disembarkation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. Prisoners are …
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years prisoners have spent time in police custody instead of prison due to (a) delays in escort services, (b) late court appearances, (c) being locked out of prison and (d) other reasons, also broken down by the length of stay in police custody.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This information…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoner and custody escort vehicles have been involved in road traffic accidents during escort journeys in each of the last three years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract includes escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This answer…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland’s national prostitution strategy will prevent harm; whether it will aim to ensure a standard national approach to dealing with prostitution; who will be consulted prior to its introduction, and when it will be published.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The content and timing of publication of Police Scotland’s national prostitution strategy is a matter for Police Scotland. We have been advised by Police Scotland that they are currently in the process of developing a prostitution policy, supported by an …
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland plans to enhance the capability of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Following the Review of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, capability of the Programme will be enhanced through greater deployment flexibility and improved operational effectiveness. Any efficiencies from structural savings will be reinvested into frontlin…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland conducts its Public Consultation Survey.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Each year, Police Scotland undertake a survey to seek the views of members of the public on what the local policing priorities for their area should be. Last year, over 43000 people were surveyed through face to face interviews. These were undertaken by local…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether detainees attending court on consecutive days are able to exercise.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: All prisons provide prisoners with the opportunity to exercise and spend time in the open air. Where a prisoner is attending court or a ho…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when prisoners are given information regarding where an escorted journey is transporting them to.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This answer refer…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether children using the prisoner and custody escort service are always asked about their experience on arrival.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Currently, children and young people who are sentenced to detention through court and transported by the escort services are not asked about their experiences on arrival. The escort services contract contains a provision to ensure that an effective complai…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made about prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, and how prisoners access information about how to make a complaint.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. The follow…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many self-harm incidents have been recorded during prisoner escort and custody journeys in each of the last three years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. The following t…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people being transported by prisoner and custody escort services are offered (a) food, (b) drink, and (c) toilet breaks, and whether these are provided on all journeys.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. The servi…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of prisoner and custody escort vehicles has seatbelts, and what research has been undertaken on whether there is appropriate provision.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This answer refer…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether adapted prisoner and custody escort vehicles are always used for (a) disabled, (b) claustrophobic, (c) pregnant and (d) child detainees.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. Under the terms…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years details about a person's security arrangements and requirements have not been provided by the Scottish Prison Service to prisoner and custody escort services prior to their transportation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland (CCPES) contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. Thi…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital appointments have been (a) delayed and (b) cancelled in each of three years due to problems with the provision of prisoner and custody escort services.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland (CCPES) contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This answ…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years pregnant women have been transported to hospital by prisoner and custody escort services; how often health information was provided to the service in advance of the journey, and how many were handcuffed while (a) being transported and (b) at…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. The table below…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years detainees have been transported to hospital by prisoner and custody escort services; how often information on their condition was provided to the service in advance of the journey, and how many were handcuffed while (a) being transported and…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. The following…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessment is made to determine whether (a) adult and (b) child detainees should be handcuffed while being transported by prisoner and custody escort services, and whether there is a presumption in favour of handcuffing during (i) the journey and (ii) embarkation and disembarka…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract makes clear that handcuffs should only be used if required. The current cont…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years prisoner and custody escort services have transported (a) children in the same vehicle as adults, (b) women in the same vehicle as men and (c) vulnerable detainees in the same vehicle as other detainees.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This information…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest (i) distance and (ii) time was for a person to be transported by prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, also broken down by (A) age and (B) gender.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and over. The distance trav…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been transported by prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above. This info…
14 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Police Scotland plans to replace some multi-member ward plans with area plans; what consultation has taken place, and when any changes would be implemented.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for Police Scotland, working in partnership with local government and communities across Scotland. In consultation with stakeholders, Police Scotland will renew their existing local multi-member ward plans and pilot a new approach in three lo…