Alison McInnes

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions it has (a) approved and (b) declined warrants and modifications for the interception of communications in serious crime cases in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 prevents figures from being published. The Interception of Communications Commissioner may do so, and does, but only after receiving the agreement of the Prime Minister. Figures are contained in the Interception…

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether interception warrants should be subject to judicial or political authorisation.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government supports the principles that underpin the recommendation that warrants be signed by senior judges. We will watch closely and with great interest to see how this recommendation translates into firm legislative proposals and will eng…

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the implementation in full of the recommendations of the report of the Investigatory Powers Review by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomes the contribution that David Anderson's review makes to the investigatory powers debate. We recognise the need for law enforcement and security services to have access to the information they require, but appropriate safeguards…

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation that the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office, the Office of Surveillance Commissioners and the Intelligence Services Commissioner should be replaced by a new independent surve…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomes the contribution that David Anderson's review makes to the investigatory powers debate. The recommendation to amalgamate three existing commissions into a single independent body is worth considering and we will be interested …

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the first payment to a victim from the Victim Surcharge Fund was made, how many payments have been made to date, and what the total value has been.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question SW4-26414 on 23 July 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the first victim surcharge was imposed; how much has been imposed in total, and how much of this money has been collected.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26414 on 23 July 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) criminal offences, (b) circumstances and (c) descriptions of offender can cause a victim surcharge to be imposed.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The victim surcharge is not yet operational, nor have the relevant provisions in the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 been brought into force. Therefore, no surcharges have been imposed or payments made. The victim surcharge is due to be introduced …

30 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information is given to education authorities regarding the (a) instigation and (b) outcome of each children’s hearing.

Answer · Fiona McLeod: No information is routinely passed to education authorities regarding the instigation or outcome of hearings.

22 Jun 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new women’s prison will comply with the recommendations of the Commission on Women Offenders.

22 Jun 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the finding by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research that in 2014-15 Police Scotland's use of stop and search remained "unduly high".

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25353 by John Swinney on 7 May 2015, whether it is now in a position to confirm on what date it will publish its response to the consultation on proposed amendments to the NHS Central Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government continues to give serious consideration to points raised in consultation responses. As confirmed in S4W-25353, we will publish an analysis of responses and set out how we and National Records of Scotland intend to proceed.

11 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of those recommendations of the Infant Cremation Commission for which it is responsible.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has established the National Committee on Infant Cremation to ensure, through a combination of oversight and direct tasks, that the 64 recommendations from the Infant Cremation Commission are fully implemented in Scotland. Recommend…

11 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to save through reform of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme and whether this will be reinvested into frontline enforcement activity.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The primary objective of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme review was to maximise the programme’s capability in contributing to casualty reductions, ensuring delivery of the most effective and efficient outcomes and that best use is being made of existing …

11 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions people being questioned by the police have waived their right to speak to a solicitor in each of the last three years; what percentage of all cases this represents, and what reasons were provided.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Police Scotland does not currently hold this information centrally. However, the introduction of i6 across Police Scotland in 2016 will, amongst other things, capture the electronic recording of the solicitor access request form process and will enable Police…

11 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03981 by Annabelle Ewing on 4 February 2015 (Official Report, c. 10) how much it has invested in tackling the underrepresentation of disabled young people across its employability programmes in each year since 2011-12, also brok…

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: A number of our employability programmes support disabled young people. Specific support includes: Community Jobs Scotland, which since 2013-14 has included 100 opportunities targeted for young people with disabilities or long-term health problems; Targeted…

3 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve access to child and adolescent mental health services in North East Scotland.

2 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how HMP Edinburgh has been adapted to accommodate female prisoners.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The physical structure of the HMP Edinburgh has not been significantly altered to accommodate female offenders. Establishment processes, pr…

2 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to cease imprisoning women at HMP Edinburgh.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “There are currently no plans to cease the imprisonment of women in HMP Edinburgh. This establishment is currently the only secure facility …

2 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what average number of hours per week convicted prisoners have been engaged in purposeful activity (a) across the prison estate and (b) in each penal establishment, broken down by gender, in each year since 2012-13.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011, Rule 84 sets out the definition and range of activities that can be rec…

2 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have been imprisoned at HMP Edinburgh in each year since 2011-12.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The table below shows the average population of women in HMP Edinburgh for each year since 2011-12:” Year Average Women Population 2011 …

26 May 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Police Scotland has been using facial recognition technology on images stored on the police national database.

21 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what factors it considers when designating seal haul-out sites.

24 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24993 by Michael Matheson on 13 April 2015, how many civilian (a) licensing administration and (b) firearms enquiry officer posts would be retained under the proposals to change how the firearms licensing function is managed and delivered.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As I said in response to S4W-24993, Police Scotland is currently consulting staff on proposals to change the way the firearms licensing function is managed and delivered. Any decision on the way forward is a matter for the chief constable, with the approval o…

24 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police (a) civilian support staff and (b) officers have been authorised to assess applications and issue explosives licences in each of the last three years, broken down by legacy force and division, and what plans there are to review whether the number is sufficient.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The deployment of police officers and staff is a matter for Police Scotland, with the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. Licensing of explosives is a reserved matter under the UK’s health and safety legislation. Police Scotland’s explosives licensing…

24 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for explosives licences there have been in each of the last three years, broken down by purpose, and how many were issued.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Licensing of explosives is a reserved matter under the UK’s health and safety legislation. Police Scotland’s explosives licensing section is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Exp…

23 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish its response to the consultation on proposed amendments to the NHS Central Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is considering the views expressed in response to our consultation on proposed amendments to the National Health Service Central Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006. We will set out our intended way forward shortly and in doing so wil…

9 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21187 by Kenny MacAskill on 29 May 2014, whether it will provide the same information for 2014-15.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: ‘‘The recording of Rule 95 data remains as reported in the previous response (S4W-21187) and regrettably only the same data configuration is…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many housebreakings have been recorded in Edinburgh in each year since 2006-07; what the detection rate was, and how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have resulted, broken down by disposal.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The number of housebreakings recorded by the police in Edinburgh in each year since 2006-07 is publically available in the tables which accompany Recorded Crime in Scotland 2013-14, which can be accessed via the following link: http://www.gov.scot/Publicatio…

26 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times since 5 November 2013 prisoners have been held in the HMPYOI Cornton Vale separation and reintegration unit, also broken down by the (a) average and (b) longest period of incarceration; how many prisoners were held more than once and for how long, and what prison rules wer…

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: ‘‘The number of women located in the Separation and Reintegration Unit (SRU) at HMPYOI Cornton Vale in the timeframe requested were as follo…

26 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21187 by Kenny MacAskill on 29 May 2014, what work is involved with updating the prisoner records system and whether it will provide an update on the progress made.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: ‘‘As set out in Mr MacAskill’s response to S4W-21187, SPS set about a review of the capacity and capability of the current PR2 system …