Alison McInnes

22 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23099 by Alex Neil on 25 November 2014, how it is monitoring the success of its Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme and how this work has increased (a) the number of applications from and (b) representation of (i) people from minority et…

Answer · Alex Neil: The progress of our Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme in relation to improving the diversity of ministerial appointments to the boards of Scotland’s public bodies is currently monitored through the tracking of applications received and appointme…

19 Jan 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need for support following the fire at the Peterhead fish processing plant.

7 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the independent reference group considering post-corroboration safeguards will report.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Lord Bonomy has indicated that the post-corroboration safeguards review will be completed by April 2015.

5 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the availability of child and adolescent mental health services in North East Scotland.

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many occasions psychoactive medication has been prescribed for dementia in each year since 2009-10.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information on how many occasions psychoactive medication has been prescribed for dementia in each year since 2009-10 is not collected centrally, as the relevant prescribing database does not contain diagnosis information. In 2012 we published a report we co…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been asked for advice by local authorities on introducing by-laws regarding the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not been asked for advice by local authorities on introducing by-laws regarding the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices. Public sector organisations are covered by section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 which states t…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about how many Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices are in use and which of the public sector organisations that it has responsibility for have deployed them.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Information about the number of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices in use and the deployment of them is not held centrally. Public sector organisations are covered by section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 which states that a public authority must, in…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought regarding whether the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has considered a range of advice across a number of different issues in respect of the Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent device. It is for each public authority themselves to determine what they need to do to comply with human rights…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices; whether it considers these devices discriminatory; what analysis it has made about how they might impact on the (a) health and (b) behaviour of young people, and what powers it has to (i) ban and (ii) regulat…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not support use of the Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent device. Its use is not consistent with our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour, nor is it consistent with our desire to promote strong and supportive communities whe…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have been taken to a police station under mental health legislation in each of the last three years, broken down by legacy force or division; what (i) guidance and (ii) procedures are in place for doing so, and what services are provided for those det…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally. As stated in the answer to question S4W-23740 on 16 January 2015, the only statistical information available is provided in the Mental Welfare Commission’s statistical monitoring report. Training and guidance …

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times police have taken people with mental health needs to places of safety in each of the last three years, broken down by legacy force or division.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information is not held centrally. However, the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) publishes a statistical monitoring report each year. The most recent report was published in October 2014: http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/203499/mha_monitoring_2013_2014__3_…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23357 by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2014, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in cases where the main charge had a domestic abuse aggravator recorded in 2013-14, also broken down by (i) disposal and (ii) how many were sent…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-23055, S4W-23056 and S4W-23057 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 November 2014, given that the visiting committees are appointed and report independently of the agency, for what reason it considered it appropriate for the chief executive of the Scottish Pr…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The questions referred to were answered by the Scottish Prison Service because Scottish Ministers’ functions for appointments to, and funding of, prison visiting committees are currently performed by the Scottish Prison Service. The draft Public Services Ref…

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08134 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 June 2012, how many prisoner-on-prisoner assaults have been reported in each prison since the beginning of 2013.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The following table illustrates the total number of prisoner on prisoner assaults broken down by establishment since the beginning of 2013.…

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08133 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 June 2012, what the average fine was for possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy, (d) cannabis and (e) amphetamines in each of the last three years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The available information for the last three financial years, 2010-11 to 2012-13, is given in the following table. Information for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is d…

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08131 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 June 2012, how many people convicted of possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis, (d) amphetamines and (e) ecstasy in each of the last two years received (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a community payback order…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The available information for the last two financial years, 2011-12 and 2012-13, is given in the following table. Information for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is du…

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11649 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 December 2012, how many reports of animal cruelty were recorded in each police area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 and how many led to a (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Please note that police recorded crime statistics are not directly comparable with statistics on action taken against offenders, as one offence may lead to several persons being charged. Equally, an offender may be charged with several offences. In addition, …

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11654 by Aileen Campbell on 12 December 2012, how many people disputed information from a criminal record check carried out by Disclosure Scotland in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14, broken down by whether the dispute was based on (i) identity, (ii) acc…

Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2012-13, Disclosure Scotland received a total of 373 disputes, equivalent to 0.03 per cent of all applications processed. 181 (49 per cent) were upheld. A breakdown of the disputes is shown in the following table: 2012-13 Dispute by Type Upheld Identit…

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11650 by Kenny MacAskill on 13 December 2012, how many fines were issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for selling alcohol to a drunk person in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Answer · Michael Matheson: One person was given a non-court disposal of a fiscal fine in 2012-13 under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 section 113: sale of alcohol to a drunk person. Information for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotl…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary and (b) justice of the peace cases was dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at the courts in (i) Annan, (ii) Cumbernauld, (iii) Irvine, (iv) Motherwell, (v) Portree, (vi) Stornoway, (vii) Wick, (viii) Dornoch, (ix) Kirkcudbr…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Tables showing the information requested on the percentage of sheriff summary and justice of the peace cases dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at courts has been prepared and a copy of this table is available in the Scottish Parlia…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary and (b) justice of the peace cases was dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at the courts in (i) Arbroath, (ii), Cupar, (iii) Stonehaven, (iv) Forfar, (v) Dundee and (vi) Aberdeen in each (A) year since 2006-07 and (B) month…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Tables showing the information requested on the percentage of sheriff summary and justice of the peace cases dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at courts has been prepared and a copy of this table is available in the Scottish Parlia…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Saturday courts working group has met and when it will (a) complete its work and (b) publish its findings.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Extended Courts Working Group had its inaugural meeting on 13 January 2014. It has met on eight subsequent occasions. The group submitted a preliminary feasibility assessment report to the Justice Board in October 2014. The board endorsed the recommendat…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have had regarding the establishment of guidance on the referral to and provision of restorative justice services, and on what date it will be published.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Ministers have not had any meetings specifically relating to the establishment of guidance on restorative justice services. However, Scottish Government officials met representatives from Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, and the Sco…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions for offences with a domestic abuse aggravator in each year since 2011-12 have been for a repeat offence.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table shows the number of unique individuals convicted of a crime/offence with a domestic abuse aggravator between 2011-12 to 2012-13, and includes the number and percentage of these individuals that had at least one previous conviction with a d…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in cases where the main charge had a domestic abuse aggravator recorded in each year since 2011-12, also broken down by (i) disposal and (ii) how many were sent to a prison or young offenders institution.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The available information is given in the following table. Information for 2013-14 will be available after the publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014. The dates of …

13 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each local authority is being allocated to meet the £39 million capital investment that the 2015-16 draft budget asserts will be required to fund the expansion of early learning and childcare, and how the allocations have been calculated.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The attached table sets out how much each local authority is being allocated. This allocation has been calculated on the basis of the estimated number of two-year-olds who are in households that are in receipt of out of work benefits in each local authority a…

12 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions there have been under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 in the last three years and how many of those received (a) a fine, (b) a custodial sentence and (c) a fine and a custodial sentence.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In the last three financial years for which information is available, 2010-11 to 2012-13, where the main offence was under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, (a) 66, 86 and 59 received a fine and (b) 96, 107 and 97 people received a custodial sentence…

6 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which prison visiting committees have reported problems recruiting members since 2006-07 and on what dates.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “Appointments to prison visiting committees are made by local authorities, with the exception of young offender institutions (HMYOIs C…

6 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prison visiting committee members there have been in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: ‘‘Appointments to prison visiting committees are made by local authorities, with the exception of young offender institutions (HMYOIs Cornto…

6 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) vacancies there are and (b) members there should be on each prison visiting committee.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “Appointments to prison visiting committees are made by local authorities, with the exception of young offender institutions (HMYOIs Cornton…