Parliamentary questions
Graeme Pearson
335 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered creating a Community Links Centre-type service for long-term prisoners in preparation for their release back into the community.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The services provided in prisons through the links centre model are available to all sentenced prisoners. In addition, all long-term and lif…
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered rolling out the Community Links Centre model of service to other locations.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: There are links centres in all public sector prisons in Scotland. Private sector prisons also operate a links centre model that enables pris…
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how successful the Community Links Centre service has been and how this has been measured.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS considers that the community links facilities provided in prisons to enable prisoners to get access to services to support them on r…
27 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many police support staff there were in (a) each police force, (b) the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and (c) the Scottish Police Services Authority on 30 June 2012.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police staff play a critical role in the success of Scottish policing, and supporting the delivery of crucial frontline services, and will continue to do so in the future. The number of police support staff (full-time equivalent) on 30 June 2012 are given in …
24 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-05880 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 March 2012, whether it will make an announcement on the introduction of such a service and, if so, (a) when it will be launched, (b) how much it will cost to (i) develop and (ii) operate, (c) who would run it, (d) how m…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Consideration of the adoption of the “111” number for access to non-emergency healthcare services in Scotland is still ongoing; a decision will be made in due course. Should it be adopted, this number would replace the existing number for NHS 24 and therefore…
22 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how successful the Scottish Prison Service's Learning, Skills and Employability contract has been; how the contract is evaluated, and what impact it has had on prisoners' (a) literacy and (b) numeracy levels.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: During the first year of the Learning and Skills Services (LSS) contracts, the learning providers have performed in accordance with contract…
22 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how successful the literacy screening tool, the Big Plus, has been.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: A total of 5,575 prisoners opted to be assessed under the Big Plus screening tool from its introduction on 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012. Ap…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to support the identification of dyslexia and related conditions.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, as amended, education authorities have a duty to identify any additional support needs for all children and young people for whom they are responsible, and to tailor provision to their…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken to identify young people with Meares-Irlen Syndrome.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, as amended, education authorities have a duty to identify any additional support needs for all children and young people for whom they are responsible and to tailor provision to their …
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often salmon farms are inspected to monitor levels of sea lice.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Sea lice inspections are completed as part of a broader risk-based surveillance inspection programme. Those farms assessed as being of highest risk of contracting or spreading the listed diseases are visited annually, those of medium risk once every second ye…
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Marine Scotland Science has deleted data on sea lice levels at salmon farms.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under The Fish Farming Businesses (Record Keeping) (Scotland) Order 2008, Schedule 1, Part 2) Marine Scotland Science can require that sea lice records be submitted for scrutiny. Where compliance has been demonstrated, that record will either be returned to t…
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that it has an accurate picture regarding the level of sea lice in Scottish waters and the impact on fish stocks.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08525 on 19 July 2012. 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/parliamentarybu…
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it records the levels of sea lice in Scottish waters.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not carry out routine monitoring or recording of sea lice levels in Scottish waters.
15 Jun 2012 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what advice it sought regarding the proposed external screening facility.
14 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners in each year since 2005 was on remand.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The information requested can be found in Table 1 of the annual Prison statistics Scotland publication. This is available online at http:/…
14 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve economic activity in (a) Girvan, (b) Stranraer, (c) Sanquhar, (d) Cumnock, (e) Ayr, (f) Maybole, (g) Dumfries, (h) Eyemouth, (i) Hawick, (j) Kilmarnock, and surrounding areas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting sustainable growth across Scotland. We recognise the particular challenges faced in the South of Scotland and work closely with a wide range of delivery partners including: Scottish Enterprise; Scottish Devel…
21 May 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what progress is being made with the criminal investigation of the Lockerbie bombing.
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) has arrangements in place for penalties in the event of a failure to deliver the new IT performance platform for police forces.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who the suppliers are of the new IT performance platform for police forces and whether they have been paid.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the new IT performance platform for police forces will cost.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what problems the suppliers of the new IT performance platform for police forces are facing in implementing the system.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the new IT performance platform for police forces is located.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces are involved in the testing of the new IT performance platform.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what elements of the new IT performance platform for police forces are in place.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes are required to ensure that the new IT performance platform for police forces will operate under a single police force.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support the Scottish Police Services Authority is providing to ensure that the new IT performance platform for police forces is in place as soon as possible.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07251 on 28 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…
15 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the new IT performance platform for police forces will be in place.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information relating to the performance platform project is a matter for Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS), the project owner.
25 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to meet the international goals agreed in the NASCO Guidance on Best Management Practices to address the impacts of sea lice and escaped salmon on wild salmon stocks.
24 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06484 by Alasdair Allan on 24 April 2012, whether it plans to work toward the ambition of at least two hours of quality physical education for secondary school pupils and what steps it will take to achieve that ambition.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all pupils in S1 to S4 receive at least two periods of physical education per week by 2014. Delivery of this commitment will be validated through the Healthy Living Survey, with school level data being pub…
24 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06485 by Alasdair Allan on 24 April 2012, what activities it considers constitute quality physical education.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: It is for each teacher to use their professional judgement to design and deliver physical education which engages and motivates children and young people. Curriculum for Excellence defines the experiences and outcomes which physical education should support, …