Mary Fee

20 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether training is given to teachers to support children with a parent in prison.

Answer · Michael Russell: The teaching standards set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland require teachers to be able to identify and respond appropriately to pupils with difficulties in or barriers to learning and recognise when to seek advice in relation to their additional …

20 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that every child has the right to visit a parent who is in prison and, if so, whether this right can be withdrawn as a disciplinary measure against that parent.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Prison Rules expressly provide that persons of a prisoner’s choice, which includes (though not expressly) children, must be allowed to visit …

20 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement child impact assessments at the point of custody of a parent.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce child impact assessments at the point of custody. The best interests of the child are always paramount to the police who would link in with relevant partners specifically health and social work when necessary …

14 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives it provides for young homeless people to (a) enter higher education or (b) find higher paying work.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government recognises the important role access to employment, training and education can play in helping young people move on from the experience of homelessness and the challenges they may encounter in this regard. On the specific issue of in…

14 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling youth homelessness.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to addressing homelessness amongst young people, underpinned by our commitment to the target that all those assessed as unintentionally homeless by local authorities will be entitled to settled accommodation by the end of …

14 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children stay with a parent who is a prisoner.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: There are currently no children in the mother and baby unit at HMP Cornton Vale. With regard to prisoners who have children residing with them wh…

7 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines there are for police on how to treat children when arresting a parent.

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to improve the level of trust and cooperation between law enforcement and support services for victims of human trafficking

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: These issues are principally operational matters for the organisations involved. However, the Scottish Government will host a summit in the coming months to bring together the various agencies involved in combating trafficking in human beings to refresh the …

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up a multi-agency organisation to tackle human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to set up such an organisation.

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has given to tackle human trafficking in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government provides funding to the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA) and Migrant Help to support suspected victims of trafficking as set out in the following table. Funding for TARA commenced in 2006 and commenced for Migrant Helpline…

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold a campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no current plans but will consider with stakeholders what further specific human trafficking awareness-raising activities would be of benefit within the public and private sectors.

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a bill to tackle human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has not yet decided its legislative programme for future years. Any proposal to introduce a specific bill on trafficking in human beings would have to be considered alongside a wide range of other potential priorities for legislation.…

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will launch a review of the legislation in relation to human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government keeps human trafficking legislation under regular review and responds as appropriate to any developments in line with our commitment to tackle this form of serious organised crime.

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05138 by Shona Robison on 31 January 2012, what its position is on the finding of the Inquiry into Human Trafficking in Scotland that Scotland's police service has a "significant intelligence gap on human trafficking" and how it will address this is…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Intelligence assessments are operational matters for police forces. The Scottish Government provided additional funding of £4 million over a two year period from 2009 to 2011 to the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency to boost capacity to tackle organ…

16 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have an agreement with the Scottish Prison Service regarding private companies supplying their medical care.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No prisoner has an agreement with the Scottish Prison Service regarding private companies supplying their medical care.

16 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions it has in place for prisoners who have private medical insurance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No statutory provisions are in place for prisoners who have private medical insurance.

9 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05262 by Bruce Crawford on 9 February 2012, whether it will address the specific issue raised in the question as to what contingencies it has should the Scottish people vote against independence.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will ensure that voters have the information they need to participate in the national debate and to make an informed decision in the referendum. The government will set out full details of the proposals on offer to the people of Scotla…

8 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05263 by Bruce Crawford on 8 February 2012, whether it will address the specific issue raised in the question as to whether it will be possible for an independent Scotland to subsequently rejoin the United Kingdom if a majority of the Scottish people…

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05263 on 8 February 2012. We are confident that a yes vote in the referendum will result in a stable and enduring position for Scotland amongst the independent nations of the world in the context of a continuin…

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many lawyers and solicitors are members of black and ethnic minorities.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The information requested is not held centrally. Membership of the legal profession in Scotland is a matter for the relevant professional bodies (namely the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates).

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regenerate HMNB Clyde and the surrounding areas in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government’s proposal for Scotland is not “separation” but Independence, based on new relationships of equality to make our nation more successful and to improve the lives of the people who live in Scotland. Scottish ministers have provided a com…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs will be lost in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom in relation to matters reserved to the UK Government.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05459 on 5 March 2012. An independent Scotland would take responsibility for matters presently reserved to the UK Government, so existing civil service posts currently relating to reserved matters will still be…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding for a Scottish Olympic team in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom and, if so, how much funding will be provided in relation to the 2016 Olympics.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government's proposal for Scotland is not "separation", but independence, with a new relationship of equality between Scotland and the other nations of these islands. Under the Olympic Charter, any independent states recognised by the internation…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will maintain the current levels of welfare benefits in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom or adopt the reforms planned by the UK Government.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05459 on 5 March 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/Apps2/Business/P…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the creation of a welfare state in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05459 on 5 March 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/Apps2/Business/P…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to create a central bank in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-05459 on 5 March 2012 and S4W-05461 on 21 March 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.scottis…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether interest rates will be controlled by the Bank of England if a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom continues to use sterling.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05459 on 5 March 2012. Maintaining a currency zone between an independent Scotland and the United Kingdom would be in the economic interests of both countries. Under a formal monetary union, interest rates woul…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for Scottish lords in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05459 on 5 March 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…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom will have its own Supreme Court.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government’s proposal for Scotland is not “separation”, but independence, with a new relationship of equality between Scotland and the other nations of these islands, and a voice in Europe and the wider world. The Scottish Government set out prop…

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold a referendum on the future of the monarch as head of state in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government’s consultation document Your Scotland, Your Referendum published on 25 January 2012 confirmed that in an independent Scotland Her Majesty the Queen would remain as Head of State.

26 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if Scotland becomes independent, whether it will subsequently be possible to rejoin the United Kingdom if a majority of the Scottish people demands it.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Since 1945, more than 50 countries have gained independence from the United Kingdom. None has subsequently chosen to return to its previous status.