Parliamentary questions
Daniel Johnson
1,103 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its employees by (a) nationality, (b) age and (c) gender.
Answer · Derek Mackay: A breakdown of employee age and gender is regularly provided in our workforce information publication which is available here https://www.gov.scot/publications/workforce-information/ . We are unable to provide a breakdown of employee nationality as this in…
20 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding any expected increase in demand for social work services over the next 12 months.
8 Feb 2019 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much it has spent on organising the Festival of Politics in each of the last three years, also broken down by what financial assistance it has received from the Scottish Government.
Answer · Liam McArthur : The Festival of Politics is in its 15th year and continues to be one of the Scottish Parliament’s major public engagement events with over 5,000 people attending last year’s Festival. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body allocates an annual budget t…
8 Feb 2019 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what biometric details will be held by it following the introduction of the two-factor authentication fingerprint system.
Answer · Jackson Carlaw: No biometric details are held by the Parliament in relation to the introduction of the two-factor authentication system. The two-factor authentication system works by scanning a person’s finger measuring and collecting unique reference points. This data…
31 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of the National Counter Terrorism Police Network to Scotland's counter terrorism capabilities.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland.
31 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding its continued participation with the UK Counter Terrorism Police Network, and what consideration Police Scotland has given to withdrawing from this structure.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland.
30 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Police Scotland has applied for or enquired about contingency funding for the police to deal with the possible consequences of Brexit.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Any costs related to EU exit should not have a detrimental impact on Scotland’s public finances and should be met in full by the UK Government. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice wrote to the Chancel…
25 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of completing the new Edinburgh children’s hospital, broken down by building costs and other set-up costs, and how this compares to the costs that were originally announced.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan, along with updates on major capital projects, is publically available on the Scottish Government’s website at the following location: https://www.gov.scot/policies/government-finance/infrastructure-in…
25 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland’s Staff Pay and Reward Modernisation Project, and how many staff have been (a) affected by the introduction of the new pay grading structure and (b) transferred to a lower pay grade since the new grading structure was introduced.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: No new pay grading structure has been introduced. The pay and conditions of police staff are a matter for the Scottish Police Authority who, with Police Scotland, are taking forward the Staff Pay and Reward Modernisation Project working closely with trade uni…
22 Jan 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the Home Office regarding the recently reported case of Mozaffar Saberi and Rezvan Habibimarand.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I have written to the UK Immigration Minister in support of Mr Saberi and Ms Habibimarand and asked her to urgently review the case and properly consider all factors that clearly indicate this couple should be allowed to stay. My officials have also been eng…
14 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20072 by Kate Forbes on 7 December 2018, whether it will confirm on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work has met the leader of the City of Edinburgh Council since January 2018, and on which occasions the funding of the…
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work did not meet the Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council in a Scottish Government official capacity last year. However negotiations on the annual local government finance settlement are conducted betwee…
6 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to bring about improvement in the area of medical services for victims of sexual crime, and how much of the recently announced £8.5 million is new funding and in addition to the £2 million already committed over the next three years as set out in its Programme fo…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland chairs a national Taskforce for the improvement of healthcare and forensic medical examination services for people who have experienced rape and sexual assault. The Taskforce are on track with their five year work plan t…
5 Dec 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many remand and how many sentenced prisoners have been sent to HMYOI Polmont since 2013 due to space being unavailable at secure care units.
21 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has undertaken regarding the potential economic cost to Scotland of additional customs arrangements and border regulations resulting from Brexit.
15 Nov 2018 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for what reason the Freedom of Information Disclosure Log has not been updated.
5 Nov 2018 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect emergency workers during the firework season, in light of the reported increase in levels of violence and intimidation that they face at this time of year.
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many courtrooms in each court (a) have and (b) do not have video link technology.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in video link technology in (a) prisons and (b) courts in each of the last five years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Investment and operational usage of video link technology is a matter for the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the Scottish Prison Service. The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of using digital technology, such as video…
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost has been of the prison-court transfer contract in each of the last five years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The cost of the prisoner escort contract is made readily available in SPS’ annual accounts published on our website at: http://www.sps…
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided regarding the use of video links in criminal courts.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) accused and (b) witnesses have given evidence or appeared from prison using a video link in each of the last five years, broken down by type of hearing.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prison-court transfers there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) prison and (b) court.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The volume of movements from prison to court are as follows: Prison 2018 * 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16 2014- 15 ** 2013-14 *…
31 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to facilitate court appearances from prison by video link; what its position is on the effectiveness of such appearances, and whether it plans to take action to increase the use of this method.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
30 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to the recently reported administrative error by Police Scotland, which means that, potentially, significant numbers of dangerous drivers could avoid prosecution.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland are aware of the reported issue. Police Scotland are liaising with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to any impact it may have.
30 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the 12-month review of the code of practice for stop and search will be published.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Independent Advisory Group on Stop and Search will provide Ministers with a report on its 12 month review findings early in 2019. The report will be published on the Scottish Government's website shortly thereafter.
29 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the independent review of P1 assessments will take into consideration the effect and usefulness of the use of assessments for those with both identified and undiagnosed learning difficulties and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Answer · John Swinney: The expectation is that the independent review of P1 assessments will consider both the effect of the assessments on children and young people and the usefulness of the diagnostic information provided to teachers. The detailed remit of the review will be fina…
15 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners there are, broken down by (a) prison (b) gender and (c) age, and whether they (i) are untried, (ii) have been convicted and are awaiting sentence and (iii) are serving a sentence.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: At 9.00 hours on 22 October 2018 there were 7,789 people in SPS Care. There are 2 legal statuses which apply to those in prison: Conv…
15 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who authorised the disposal of the car involved in the M9 crash on 5 July 2015; who made it aware that it had been disposed of, and when, and whether it was consulted regarding the disposal beforehand.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government had no role in this decision and was not notified at the time of the vehicle's disposal. Ministers would not routinely be consulted on such matters which are the operational responsibility of the Chief Constable.
15 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total prison capacity is, broken down by prison.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The design capacity of the prison estate is 7918. The following below shows this broken down by prison. Establishment Design Capacit…
15 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many two-prisoner cells there are in Scotland’s prisons; of these, how many currently hold two prisoners, and how many prisoners this equates to, broken down by (a) prison and (b) prisoners’ (i) gender, (ii) age, and (c) whether they (A) are untried, (B) have been convicted and are a…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: There are currently 768 Scottish prison cells designed to be occupied by 2 people. Of these cells, 497 are currently occupied by 2 peo…