Parliamentary questions

Jamie Greene

1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) reported incidents of, (b) prosecutions for and (c) convictions for wildlife crime there have been in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: (a) The latest available information for Recorded crime data is for the financial year 2020-21 and is presented in the following table: Wildlife crime Recorded by Police Scotland, 2016-17 to 2020-21 Financial year Total 2016-17 231 2017-18 236 2018-19…

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport will next meet Ferguson Marine, including its senior management and other staff, to discuss the delivery of the ferries for the CalMac fleet that are currently being built.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy has responsibility for Ferguson Marine and the vessels under construction there. I am aware that the Cabinet Secretary currently meets with the yards management on a fortnightly basis to discuss progress, as well …

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next round of funding from the Victim Surcharge Fund will be distributed to victims groups.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04288 on ? 24 November 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-com…

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on joining the UK Government’s Project ADDER.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government takes a different approach to the UK Government in implementing a public health approach to drug use. This is in line with recommendations of the Scottish Affairs Committee [1] , the Westminster Health and Social Care Committee [2] …

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Victim Surcharge Fund is due to open its next round of funding applications from victims groups.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Victim Surcharge Fund is opened for applications from victim support organisations once sufficient money has accumulated to enable a viable exercise, which in turn is dependent on the number and value of fines imposed by the courts. The Scottish Governme…

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much will be distributed to victims groups from the next round of funding applications to the Victim Surcharge Fund.

8 Nov 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of numerous attacks on emergency service workers while on duty during bonfire weekend.

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of hate crime, abuse, attack or assault have been recorded in the last 12 months that were identified as having sexuality as the aggravator or were defined as LGBT+ related crime or offences, and what the overall trends are for such incidents.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published a study on the characteristics of police recorded Hate Crime in February 2021. The following table shows the number of sexual orientation aggravated hate crimes recorded by Police Scotland from 2014-15 to 2019-20. The table…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) alcoholism rates, (b) alcohol consumption and (c) any other public health effects in relation to any changes to laws or regulations that control the sale of alcohol, and when any post-legislative reports on any such changes will be presented to the Parl…

Answer · Maree Todd: The purpose of the alcohol licensing system is to support the regulation of the sale of alcohol with the objectives of preventing crime and disorder; securing public safety; preventing public nuisance; protecting and improving public health; and protecting ch…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many body-worn cameras are currently being used by Police Scotland officers; how much funding it has allocated to Police Scotland to procure or introduce such devices, and what plans are in place to increase (a) funding for and (b) the quantity of such devices.

Answer · Keith Brown: Police Scotland have advised there are currently over 250 body worn cameras in use within North East Division. In addition, Police Scotland also equipped all armed police officers across Scotland who were deployed at COP26. A consultation on a wider roll-out …

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of violence have been recorded within the Scottish prison estate in the last 12 months, including acts of violence recorded as prisoner to prisoner, or prisoner to staff member, broken down by (a) location, (b) prison and (c) type or severity of offence.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The following table details the total number of violent incidents in each Scottish prison, during the reporting period of 1 No…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of the number of people who have been trafficked into Scotland or are being held against their will through acts of modern slavery.

Answer · Ash Regan: Human trafficking is a hidden and often complex crime. Accurately assessing the scale of the problem in Scotland and beyond is challenging, although a range of estimates exist around the prevalence of the issue, both in the UK and globally. Data on the numbe…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the rates of reoffending have been for adults released from custodial sentence in each year since 2007, broken down by whether reoffending took place (a) within one year of release, (b) between one and two years of release, (c) between two and four years of release and (d) over four…

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table provides reconviction rates for individuals aged 16 or over, who were released from custody in the stated year and then subsequently reconvicted by a court at least once during the specific follow up period. Reconvictions can be for simila…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many physical, publicly accessible Citizens Advice Scotland offices there currently are; how this number compares with each of the previous five years, and how much funding it has given the organisation in each of these years, including the current year to date.

Answer · Shona Robison: Citizens Advice Scotland is the membership organisation for independent Citizens Advice Bureaux. At the time of writing, the Scottish Government is aware that there are 59 Bureaux, operating from 76 separate locations across Scotland. Information about histor…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent, directly or indirectly, via its agencies and intermediaries, on government public awareness campaigns on traditional or non-traditional media, broadcast or social media, in each of the last 10 financial years, broken down by (a) directorate, (b) cabinet portfolio…

Answer · Kate Forbes: Detail on Scottish Government marketing spend between the years 2004-2005 and 2013-2014 can be found here: https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20170402085259/http:/www.gov.scot/About/People/Directorates/Communications/advertising-marketing/spend Detail on…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many solicitors it and its directorates directly employ, and what the average salary is for those roles, broken down by bandings related to seniority or other factors.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government currently directly employs the following number of solicitors, set out below by pay band/grade. SCS - Director is the most senior grade with legal trainees being the most junior grade. It should be noted that there are other individual…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) contract workforce is at Ferguson Marine shipbuilding yard in Port Glasgow; how this compares with figures for the same date in each of the last five years; what the current job vacancy rate is, expressed in number of FTE roles, and f…

Answer · Kate Forbes: In the following table, the data provided covers the period from when the Scottish Government took control of the shipyard to the present day. The table includes a yearly workforce count, and a count taken when the shipyard entered administration on 16 August…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the procurement process was for the NHS Covid Status App; which company was chosen for the design and production of the app; what the cost was of (a) the app's procurement and (b) any initial (i) research, (ii) development and (iii) launch of the app; what the ongoing operational co…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The full contract notices are published on Public Contracts Scotland. See https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV432052 and https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV432062 . I als…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have downloaded the COVID-19 vaccine passport app on a digital device and, of those who have downloaded it, how many have (a) successfully used it to produce evidence of a vaccination on the device of their choice, (b) called or emailed the service provider to report…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Heath Scotland publish a weekly COVID-19 statistical report every Wednesday which includes this information. As at 15 November 2021 the COVID Status app had been downloaded over 1.5 million. It is important to note a single user may choose to downloa…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to improving the ability for (a) visually impaired or (b) deaf people to participate in judicial proceedings such as jury duty, and what plans are in place to improve participation of this nature.

Answer · Keith Brown: Court operational matters, including the system for jury service, fall within the remit of the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). In November 2019, SCTS announced new services for jurors with a visual impairment or who are hard of hear…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on any causational link, direct or indirect, between the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine passport scheme for certain entertainment, sporting or large-scale events and any changes in (a) the take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine and (b) COVID-19 rates of infection since the sc…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We published an updated evidence paper on the Covid-19 status certification scheme on Friday 19 November 2021.

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing legislation in the current parliamentary session that aims to deter men who pay women for sex.

Answer · Ash Regan: Programme For Government includes a commitment to develop a model for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution. This model will aim to reduce stigma and criminalisation experienced by women and encourage better access …

27 Oct 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it takes local government decision making into account when considering proposals previously rejected by a local authority.

20 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Prison Service annual reports and accounts for 2020-21 will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government welcomes the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2020-21 which published on 28 October. The report recognises the achievements made by our prison service in 2020-21 in response to the unprecedented challenges of a pa…

18 Oct 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the anticipated final cost and delivery date of vessels 801 and 802 for the CalMac fleet.

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many drug tests for any prohibited substance have taken place in prisons in (a) each financial year since 2018-19 and (b) 2021-22 to date, broken down by how many test results were (i) positive, (ii) negative and (iii) inconclusive.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The following table provides the total number of drug tests conducted in each financial year, along with the results. Year T…

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether prisoners are routinely drug tested for any prohibited substance upon release from prison at the end of their sentence, and, if so, how many such tests have taken place in (a) each financial year since 2018-19 and (b) 2021-22 to date, broken down by how many test results were (i)…

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The SPS do not conduct routine drug testing upon release from prison at the end of an individual’s sentence.

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where the money for the Victim Centred Approach Fund has been allocated from for the financial years from 2022-23 to 2024-25.

Answer · Keith Brown: The spending plans for 2022-23 will be announced in the Scottish Government budget which will be published on 9 December and plans for future years will be considered as part of the Resource Spending Review .

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the provisions in sections 5 to 7 of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 are due to come into force.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 20 July 2019. Since then a number of sections have been commenced (3, 4, 8, 9,15,40-43, 45-47, 50(3), 52, 53(2) and 3(b), 54, 16(1) partially, 17-39, 44, 48, 49, 50(1)(2)(4), 53 (1) and …

5 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many separate visits its ministers have made to nightclub venues in an official capacity to discuss the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine certification scheme with the owners and staff of such premises.

Answer · Ivan McKee: No visits have been made to night club premises on this topic. Discussions on vaccine certification have been, and continue to be, conducted with sector representatives remotely, the latest of which took place with Ministers on 12 October 2021.