Annie Wells

22 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners in HMP Barlinnie have tested positive for drugs use in each year from 2022. 

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Scottish Prison Service conducts Mandatory Drug Tests (MDTs) via urine testing, for two primary reasons, progression as part of the risk…

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate has provided a statement of prosecution policy regarding the safer drug consumption facility, and, if so, whether it will publish this.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Lord Advocate has not provided the statement of prosecution policy regarding the safer drug consumption in Glasgow as of yet. It is anticipated that this will be provided in the coming weeks, ahead of the planned opening of the facility. The decision as t…

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any money has been spent procuring substances deemed illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1972 for use in the safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow and, if so, how much has been spent and which substances have been purchased.

Answer · Neil Gray: Substances used within the service are procured by the individuals using the service and not by the service itself. The Lord Advocate indicated in September 2023 that she would be prepared to publish a statement of prosecution policy to the effect that it wou…

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the safer drug consumption facility, opening in Glasgow, is anticipated to cost in its first year of operation.

Answer · Neil Gray: The anticipated full year spend (12 months from opening, not the financial year) is £2.3 million. This funding is largely to cover the staffing of the facility. Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership have funded the building works and furnishings.

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been conducted of any expectedchanges to the levels of non-drug related crime that occur near or within thevicinity of the safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow.

Answer · Neil Gray: The safer drug consumption facility is targeted at reducing drug-related harms. In countries where drug consumption rooms already operate, they have seen a drop in drug-related issues within the vicinity of the site. International literature suggests there is…

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its civil servants have workedon the establishment of the safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow in thefinancial years (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 to date, and what the salaries are ofthose civil servants working in this area.

Answer · Neil Gray: Work on the establishment of a safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow by the Scottish Government has been undertaken through the Harm Reduction team in the Drugs Policy Division. The work has been led by a C1 (£57,141–£71,243) supported …

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent to date on the setting up ofthe safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has committed to funding this facility for £2 million annually until March 2026. To date, the only Scottish Government spend on this facility is the first tranche of funding for 2024-25 which was £760,000, provided to the H…

21 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any crimes of drug possession will be recorded, for the purposes of recorded crime statistics, for those who enter the safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow in possession of substances deemed illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1972.

Answer · Neil Gray: As a harm reduction service, there is no intention that staff would record or report suspected crimes in relation to the possession of drugs. The service will collate information on the substances being reported by service users but this will be anonymous and…

17 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what academic accommodation is available in schools for children that live with at least one alcoholic parental figure, in light of a report by Alcohol Focus Scotland that noted that two-thirds of these children indicated that their parent(s) drinking had, among other negative effects, c…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The attendance of children and young people in schools is a priority for the Scottish Government. Our published guidance Ministerial foreword - Included, engaged and involved part 1: promoting and managing school attendance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) for local…

17 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what emotional support, such as a school counsellor, is available in schools for children living with at least one alcoholic parental figure.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland is of paramount importance. That is why we continue to support our local authority partners with £16 million in funding to ensure that all school pupils aged 10 and above…

15 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children it estimates currently have at least one parent or parental figure with a drug addiction.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government do not hold any data on the number of children that currently have at least one parent or parental figure with a drug addiction, nor do we collect data that could make an informed assessment of this or provide a proxy.

15 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children it estimates currently have at least one parent or parental figure with an alcohol addiction.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Data included in the 2019 Public Health Survey states that, among all children in 2017-2019 combined: 17% were living with at least one parent who exhibited hazardous, harmful drinking behaviour or had a possible alcohol dependence (AUDIT score of 8 or more),…

15 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it currently provides to family members, particularly children, who have someone in their family who is addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Answer · Neil Gray: All family members, including children and young people, need support in their own right when their family is affected by substance use.The ‘Whole Family Approach’, supported by the ‘Family Inclusive Practice Framework’, is being imple…

15 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households it estimates currently have at least one person with an alcohol addiction.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold any data on the number of households that currently have at least one person with an alcohol addiction.

15 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households it estimates currently have at least one person with a drug addiction.

Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland published Estimated Prevalence of Opioid Dependence in Scotland 2014/15 to 2019/20 - Estimated Prevalence of Opioid Dependence in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland earlier this year, based on Bayesian analysis of linked h…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the annual monetary value is of the trade in illicit drugs in Glasgow, in light of illicit drugs with an estimated value of £5.5 million reportedly being seized in the city.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold information to enable it to estimate the annual monetary value of the drugs trade in Glasgow.The Scottish Government welcomes the significant seizure of illicit drugs and the continuing activity by Police Scotland and oth…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting any vulnerable children who have lost a parent to a drug-relateddeath, in light of The National Drug-Related Deaths Database (Scotland) Report, published by Public Health Scotland, which indicates that 602 children lost a parent or parental figure as a result of a dr…

Answer · Neil Gray: A child losing a parent to a drug-related death is a tragedy. We understand that children, young people and families affected by substance use must be supported in their own right. Our framework to improve holistic family support sets out principles of how we…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase drug support services operating times, in light of the report by The Salvation Army, Breaking the Cycle, which states that 83% of such services are closed during weekends.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that local areas provide support at all times and that they assess the needs of people in their areas and work with them to design and deliver services in a way that meets the needs of people impacted by drugs and alc…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any ongoing stigma around accessing support for individuals experiencing drug and/or alcohol addiction.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Stigma Action Plan was published on 12 January 2023 as part of the Cross Government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce. As part of this, a “Design Team” made up of people with lived and living experience are currently exploring what concret…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with all local authorities, including Glasgow City Council, to ensure that drug and alcohol support services remain accessible in the evenings.

Answer · Neil Gray: We know that people affected by substance use and their families face ongoing issues relating to out of hours support. The Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) operate a services directory which has details of drug and alcohol support services across Scotland.As well a…

2 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help mitigate Glasgow's reported affordable housing supply shortage, in light of the £78.7 million reduction in the funding being provided to the city through the national affordable housing programme.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme allocation for Glasgow City Council for this year is £90.231m. This comprises the original allocation of £78.687m and the additional £11.544m made available as part of efforts to bo…

2 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow, in light of the reported announcement that it will close between December 2024 and March 2025.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government will continue to work with the culture sector to do everything within our powers and resources to help those most affected by current economic challenges.Creative Scotland (CS), the public body that supports the arts, screen and creati…

2 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to maintain increased tourism in Glasgow, in light of reports that over £2.35 billion was spent by visitors in 2023.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises how vital Tourism is to both our national economy and to that of Glasgow as well.Through our national tourism agency, VisitScotland, the Scottish Government is committed to helping grow the value of tourism across Scotland, …

2 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that some of the 477 prisoners that were released in summer 2024 under the Emergency Early Release programme went on to reoffended, how many of those prisoners that went on to reoffend were originally released from HMP Barlinnie.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:By 18 September 2024, 57 people of the 477 who left custody as part of the emergency release (ER) programme in June and July 2024 had re…

2 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Police Scotland is prepared for when Glasgow hosts the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Neil Gray: As the event organiser, Commonwealth Games Scotland are now formally engaging with Police Scotland and other public sector partners to commence planning to ensure the delivery of a safe and secure Commonwealth Games.The event budget makes provision for polici…

1 Oct 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has conducted in advance of the planned opening of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s safer drug consumption facility on 21 October.

16 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to boost confidence in the retail sector.

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff have been hired in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in each year since 2020 to date.

Answer · Neil Gray: The requested information on how many staff have joined NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in each year since 2020 can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (Turnover tab).

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to address any misuse of off-road vehicles in Glasgow.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Safety is a paramount priority and the Scottish Government fully supports Police Scotland and its partners in dealing with illegal use and misuse of off-road vehicles.Enforcement is a matter for Police Scotland and local policing teams are best placed to iden…

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to address the reportedly increased number of cancelled operations in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since March 2020.

Answer · Neil Gray: During the pandemic, and beginning in March 2020, routine planned operations were paused to allow our NHS to focus on patients with COVID-19 and to minimise transmission of the virus.As services have remobilised, the number of patients listed for surgery has …