- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 5 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to establish a partnership with the UK Government’s new specialist female genital mutilation (FGM) unit.
Answer
The Scottish Government has confirmed through contact with the UK Government that a lead official has recently been appointed to the female genital mutilation unit, however is not yet in post. Once the official is in post Scottish Government officials will establish and maintain connections to exchange information.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 5 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on conducting a baseline study on the extent of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government provided funding of £20,000 to the Scottish Refugee Council to support a report, presenting a research based baseline of Scotland-specific data to help inform our approach with community and statutory partners to tackling female genital mutilation in Scotland. This baseline report was launched on 17 December 2014.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 5 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) support and (b) protection is available for girls who fear that they will be subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM).
Answer
(a) The Scottish Government has allocated £213,500, for the period 2014-15, to tackle female genital mutilation (FGM) in Scotland (see also answer to S4W-24628 on 5 March 2015). This includes support for survivors of FGM through counselling, medical intervention and peer group support and to support and empower women and girls to resist FGM.
(b) The National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, updated in 2014, offers comprehensive guidance for professionals working with children and sets out what action should be taken if there are child protection concerns about any child (including the suspicion or knowledge of abuse). Within that guidance is a specific section providing advice on how to respond if there are concerns that a child may have been subject to, or may be at risk from, FGM. Local authorities will also have specific local guidance in place to supplement the national guidance as required.
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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 5 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to Police Scotland regarding female genital mutilation (FGM).
Answer
Police Scotland is a member of the Scottish Government Multi Agency Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Short Life Working Group. Through this group they are working collaboratively with the Scottish Government and other partners to develop national guidance to ensure agencies and organisations have the necessary understanding and skills to deal appropriately and consistently with FGM.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 5 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided to women and girls who may be affected by female genital mutilation (FGM).
Answer
The Scottish Government has allocated £213.500, for the period 2014-15, to tackle female genital mutilation (FGM), in Scotland. This includes support for survivors of FGM through counselling, medical intervention and peer group assistance and support to minority ethnic women’s organisations which provide services to women who come from communities affected by FGM.
All women are asked about FGM during their maternity booking and women would be referred to relevant specialists as required, subject to their consent. Health professionals would also signpost women to third sector support services as appropriate. Where it is considered that a baby is at risk of FGM, child protection processes would begin and women would have the support of the wider multi-agency team.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2015
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the charrette process an effective means of investing in the development of cities and what support accompanies it.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2015
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is conducting to support schools and teachers in identifying and reporting cases of students at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Answer
Scottish Ministers wrote to all headteachers in February 2014 to alert them that female genital mutilation is illegal in the UK, is considered child abuse and should be dealt with as a child protection concern, with links to the National Guidance for Child Protection and a number of other resources. Education Scotland subsequently prepared material for all schools to use to update staff at the start of the 2014-15 school term. Education Scotland is currently in the process of gathering resources that can be used in the classroom in an age appropriate manner.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 2 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the housing association movement regarding the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders.
Answer
The Minister for Housing and Welfare met with representatives of Blochairn and Dunbritton housing associations in December 2013 to discuss their concerns regarding the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders (NASSO). In March 2014, Blochairn Housing Association submitted a paper to the Scottish Government explaining in more detail these concerns. The Scottish Government responded to the paper in June 2014.
Linthouse Housing Association, on behalf of what it described as a newly formed group of housing professionals, wrote to the government in January 2015 asking for a review of NASSO. The government responded in February 2015.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 2 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders.
Answer
A multi-agency public protection arrangement (MAPPA) national strategy group, chaired by the Scottish Government’s Public Protection Unit was established in 2011 and meets quarterly. Its membership includes representatives from Police Scotland and Scottish Government officials with responsibility for the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders. This group provides a multi-agency national forum where its members can discuss current matters and share learning and experience to ensure that policy, guidance and legislation remains fit for purpose. Housing is a regular item on the agenda. The group last met on 8 October 2014 and will be meeting next on 18 March 2015.
- Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 2 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders is functioning effectively and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The Scottish Government considers that the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders (NASSO) is functioning effectively.
NASSO forms part of the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) and explains how housing contributes to those arrangements. In particular, the NASSO focuses on assessing and managing the risks that sex offenders under MAPPA may pose by living in a particular community, location and property.
The MAPPA national steering group brings together the Chairs of the local strategic oversight groups to provide continuing oversight of NASSO to ensure that it is working effectively across Scotland. Its membership includes representatives from Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service. Housing officials with responsibility for NASSO attend these meetings, which provide a multi-agency national forum where discussion between the Scottish Government and MAPPA practitioners takes place to ensure that policy, guidance and legislation on all aspects of MAPPA including the NASSO remains fit for purpose.
The Care Inspectorate and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland are currently conducting a thematic review to assess the state, efficiency and effectiveness of MAPPA in Scotland, in terms of keeping people safe and reducing the potential risk of serious harm by registered sex offenders in our communities. The review is due to conclude later this year with a public report. The government will respond to any recommendations that the report makes about the NASSO.
