- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 11 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which regulations have been identified by the Improving Regulation in Scotland unit as either (a) being no longer necessary or (b) capable of simplification.
Answer
Further to the answer to S1W-18582, the Improving Regulation in Scotland unit has not identified any regulations as no longer necessary.
The review of planning procedures is one example of the Scottish Executive taking steps to improve and simplify an area of particular relevance to businesses. All regulations introduced since devolution will be subject to formal review within 10 years of introduction through a Review Regulatory Impact Assessment.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage and support pro bono initiatives by advocates and solicitors.
Answer
Pro bono work by solicitors and advocates is first and foremost a matter for the legal profession.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on the civil justice system of pro bono legal services provided by advocates and solicitors.
Answer
Pro bono services provided by advocates and solicitors are primarily a matter for the legal profession itself, and information on the extent of such activity is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on promoting methods for enhancing access to the civil justice system for disadvantaged members of the community or those with modest or moderate means through the delivery of more and better-targeted pro bono legal services.
Answer
Pro bono legal services provided by solicitors and advocates are primarily an issue for the legal profession itself. Methods of improving access to civil justice more generally are being discussed by a broadly-based working group which I set up to consider how a community legal service might be developed for Scotland. I expect to receive its report at the end of October, and will consider the way forward once I have studied it.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Scottish Legal Aid Board on developing proposals for a user-friendly community legal service.
Answer
I am awaiting the report of a broadly-based working group, including the Scottish Legal Aid Board among other organisations, which I set up to consider how a community legal service might be developed for Scotland. I expect that report at the end of October, and will consider the way forward once I have studied it.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage and support the active promotion of a strong pro bono culture in Scotland, commencing in the law faculties of universities and continuing through all levels of professional practice.
Answer
Pro bono services provided by advocates and solicitors are primarily a matter for the legal profession itself. The content of law courses at Scottish universities is for the universities to determine, in consultation with the profession.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Scottish Legal Aid Board with pilot schemes on different forms of access to legal services.
Answer
The Scottish Legal Aid Board has considered a wide range of applications for pilot projects under Part V of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, and will be making an announcement on the successful projects soon.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 4 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to progress the work of the First Minister's Policy Unit on youth crime.
Answer
The Scottish Executive set up an Advisory Group on Youth Crime and, following its report, accepted all the group's recommendations. Work has begun on implementing them. In particular, this includes the allocation of £20 million over three years, from April 2001, to local authorities for the development of community-based programmes to reduce offending by persistent young offenders. The Scottish Executive has consulted widely with key interests on the implementation of the report and will be circulating a strategic framework for local authority activities before the end of the year. Scottish ministers are also considering the terms of a feasibility study into pilot schemes to divert 16 and 17-year-old minor offenders away from the adult criminal justice system.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 4 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides directly or via other bodies to help deaf people access information on education, employment, local authority and library services by videotelephony.
Answer
The Executive supports a number of organisations which aim to establish the needs of deaf people and develop strategies to meet identified local needs, including information access. The organisations work with other agencies to encourage development and arrange implementation of appropriate services.
- Asked by: Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its spending plans are on community legal services.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18332.
