- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 27 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted on any proposal by the Home Secretary to withdraw from individual tenants the automatic right to be granted housing benefit and the impact of such a policy on its social justice policy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive will continue to liaise with UK Government on any proposals to make changes to the housing benefit and to advise on the implications for its devolved responsibilities.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive to how many written parliamentary questions in each year since May 1999 it has given an answer that states that the information sought in the question cannot be provided, either in part or in whole, for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. However, all answers to written parliamentary questions are published on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial announcements are planned for April 2003.
Answer
No ministerial announcements on policy or spending issues are planned for April, but there may be a need for ministers to respond to external events or issues of immediate importance, for example relating to any EU business which might take place during the month.Routine factual news releases, such as statistical figures published on a monthly or regular basis, will be issued during April, as stated in The Scottish Parliament Election Guidance 2003.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been referred to the Children's Reporter on offence grounds in each of the last four years broken down in respect of (a) one, (b) two to three offences, (c) four to six offences, (d) seven to nine offences and (e) 10 or more offences, broken down by reporter area.
Answer
This is a matter for the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration. I have asked the Principal Reporter to write to you with this data.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 25 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is consistent with the Sewel Convention for the Parliament to be asked to agree that the Sexual Offences Bill be considered by the UK Parliament after the principles of that bill, including that the bill apply to Scotland, have been agreed in the UK Parliament.
Answer
Yes. The Sewel Convention, which provides that the UK Parliament will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament, has always been observed. The convention does not prescribe the precise stage at which consent should be sought, though the Scottish Executive has undertaken normally to seek the Scottish Parliament's consent before the UK Bill is given its Second Reading in the House of the UK Parliament in which it is introduced. It is recognised, however, that adherence to this timetable is not always feasible and can, in any event, put considerable demands on the Scottish Parliament. It is anticipated that improvements will be effected through the introduction of the revised process proposed by the Scottish Executive to the Scottish Parliament's Procedures Committee.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 25 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32801 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 December 2002, when the 25 additional secure accommodation places will become available.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34950 on 24 March 2003. 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/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 25 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32801 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 December 2002, what outcome there has been from discussions with the five organisations listed on the provision of secure accommodation places.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34950 on 24 March 2003. 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/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 25 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has finalised plans for accreditation of youth justice programmes and, if so, what these plans are.
Answer
The first meeting of the Criminal Justice Social Work Accreditation Panel is to be held on 22 and 23 April. The development of criteria for the accreditation of youth justice programmes will be discussed at this meeting.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 25 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of available prisoner places has been in HM Prison Kilmarnock in each quarter since the opening of the prison.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Since the phase-in of prisoners in 1999, the number of Available Prisoner Places, as defined in the contract between SPS and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited, has remained at 500.The number of Additional Prisoner Places, as defined in the contract, was 48 from July 2000 until January 2003. Since 1 February 2003, the number of such places has been 96.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 25 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33923 by Mrs Elish Angiolini on 10 March 2003, what the technology problems are that have led to the increase in cases being marked "no proceedings" due to delay in the Strathclyde area.
Answer
This is a matter for Strathclyde Police. The force has emphasised that the various factors referred to in the earlier answer are inter-related, that the increase in detection rates is a further factor, and that a review is under way involving procurators fiscal with a view to reducing delays as far as possible. I understand that the reference to technology relates to a number of on-going developments including electronic communications systems and an upgraded digital dictation system which is currently being rolled out.
