- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a Scottish Prison Service plan to improve the conditions at HMP Cornton Vale, particularly in Peebles, Bruce and Younger houses.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Improvements are already planned. Work will begin at the start of the new financial year which will include painting, decorating and improvements to cell furniture.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many female prisoners were designated as having no fixed abode on their discharge from HMP Cornton Vale in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31473 on 26 February 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the agreed policy of the Scottish Prison Service to develop visitor centres will lead to the conversion of the old staff restaurant at HMP Cornton Vale and the development of a centre manned by volunteers.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS recognises that existing visiting facilities at Cornton Vale could be improved. A business case is being developed for consideration and SPS will continue to explore ways of improving visit facilities within current resource constraints.
The SPS policy is not to build external visitor centres as such an approach does not allow visitors and prisoners to engage jointly in solving problems. Services for families will be developed and where possible visitor services and facilities will be integral to the prison to encourage offenders to take responsibility for family issues.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements exist for vulnerable female prisoners to be transported home from HMP Cornton Vale on discharge and connected immediately to the relevant community services.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The establishment is developing, along with community partners, options for the support of prisoners on the day of liberation.
A number of options already exist for a pick up service on the day of liberation through providers such as: Routes out of Prison (ROOP); Circle of Support and the Throughcare Addictions Services (TAS). The option for referrals to various community partners is also available and each case is managed on an individual.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Suicide Risk Management Group of HMP Cornton Vale did not meet in the two quarters after March 2009.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
One meeting of the Suicide Risk Management Group was cancelled for operational reasons, the other was postponed due to staff absences and vacancies.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to ensure that a greater focus is placed on female prisoners at Scottish Prison Service Board level.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS board is focussed on the needs of female offenders and has commissioned the development of the SPS strategy for the management of women in custody, with an associated action plan. This will be published week beginning 1 March 2010.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the use of video links between HMP Cornton Vale and courts.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Cornton Vale has video conferencing facilities available for this purpose. Discussions will take place with the Scottish Court Service to explore the potential to increase the take-up of this facility.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether methadone will be given to all prisoners who have been prescribed the medicine on the day of release from prison, provided that contact has been made with the appropriate community prescriber.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Methadone will be given prior to liberation if requested by the community prescriber due to distance travelled or limited appointments.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times video links were used in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 between HMP Cornton Vale and courts.
Answer
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Video links between HMP Cornton Vale and courts have been used once in each of the last two years: to London Magistrates Court in 2008 and to Wolverhampton Magistrates Court in 2009.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 25 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to replicate the Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme that is being piloted in England.
Answer
The Scottish Government already offers priority access to its Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) shared equity schemes to service personnel, veterans who have left the forces in the past year and widows or partners of personnel who have been killed in the course of their duties in the past year.
We have asked the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to consider funding an equivalent to their pilot Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme for service personnel in Scotland who wish to buy a home. The MOD has indicated that this will not be considered at this time, but we will continue our efforts to ensure that service personnel in Scotland get the same opportunities as those elsewhere in the UK.
