Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-26827

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 9 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners with a diagnosis of epilepsy have been transferred to hospital from police custody in the last 10 years.

Question reference: S3W-26821

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 9 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners in Scottish Prison Service prisons and HMP Kilmarnock have applied for prisoner transfer.

Question reference: S3W-26832

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what campaigns there have been or will be to raise awareness of the new elements and eligibility of free eye testing.

The Scottish Government has produced a leaflet Your Guide to Free NHS Eye Examinations in Scotland in association with Health Rights Information Scotland for issue to vulnerable groups in the community. Supplies of the leaflet were sent to Community Health Partnerships for distribution of the leaflets locally to raise awareness of the NHS eye examination with such vulnerable groups, as well as to GP and optical practices.

The Scottish Government also produces leaflet HCS2 A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs which contains information on charges for prescriptions, eye examinations, dental treatment, wigs and fabric supports and the value of the vouchers available for glasses and contact lenses. The leaflet is available from GP Surgeries, Community Pharmacies, Dental Practices, Job Centre Plus offices and Citizens Advice offices. It is available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/healthcosts. The HCS1 Are you Entitled to Help with Health Costs is also available on line, providing more detailed information on NHS charges in Scotland. And since the introduction of the NHS eye examination, leaflets and posters issued by NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services have publicised the eye examination.

The Scottish Government has also agreed with Optometry Scotland, the professional representative body for optometrists in Scotland, that they will undertake road shows around Scotland to inform optometrists of forthcoming changes to primary and supplementary eye examinations under NHS general ophthalmic services. Associated publicity material will also be provided to the profession to explain the changes which are proposed to take place in early 2010.

The recent figures released on 28 July 2009 showed that the number of NHS eye examinations has increased by 6.2% from 1.63 million for the year ending 31 March 2008 to 1.73 million for the year ending 31 March 2009 which demonstrates that people in Scotland are clearly recognising the benefits of having an eye examination.

Question reference: S3W-26818

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 7 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will in future seek at least two medical opinions in determining whether a prisoner has a prognosis of less than three months’ survival, as stated in the Scottish Prison Service guidance on compassionate release, with at least one of such opinions being from a palliative care consultant.

No. Scottish Prison Service guidance from 2005 provides that in cases where compassionate release is being considered a medical opinion stipulating as clearly as possible the current level of incapacity and likely life expectancy should be obtained. In most cases applications are made very close to the point of the offender''s death and at a time when they are in hospital under the care of a specialist consultant operating in the area of disease from which they are suffering. Specialist consultants are best placed to give a medical opinion on prognosis. It is often the case that the person is not in receipt of palliative care.

Question reference: S3W-26824

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is reviewing the age parameters for cervical cancer screening in light of the latest research showing an unfavourable risk-benefit analysis for screening of women between 20 and 25 years of age.

Question reference: S3W-26230

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 7 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to meet the SNP manifesto pledge to ensure that all primary school children receive free fruit and to provide free fruit for pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets.

The majority of local authorities have already extended their free school fruit scheme beyond P1 and P2 pupils and we are currently exploring the possibility of securing funding for 2010-11 from the EU under the EU school fruit scheme to extend provision of free school fruit to further year groups.

In addition, in June 2008 we published Healthy Eating Active Living “ An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity. This included a commitment to broaden out the pledge to provide free fruit to pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets, to encompass maternal and infant nutrition generally and not limited to specific models.

In September 2008, we also announced support of £19 million available to NHS health boards over the period 2008-11 to improve the nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas. The broad criteria within which NHS boards have been asked to work include increasing uptake of the Healthy Start scheme, to ensure that everyone who is eligible to claim vouchers to exchange for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula does so; supporting work on increasing breastfeeding rates, and investing in training for health professionals. Years 1 and 2 of that funding have already been allocated to NHS boards. Details of the allocation were outlined in CEL 36(2008) Nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas which can be found at:

http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_36.pdf.

Question reference: S3W-26822

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 4 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make all convicted prisoners in Scottish prisons who are nationals of countries with which the United Kingdom has prisoner transfer agreements aware that they can apply for a face-to-face meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice before a decision is made by him on prisoner transfer.

Question reference: S3W-26436

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies provide advice or support in prisons on issues of employment, broken down by prison.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The table following details the individual agencies that are working in each prison.

Prison	Agencies
Addiewell	· JobCentre Plus · The Advice Shop “ funded through West Lothian Council · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project
Aberdeen	· JobCentre Plus · Apex Scotland · Careers Scotland · Aberdeen Foyer (training and employment) · Aberdeen Foyer (integrated drug services) · Community Chaplaincy/Integrate · Working Families · Working Links · Momentum · CFINE (Community Food Initiative North East) · Aberdeen College · Pathways · Condition management programme · Adult construction skills
Barlinnie	· JobCentre Plus · Working Links. · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project · Motherwell College. · Glasgow Works.
Cornton Vale	· JobCentre Plus · Carnegie College · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project · Access To Industry “ Passport project (Edinburgh and Lothian region only). · Circle “ Work with women who have an addiction and who have care of their children
Dumfries	· JobCentre Plus · Apex Scotland · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project
Edinburgh	· JobCentrePlus · Apex Scotland Construction Link worker
Glenochil	· JobCentre Plus · Partnerships with · The Raploch URC (Urban Regeneration Company), · Speedy Hire · ECITB (Engineering construction Industry Training Board).
Greenock	· JobCentrePlus · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project
Inverness	· JobCentre Plus · Motherwell College · Local Employment Partnership Advisor · Moray New Futures
Kilmarnock	· JobCentre Plus · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project · Workers Educational Association
Open Estate	· JobCentre Plus · Access to Industry (Edinburgh postcodes only) · Motherwell College · Business Gateway
Perth	· JobCentre Plus · Apex Scotland · Careers Scotland
Peterhead	· Prisoners are transferred to other prisons for liberation where employability services are provided.
Polmont	· JobCentre Plus · Motherwell College · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project · Access To Industry “ Passport project (Edinburgh and Lothian region only) · SACRO - Currently working with Edinburgh clients in conjunction with Passport project · Other Agencies on a less frequent basis e.g. Action for Children
Shotts	· JobCentrePlus

Question reference: S3W-26437

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what money or debt advice services are provided in prisons, broken down by (a) service and (b) prison.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The following table details the individual agencies and the services they provide in each prison.

Prison	Providers	Services
Prison	Providers	Money Advice	Debt Advice
Addiewell	· The Advice Shop “ funded through West Lothian Council · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project	¼ ¼	¼ ¼
Aberdeen	· Aberdeen Citizens Advice Bureau · Aberdeen City Council in conjunction with SHELTER (referral system) · Aberdeenshire Council	¼ ¼	¼ ¼ ¼
Barlinnie	· Citizens Advice Bureau · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project	¼ ¼	¼ ¼
Cornton Vale	· Carnegie College Education “ Money Matters course · Debt advice “ referral service to the Scottish Legal Aid Board who run the Part V Outreach Project, they arrange for a civil lawyer to attend once a fortnight. It is intended to contact the Citizens Advice to see if they could attend as a result of advice given by the civil lawyer. · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project	¼ ¼ ¼	¼ ¼ ¼
Dumfries	· Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Bureau (DAGCAS) · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project	¼ ¼	¼ ¼
Edinburgh	· Edinburgh Credit Union - 4 week modular training · Edinburgh Council Debt Advice - attending one day per week for other general advice.	¼	¼ ¼
Glenochil	· Carnegie College “ Money Matters course · Housing services offer advice if there are issues especially in relation to rent arrears.	¼	¼ ¼
Greenock	· Money Matters - a local organisation in Inverclyde provide financial advice to prisoners from the Inverclyde area. · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project	¼ ¼	¼ ¼
Inverness	· Citizens Advice Bureau	¼	¼
Kilmarnock	· Workers Educational Association - budgeting course · Citizens Advice will also be in the prison on the first Wednesday of the month, scheduled to begin 2nd September 2009. · Wise Group/Apex Scotland Routes Out Of Prison project	¼ ¼	¼
Open Estate	· Citizens Advice Bureau · Delivery at Noranside as part of the lifeskills programme, modules on money management, budgeting & debt/credit. · Community Care Grant application packs & assistance to complete this where required.	¼ ¼ ¼	¼ ¼ ¼
Perth	· No-one specific provider but money and debt guidance is offered by JobCentrePlus	¼	¼
Peterhead	· Prisoners are transferred to other prisons for liberation where employability services are provided.	X	X
Polmont	· Currently no money or debt advice courses being run.	X	X
Shotts	· Currently no money or debt advice courses being run.	X	X

The Scottish Prison Service was part of a project instigated by the Financial Services Authority and funded by the Scottish Government to create a flexible teaching resource for use with offenders in custody or the community. This resource is now available to deliver within all prisons as a compliment to the current services being provided.

While there are currently no services at Shotts prison, a couple of officers have been trained to deliver this new teaching resource and delivery will commence before the end of 2009.

HMYOI Polmont is developing a new independent living unit. Money and debt support will be available as part of the new unit. Polmont has previously run a money management course funded by the Bank of Scotland. This has now stopped due to bank cut backs.

Question reference: S3W-26435

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address in prisons the issue of post-custody homelessness.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

A Core Screen assessment is undertaken within 72 hours of admission to prison. This assesses prisoner''s needs including the issue of appropriate accommodation.

Those with identified accommodation or homelessness issues are referred to housing advice services to facilitate accommodation arrangements prior to release. Where time constraints prevent this, for example where a prisoner is serving a very short sentence, an appointment with external housing services is made prior to release.

Prisoner induction programmes, including those for remand prisoners, also include information on housing advice services and how prisoners can access these during their time in prison. Where necessary prison based housing advice services will assist prisoners in making application for accommodation.

SPS has also worked with Scottish Government to develop policies to address this issue: The National Accommodation Strategy for Prisoners and The National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders.

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