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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-25567

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 14 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what timetable and process has been agreed for the completion and publication of the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Section 7(4) of the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy)(Scotland) Act 2019 requires Scottish Ministers to lay the first proposed Fuel Poverty Strategy before the expiry of the period of 1 year beginning with the day on which section 6 comes into force. In light of the commencement of section 6 of the Act on 19 September we will lay the proposed Strategy in the Scottish Parliament before 19 September 2020. The Parliament will have then have 40 days to consider the Strategy before it can be finalised and published.

Question reference: S5W-25339

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Prison Officers' Association Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-03665

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to set out a clear timetable for the delivery of the R100 programme.

Question reference: S5W-25332

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is had regarding establishing a long-term base for the Interventions for Vulnerable Youth Project, and what plans it has to fund the project beyond 31 March 2020.

On 11 September, it was announced that the Interventions for Vulnerable Youth service will move to Kibble Education and Care Centre from 31 October and funding will remain in place until the end of March 2020.

The Scottish Government are actively exploring longer-term, whole-system support to this vulnerable group of children and young people. That includes discussion with Kibble regarding the future of the IVY service beyond March 2020.

Question reference: S5W-25496

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to RSPB Scotland reporting that the population of corncrakes has decreased by more than 30% since 2014, and what (a) funding and (b) other support it offers to farmers and crofters to help them to manage land in ways that could improve corncrake habitat.

While it is disappointing that the latest RSPB survey has reported that overall, corncrake numbers in Scotland are declining, however, it is encouraging to note they are increasing in some areas, especially in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney.

The Scottish Government is committed to halting the decline of the breeding populations of corncrakes in Scotland. It specifically supports the conservation of this species through the Agri-Environment Climate (AEC) Scheme, which provides for land management options to benefit corncrakes.

Since 1995, over £11m has been spent or committed through the Scottish Government’s Rural Priorities and AEC Schemes to specifically protect corncrake habitat in the corncrake strongholds in Argyll and Outer Hebrides, West Highlands and North West Highlands.

In 2019, under the current AEC Scheme, over 2,500 hectares are being managed to directly benefit this species.

Question reference: S5W-25336

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether risk impact assessments have been conducted in each prison in response to the reported increases in the prison population.

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

SPS has undertaken detailed preparation and action planning in order to safely manage the increased Scottish prison population. This action planning has been implemented in stages as the prison population has reached pre-defined trigger points. Reconfiguration of our existing estate has been required; the extent of which has increased in line with the population.

All proposed responses were subject to full risk assessment which considered operational impact and any additional resources required to mitigate against the associated risk.

Question reference: S5W-25338

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22719 by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2019, whether it will provide the same data for (a) May, (b) June, (c) July and (d) August 2020.

Data is not currently held for 2020, however I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond with relevant data for 2019. His response is as follows:

The following tables provide a breakdown of the average occupancy, design capacity and occupancy rate at each Scottish prison in 2019.

May 2019 (Average Prison Population = 8234)

Prison	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	749	702	106.65%
Barlinnie	1446	987	146.54%
Castle Huntly	200	284	70.55%
Cornton Vale	92	109	84.40%
Dumfries	195	176	110.92%
Edinburgh	920	867	106.07%
Glenochil Prison	733	668	109.75%
Grampian	460	552	83.37%
Greenock	213	236	90.25%
Inverness	124	93	133.47%
Kilmarnock	595	501	118.80%
Low Moss	780	784	99.50%
Perth	703	631	111.41%
Polmont	483	758	63.69%
Shotts	540	538	100.33%

June 2019 (Average Prison Population = 8216)

Prison	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	790	702	112.53%
Barlinnie	1429	987	144.83%
Castle Huntly	202	284	71.20%
Cornton Vale	97	109	88.99%
Dumfries	195	176	110.87%
Edinburgh	919	867	106.04%
Glenochil Prison	721	668	107.93%
Grampian	448	552	81.07%
Greenock	216	236	91.52%
Inverness	112	93	119.89%
Kilmarnock	595	501	118.80%
Low Moss	781	784	99.65%
Perth	692	631	109.62%
Polmont	478	758	63.07%
Shotts	541	538	100.53%

July 2019 (Average Prison Population = 8213)

Prison	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	792	702	112.87%
Barlinnie	1432	987	145.04%
Castle Huntly	198	284	69.75%
Cornton Vale	91	109	83.49%
Dumfries	196	176	111.27%
Edinburgh	923	867	106.49%
Glenochil Prison	721	668	107.89%
Grampian	453	552	82.02%
Greenock	212	236	89.83%
Inverness	115	93	123.48%
Kilmarnock	596	501	118.92%
Low Moss	773	784	98.60%
Perth	699	631	110.80%
Polmont	469	758	61.89%
Shotts	543	538	100.98%

August 2019 (Average Prison Population = 8263)

Prison	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	792	702	112.84%
Barlinnie	1464	987	148.32%
Castle Huntly	191	284	67.08%
Cornton Vale	104	109	95.41%
Dumfries	195	176	110.83%
Edinburgh	920	867	106.11%
Glenochil Prison	731	668	109.38%
Grampian	460	552	83.42%
Greenock	214	236	90.68%
Inverness	116	93	124.94%
Kilmarnock	590	501	117.75%
Low Moss	778	784	99.15%
Perth	703	631	111.40%
Polmont	465	758	61.35%
Shotts	541	538	100.52%

Question reference: S5W-25340

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 of the reported population increase at HMP Low Moss.

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

Whilst an increased prison population can place greater pressure on basic services and facilities, the Health and Safety of those who live, work and visit our prisons remains our primary concern. All prison activity at HMP Low Moss is fully risk assessed and accompanied by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and/or Safe Systems of Work (SSoW).

All Risk Assessments and SSoW are subject to a management review in response to any operational changes, new systems of work or any other significant changes to working patterns or the working environment.

As HMP Low Moss’ population has increased all relevant Risk Assessments and SSoW have been reviewed and updated as appropriate in partnership with the Local Prison Officer Association representatives. This process fully considered any additional risks presented and robust control measures were implemented to mitigate these.

Dynamic risk assessment is an ongoing feature of prison work. Where any imminent risk to health, or safety, is identified then an appropriate response will be implemented by the Governor in Charge.

Question reference: S5W-25337

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Audit Scotland report, The 2018/19 audit of the Scottish Prison Service.

I refer the Member to the answer that I gave to question S5T-01787 in the Chamber on 17 September 2019. The answer to the Topical Question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12256&i=110781

I take very seriously the pressures that Scotland’s prisons face, and especially the rise in the prisoner population. I have been working closely with the Scottish Prison Service to see that robust measures are in place to ensure the safety of staff and of the prisoners who are in our care. In addition to extending the Presumption Against Short Sentences to 12 months which came into force in July, we have established a Prisons Resilience Leadership Group which is looking at a range of actions including:

Increasing awareness of, access to and support for community sentences and alternatives to custody;
Looking more widely at how bail law operates and at access to support and mentoring schemes in the community to make sure that remand is only used when it is needed to protect the public;
The revision of guidance for Home Detention Curfew (HDC) when we commence the parts of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 that provide for an expansion of electronic monitoring and make important improvements to temporary release and to HDC.

Additional funding for supervised and supported bail has been allocated to bolster existing services and facilitate the establishment of new provision.

Question reference: S5W-25316

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government and Ofgem to ensure that there is parity in network distribution between the north of Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Electricity network policy and pricing is reserved to the UK Government. We recognise that network charges in the north of Scotland, despite being reduced as a result of the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme (HBRS), remain higher than those in the rest of Great Britain. We responded recently to BEIS’ review of the HBRS and agreed with its proposal that the scheme should remain in place.

We remain closely engaged with the UK Government and Ofgem, on network charging issues – including, for example, Ofgem's ongoing Future Charging and Access reforms, where we continue to highlight the importance of charging arrangements that support the development and connection of Scotland's vast renewable resources, including on the Scottish islands.

Networks are currently undergoing unprecedented levels of change as we continue to decarbonise the energy that flows through them and change the way we use electricity. The Scottish Government will continually seek to influence decisions of UK Ministers to deliver outcomes for Scotland which reflect our distinct circumstances, ambitions and priorities.