Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-20875

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20597 by Humza Yousaf on 7 January 2019, whether it will confirm when in 2017 the then justice secretary confirmed that a phased approach would be taken in respect of the five community custody units, and by what date it expects each unit to be fully (a) planned and (b) operational.

My predecessor confirmed in a letter dated 11 July 2017 to the Justice Committee that the Scottish Government will be taking a phased, evidence-based approach to allow us to be responsive to the changing profile of the female prison population and emerging lessons learned from development of the first 2 Community Custodial Units (CCUs). He also advised Parliament that work on the Units will respond to the changing profile and risk profile in his statement to Parliament on Community Justice on 14 September 2017.

The letter also noted that decisions on the next phase of CCUs and the remaining 3 possible locations, will be dependent on a number of factors as well as the lessons learned in bringing the first phase of CCUs into operation.

Plans for the CCUs in Glasgow and Dundee are progressing well and expected to be operational by the end of 2020.

Question reference: S5W-20848

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18848 by Michael Matheson on 27 September 2018, whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to meet its commitment to maintain the Air Discount Scheme, and by what date it will make its formal announcement regarding the scheme’s continuation.

The Scottish Government is committed to the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme and will make a formal announcement in due course. The Air Discount Scheme is notified to the European Commission under the General Block Exemption Regulation in order to ensure compliance with EU State Aid rules rather than being necessary for the scheme to function. Brexit will not impact on the continuation of the scheme.

Question reference: S5W-20629

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government where the female custodial estate will be housed by the end of the current parliamentary session, broken down by (a) institution and (b) respective capacity.

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

There are currently 383 women in custody as of 21st December 2018. They are located across 5 prisons in Scotland; HMP and YOI Cornton Vale, HMP Edinburgh, HMP Greenock, HMP & YOI Grampian and HMP & YOI Polmont. HMP & YOI Cornton Vale accommodates women only while the other establishments also accommodate men.

Details of the population at each establishment together with the respective capacities are provided in the following table.

Establishment	No women in custody	Capacity for Women
HMP Edinburgh	101	111
HMP Greenock	52*	51
HMP Grampian	47	50
HMP Polmont	92	134
HMP Cornton Vale	91	111
Totals	383	457

* This figure includes 2 women who are currently within the community integration unit at HMP Greenock. This unit can accommodate up to 6 women but is classed as temporary accommodation and therefore not included in the total available capacity.

The programme of work to transform how Scotland cares for women in custody is well underway and will deliver 3 new facilities within the female custodial estate by the end of 2020:

A new Women’s National Facility with 80 places is to be built on the existing site of HMP & YOI Cornton Vale and will replace the existing prison when operational; and two Community Custody Units (CCU), one in Glasgow and one in Dundee will also be built. The CCU in Glasgow will be able to accommodate up to 24 women while the Dundee CCU will accommodate up to 16 women.

Question reference: S5T-01435

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its projections are for the prison population, in light of statistics showing that the majority are at or above capacity.

Question reference: S5W-20600

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when up-to-date information on the number of deaths in custody and the completion of each respective Fatal Accident Inquiry will be published by the Scottish Prison Service.

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

Any death in prison custody may lead to a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) under the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016, however the decision to hold an FAI (and the timing of a Sheriff Court being petitioned to hold an FAI) is a matter for the Lord Advocate/Procurator Fiscal. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service are responsible for the hosting, administration and management of Inquiry. The Scottish Prison Service’s role in the inquiry is as a participant only, but we assist the Procurator Fiscal throughout the investigative stage.

SPS has reviewed the way in which it publishes information in relation to deaths in custody with the aim of ensuring that it is both accurate and up to date. The SPS external website was updated on 17 December 2018.

Question reference: S5W-20603

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of hours per week convicted prisoners have been engaged in purposeful activity (a) across the prison estate and (b) in each penal establishment in each year since 2013-14, also broken down by those on (i) short sentences, (ii) long sentences and (iii) remand.

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

The following table provides details of the average number of hours of Purposeful Activity delivered per week since 2013–2014. The information is broken down by establishment and year.

Average Purposeful Activity Hours per Establishment	2017-18	2016-17	2015-16	2014-15	2013-14
Barlinnie	16	16	18	17	27
Cornton Vale	21	22	23	25	17
Dumfries	19	19	19	17	27
Edinburgh	12	14	14	17	19
Glenochil	18	20	23	23	15
Grampian	28	31	33	32	22
Greenock	22	20	20	21	21
Inverness	27	27	29	23	21
Low Moss	24	27	30	32	22
Open Estate	22	23	22	21	18
Perth	21	21	21	22	26
Polmont	20	20	22	20	18
Shotts	22	22	22	20	19
Total Average	21	22	23	22	21

The appointment of a single contractor to provide education across prisons in Scotland during 2017 resulted in an anticipated, but temporary, performance dip in some areas including recorded purposeful activity. SPS’ priority moving forward is to ensure that opportunities and interventions are available to all of those in our care.

SPS is unable provide information on the breakdown by sentence type as data is not collected in this format.

Question reference: S5W-20599

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its plans to establish a new female custodial estate, how many of the five new community custody units have agreed locations, and at what stage each unit is in the planning process.

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

“I refer the member to the answer provided in S5W-20597 on 7 January 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .”

Question reference: S5W-20604

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest, (b) average and (c) median time is that a person has spent on remand in each year since 2014.

Question reference: S5W-20504

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) occupancy, (b) occupancy rate and (c) capacity has been in each prison in (i) 2017 and (ii) each month in 2018.

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

The following tables provide a breakdown of the Average Occupancy, Capacity and Occupancy rate of each Scottish prison in 2017 as well as each month in 2018.

SPS has a responsibility to accommodate those sent to us by the courts. The data shows the occupancy levels of each establishment when measured against design capacity. The design capacity and operational capacity of establishments are different and can change for reasons of policy, maintenance and changing operational requirements.

2017

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate

Addiewell	697	700	100%
Barlinnie	1116	987	113%
Cornton Vale	85	114	75%
Dumfries	173	176	98%
Edinburgh	870	867	100%
Glenochil	634	668	95%
Grampian	447	552	81%
Greenock	251	263	95%
Inverness	114	93	123%
Kilmarnock	499	500	100%
Low Moss	753	784	96%
Open Estate	188	284	66%
Perth	619	631	98%
Polmont	484	758	64%
Shotts	531	538	99%

January 2018 (Average Prison Population 7438)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	696	700	99%
Barlinnie	1091	987	111%
Cornton Vale	82	114	72%
Dumfries	169	176	96%
Edinburgh	866	867	100%
Glenochil	644	668	96%
Grampian	450	552	82%
Greenock	252	263	96%
Inverness	110	93	118%
Kilmarnock	499	500	100%
Low Moss	761	784	97%
Open Estate	197	284	69%
Perth	625	631	99%
Polmont	460	758	61%
Shotts	536	538	100%

February 2018 (Average Prison Population 7446)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	697	700	100%
Barlinnie	1113	987	113%
Cornton Vale	88	114	77%
Dumfries	169	176	96%
Edinburgh	848	867	98%
Glenochil	654	668	98%
Grampian	444	552	80%
Greenock	238	263	90%
Inverness	108	93	116%
Kilmarnock	503	500	101%
Low Moss	770	784	98%
Open Estate	197	284	69%
Perth	628	631	100%
Polmont	457	758	60%
Shotts	532	538	99%

March 2018 (Average Prison Population 7396)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	696	700	99%
Barlinnie	1111	987	113%
Cornton Vale	85	114	75%
Dumfries	166	176	94%
Edinburgh	836	867	96%
Glenochil	656	668	98%
Grampian	444	552	80%
Greenock	225	263	86%
Inverness	97	93	104%
Kilmarnock	502	500	100%
Low Moss	761	784	97%
Open Estate	202	284	71%
Perth	630	631	100%
Polmont	455	758	60%
Shotts	530	538	99%

April 2018 (Average Prison Population 7491)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	700	700	100%
Barlinnie	1114	987	116%
Cornton Vale	82	114	72%
Dumfries	169	176	96%
Edinburgh	856	867	99%
Glenochil	662	668	99%
Grampian	451	552	82%
Greenock	232	263	88%
Inverness	110	93	118%
Kilmarnock	503	500	101%
Low Moss	770	784	98%
Open Estate	193	284	68%
Perth	647	631	103%
Polmont	447	758	59%
Shotts	528	538	98%

May 2018 (Average Prison Population 7551)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	699	700	100%
Barlinnie	1183	987	120%
Cornton Vale	82	114	72%
Dumfries	166	176	94%
Edinburgh	873	867	101%
Glenochil	665	668	100%
Grampian	451	552	82%
Greenock	232	263	88%
Inverness	111	93	119%
Kilmarnock	501	500	100%
Low Moss	766	784	98%
Open Estate	190	284	67%
Perth	658	631	104%
Polmont	444	758	59%
Shotts	530	538	99%

June 2018 (Average Prison Population 7591)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	696	700	99%
Barlinnie	1212	987	123%
Cornton Vale	82	114	72%
Dumfries	162	176	92%
Edinburgh	860	867	99%
Glenochil	663	668	99%
Grampian	460	552	83%
Greenock	233	263	89%
Inverness	115	93	124%
Kilmarnock	503	500	101%
Low Moss	779	784	99%
Open Estate	181	284	64%
Perth	660	631	105%
Polmont	453	758	60%
Shotts	532	538	99%

July 2018 (Average Prison Population 7678)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	698	700	100%
Barlinnie	1277	987	129%
Cornton Vale	83	114	73%
Dumfries	162	176	92%
Edinburgh	887	867	102%
Glenochil	661	668	99%
Grampian	464	552	84%
Greenock	234	263	89%
Inverness	106	93	114%
Kilmarnock	503	500	101%
Low Moss	773	784	99%
Open Estate	176	284	62%
Perth	668	631	106%
Polmont	456	758	60%
Shotts	530	538	99%

August 2018 (Average Prison Population 7773)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	699	700	100%
Barlinnie	1336	987	135%
Cornton Vale	85	114	75%
Dumfries	174	176	99%
Edinburgh	889	867	103%
Glenochil	661	668	99%
Grampian	462	552	84%
Greenock	234	263	89%
Inverness	114	93	123%
Kilmarnock	502	500	100%
Low Moss	765	784	98%
Open Estate	171	284	60%
Perth	673	631	107%
Polmont	475	758	63%
Shotts	533	538	99%

September 2018 (Average Prison Population 7812)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	700	700	100%
Barlinnie	1360	987	138%
Cornton Vale	98	114	86%
Dumfries	176	176	100%
Edinburgh	885	867	102%
Glenochil	662	668	99%
Grampian	461	552	84%
Greenock	235	263	89%
Inverness	118	93	127%
Kilmarnock	500	500	100%
Low Moss	765	784	98%
Open Estate	174	284	61%
Perth	662	631	105%
Polmont	486	758	64%
Shotts	530	538	99%

October 2018 (Average Prison Population 7809)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	701	700	100%
Barlinnie	1350	987	137%
Cornton Vale	96	114	84%
Dumfries	174	176	99%
Edinburgh	888	867	102%
Glenochil	662	668	99%
Grampian	464	552	84%
Greenock	235	263	89%
Inverness	119	93	128%
Kilmarnock	501	500	100%
Low Moss	772	784	98%
Open Estate	176	284	62%
Perth	658	631	104%
Polmont	475	758	63%
Shotts	538	538	100%

November 2018 (Average Prison Population 7909)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	701	700	100%
Barlinnie	1379	987	140%
Cornton Vale	94	114	82%
Dumfries	185	176	105%
Edinburgh	900	867	104%
Glenochil	673	668	101%
Grampian	474	552	86%
Greenock	228	263	87%
Inverness	128	93	138%
Kilmarnock	501	500	100%
Low Moss	777	784	99%
Open Estate	173	284	61%
Perth	685	631	109%
Polmont	473	758	62%
Shotts	538	538	100%

December 2018 (Average Prison Population 7877) (Data up to 16 December 2018)

Name	Average Occupancy	Design Capacity	Occupancy Rate
Addiewell	699	700	100%
Barlinnie	1371	987	139%
Cornton Vale	93	114	82%
Dumfries	188	176	107%
Edinburgh	886	867	102%
Glenochil	691	668	103%
Grampian	463	552	84%
Greenock	225	263	86%
Inverness	127	93	137%
Kilmarnock	499	500	100%
Low Moss	769	784	98%
Open Estate	171	284	60%
Perth	696	631	110%
Polmont	458	758	60%
Shotts	541	538	101%

Question reference: S5W-20601

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20169 by Jeane Freeman on 5 December 2018, whether NHS boards are required to include people in prison when reporting against each standard and waiting times, and to what extent this is tracked by (a) it and (b) NHS Scotland.

a) The Scottish Government does not currently report separately for those in prison in relation to waiting times and standards. The Scottish Government’s Health and Social Care in Prisons Programme has commissioned NHS Information Services Division to develop a dashboard for healthcare in prisons, which will be in place by Spring 2019 which will cover existing data held by ISD in relation to prisons. We have a phased approach to broaden and improve the data presented. There are plans to develop a full suite of health and social care quality indicators for use in prisons which will be reported through the new dashboard.

b) No specific requirement has been established for people in prison when reporting against waiting times standards. No tracking is currently undertaken relating to people in prison by NHS Scotland.

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