- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many anaerobic digestion projects there are, and what targets have been set for the development of projects over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.
Answer
Based on research recently commissioned to support the development of a Bioenergy Action Plan for Scotland, there are currently a reported 38 biogas to CHP sites in Scotland (excluding those at sewage treatment plants). Of these sites, 16 are waste fed and 22 are farm fed. These plants have a reported capacity of 30.8 MW utilising 866 kt of feedstock.
There are also a further 12 biomethane injection sites, of which 2 are waste fed and the remaining10 are farm fed, utilising 761,000t of feedstock to produce and estimated 188 MW gas.
We do not currently have a specific target for anaerobic digestion. However, the technology remains part of our diverse approach to renewable energy and decarbonisation. We recognise the role that anaerobic digestion may play in decarbonisation within Scotland, especially within the whisky and agricultural sectors. Scoltland's Energy Strategy, published in December 2017, sets a target for the equivalent of 50% of the energy required to meet Scotland’s heat, transport and electricity consumption to be supplied from renewable sources by 2030.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what strategy it has for the development of anaerobic digestion projects.
Answer
In Scotland's Energy Strategy, published in December 2017, we commited to developing a Bioenergy Action Plan for Scotland. This will provide clearer scope for the development of bioenergy in the Scottish energy system, including Anaerobic Digestion. Our approach to developing the Action Plan will apply the following guiding principles where:
- Policies to support bioenergy are consistent with the ambitions laid out in this Strategy, and with Scotland’s Climate Change Plan and Land Use Strategy;
- Bioenergy schemes deliver greenhouse gas emission reductions that help meet Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets;
- Bioenergy schemes represent good value for money, deliver benefits for communities, and help tackle fuel poverty;
- Biomass is produced and managed in a sustainable way, and should be used in heat-only or combined heat and power schemes to exploit available heat and local supply; and
- Demands on land for food, energy crops and other non-food crops are managed equitably.
We are committed to working with stakeholders to provide a supportive policy framework to aid deployment of anaerobic digestion within the wider development of our Bioenergy Action plan. We intend to publish the Bioenergy Action Plan for consultation in Spring 2019.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2019
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 December 2018
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 January 2019
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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.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2019
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
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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.
Answer
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 .”
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
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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.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
Some information on remand is held by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Scottish Prison Service for operational purposes. However the databases utilised by these organisations are not designed to capture the length of time individuals spend on remand.
