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

The Scottish Prison Service does not currently hold this information.

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

The timeline will be dependent on the availability of suitable sites and planning permission being obtained. Community consultation will also form part of the planning process.

The SPS is currently working towards timescales to achieve the opening of community custody units from 2019 onwards and an update will be provided once the sites have been identified.

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07912 on 21 March 2017. 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

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

The SPS does not currently employ modern apprentices. This is because the Civil Service Recruitment Principles determine that appointments to the Civil Service, including apprentices, must be made on the basis of fair and open competition. Modern apprenticeships have an age criteria, therefore competition for these apprenticeships would not be deemed fair and open.

The SPS does however appoint staff who may, as part of their initial training, undertake an apprenticeship award but such employees are not deemed to be modern apprentices. In each year since 2013, 10 individuals have been recruited to the Estates function under this initiative.

To build on existing apprenticeship routes, SPS is currently working with Skills Development Scotland, to examine how apprenticeships can legitimately be part of our recruitment strategy to appoint apprentices to schemes that support Scottish Government targets and remain compliant with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recent publication of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) report “Evidence and Procedure Review: A New Model for Summary Criminal Procedure”, which outlines a model underpinned by a digital case management process. We have been working with the senior judiciary, courts, Crown, and other key partners to consider the recommendations made in the earlier Evidence and Procedure Review and we welcome this paper as the next step in that process. The SCTS report makes a case for change and puts forward ambitious and far-reaching proposals for a new, modernised summary criminal court procedure. Further work is needed to evaluate and develop these proposals before decisions are taken about implementation.

To inform policy development SCTS is planning a programme of public consultation events in relation to the report during spring 2017. SCTS will evaluate the evidence on whether the propositions outlined in the paper are viable, assess the business, resourcing, financial and technological impacts, and what further analysis is necessary to help shape the way forward. Following this further development work SCTS will report back to the Justice Board with recommendations.

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07912 on 21 March 2017. 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

There are currently around 1100 people subject to electronic monitoring in Scotland.

If the current scheme is extended as set out in the consultation: "A Consultation on Proposals for Legislation", the uptake and use of the extended scheme will be for the Judiciary, Scottish Prison Service and others to decide on.

Any legislation introduced will be accompanied by a Financial Memorandum, which will include estimates of how many individuals may be subject to electronic monitoring under legislative proposals.

The Scottish Government has committed to publishing a national child protection policy, covering all aspects of child protection which will identify all the responsibilities and actions across Government that are aimed at supporting families and protecting children. As part of the national policy we will develop a plan which will be specifically focused on preventing the emotional, physical and sexual abuse of Scotland’s children. Both the national policy and prevention plan will be published as part of the same document.

"Electronic Monitoring in Scotland – A Consultation on Proposals for Legislation" is a public consultation and the Scottish Government is keen to hear from all those with an interest in this area.

We are particularly interested in the thoughts of a range of people and organisations working in the justice system, people who have been victims of crime and those with a history of offending.

The Scottish Government is consulting on legislative proposals for Electronic Monitoring until 19 May 2017.

Alongside this consultation we will be developing the potential costs associated with the introduction of GPS and alcohol monitoring technologies. These potential costs will be reflected in the financial memorandum of any Bill that we introduce.