- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), what impact the abolition of the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will have on (a) businesses, (b) Business Gateway, (c) local authorities, (d) local HIE offices, (e) HIE staff, (f) social enterprises, (g) grant arrangements, (h) community leaders and (i) other stakeholders.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 December 2016. 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: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), who will be responsible for appraising, monitoring and evaluating a range of performance measures of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) following the abolition of the HIE board.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 December 2016. 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: Tuesday, 06 December 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policies on animal welfare, what its position is on a complete ban on trade in ivory products being introduced and whether it has discussed this with the UK Government; what information it has regarding trade involving ivory in Scotland over the last 10 years, and whether it has received representations regarding the UK ministers' decision to ban the trade in pre-1947 ivory products.
Answer
The trade in endangered species, including ivory and ivory products, is controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Although matters relating to the environment are largely devolved, CITES is reserved.
The UK Government has proposed a ban on sales of worked ivory less than 70 years old. This will complement the existing UK ban on the trade in raw ivory of any age. The UK Government intends to consult on their proposal early in 2017.
The closure of domestic ivory markets was discussed at the Conference of Parties to CITES that took place in Johannesburg from 24 September to 5 October 2016. This was attended by Thérèse Coffey MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities. The issue has also been discussed at a number of EU-level CITES meetings. We understand that Thérèse Coffey’s predecessor, Rory Stewart MP, and his officials held discussions with representatives of the arts and antique sectors to discuss issues surrounding the sale of ivory in the UK.
As regards information on the trade in ivory in Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has considered 4 cases relating to the trade of ivory in the past ten years. No action was taken in one case due to the absence of sufficient evidence, two cases are under investigation and, most recently, a South Lanarkshire auction house was convicted and fined £1,500. Police Scotland have confirmed that since 2012 there has been a significant quantity of intelligence related to the online trade in ivory.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what matters were discussed at its EU justice summit on 24 November 2016; what new information from experts it obtained, and whether it will publish the minutes.
Answer
The discussion followed 4 high level themes of Law Enforcement and Criminal Law; Civil Law and its impact on participation in the Single Market; EU law and the Role of the Court of Justice of the EU; and engagement with the UK government.
Contributions were welcomed from the wide range of experts in attendance from both a civil and criminal perspective, including Police Scotland, The Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, the Crown Office and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. It was suggested that losing access to the European Arrest Warrant and law enforcement co-operation measures would require the Scotland’s justice system to fall back on international agreements from the late 1950s. There was uncertainty about whether such arrangements could be effective in modern times. Arrangements for the mutual recognition of judgments, provisions to prevent multiple cases in different countries, and other civil law arrangements are currently vital to the effective operation of the Single Market. There was discussion of the need to maintain security and stability in the law and consistent concerns about the risk of Scotland’s justice system being ‘left behind’ across all of the themes.
A summary of the discussion will be produced and published later this month.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what risks for Scotland's (a) legal system, (b) police service and (c) (i) role in international and judicial cooperation and (ii) intelligence sharing post-Brexit were identified at its EU justice summit on 24 November 2016.
Answer
The Summit focused discussion around 4 high level themes of Law Enforcement and Criminal Law; Civil Law and its impact on participation in the Single Market; EU law and the Role of the Court of Justice of the EU; and engagement with the UK government as opposed to risks in any particular area. It was clear that ‘Brexit’ poses risks that Scotland’s justice systems, police service and ability to help justice systems in other countries could be hindered. Contributions were welcomed from the wide range of experts in attendance from both a civil and criminal perspective, including Police Scotland, The Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, the Crown Office and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. It was highlighted that 80% of the UK contacts through the European Judicial Network on criminal matters are from Scotland. Loss of access to this network poses a considerable risk to our intelligence sharing capacity. There is also a risk that Scotland may be ‘left behind’ by not participating in the on-going process of improvements in justice co-operation across the EU.
A summary of the discussion will be produced and published online later this month.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to enable prisoners to participate in outdoor education programmes, such as the John Muir Award.
Answer
I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
SPS delivers an outdoor education programme in conjunction with the John Muir Trust at HMP Open Estate, Castle Huntly. Over the last 5 years, SPS has supported prisoners to attend the John Muir Trust on 19 separate occasions. This has resulted in 133 prisoners attaining Award status with the John Muir Trust.
SPS also delivers the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Bronze Award and part of the Silver Award in partnership with Barnardos at HM YOI Polmont. This initiative has been delivered on a continuous basis since 2011 with 150 young men participating. To date, 115 young men have achieved sectional Bronze Awards and the remaining 35 have completed the full Bronze Award and sectional Silver Awards.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2016
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce the number of “near misses” that are being recorded by police control rooms.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2016
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03129 by Michael Matheson on 5 October 2016, whether it will provide (a) a breakdown of the funds that Police Scotland is investing and (b) further information on the progress of the hubs it is introducing in to tackle cybercrime.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Police Scotland and I have asked the Chief Constable to write to the member with the information requested.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how many civilian jobs it expects to be lost as a result of Police Scotland's budget for 2016-17.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
The Policing 2026 project being led by the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland is looking to identify the future demands of Scottish policing, as well as the shape and size of the workforce needed to meet the challenges of the next 10 years.
They are committed to ensuring that the right people - with the right skills and experience are in the right place to deliver a flexible, modern and sustainable police service.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 1 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional support to help develop innovation in the tidal and wave energy sectors.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a long and proud history of supporting the development of marine energy technologies and we remain strongly committed to the wave and tidal energy sectors.
In a year when the marine energy sector has made outstanding progress, it is extremely disappointing that no budget has been ring-fenced for marine energy projects by the UK Government in the next Contracts for Difference allocation round.
The Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy and his officials are having discussions with the UK Government to consider what additional support can be provided to the industry. He is also convening a round table of representatives from the marine energy sector in December to understand their priorities.
