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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-02297

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made in The Press and Journal on 2 September 2016 by David Hamilton that “if we [police officers] had something (a taser) that did not look like a gun, it might be more acceptable", what plans are there to introduce tasers that do not resemble a firearm.

Question reference: S5W-02918

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 26 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, and what plans it has to implement its recommendations.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child published its Concluding Observations on the fifth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 9 June 2016. The Scottish Government is considering carefully the full range of conclusions and recommendations raised by the Committee and will engage with relevant stakeholders shortly on next steps. Actions following from the Concluding Observation will be taken forward in line with Ministers’ specific responsibilities in relation to children’s rights under Part 1 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Question reference: S5W-02281

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the review of the role of the Scottish Funding Council.

Question reference: S5W-02635

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people with electronic tagging devices.

Currently in Scotland, Electronic Monitoring is available as a Restriction of Liberty Order or for those released from prison on Home Detention Curfew. Electronic Monitoring is also used by the Parole Board as a condition of licence; as a Restricted Movement Requirement as part of Community Payback Order; as a Movement Restriction Condition for young people; or as a condition of a Drug Treatment and Testing Order. Support is dependent on the individual circumstances.

However, we know from international evidence that electronic monitoring can be a useful tool that can aid reducing reoffending when set within a wider package of support. The Scottish Government established an expert Working Group to look at Electronic Monitoring in Scotland to consider how best we take this forward specifically looking at: how electronic monitoring can be used at different points in the criminal justice system; what level of support can be provided in the community whilst maintaining public protection; and the opportunities that new technologies can provide.

The Working Group submitted their report to me at the start of the summer, and I plan to publish their report and recommendations shortly.

Question reference: S5W-02634

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the report, Creativity and Effectiveness in the use of electronic monitoring: a case study of five jurisdictions, what its position is on integrating electronic tagging with rehabilitative support.

We know from international evidence, such as the report 'Creativity and Effectiveness in the use of electronic monitoring', that electronic monitoring is a useful tool that can aid reducing reoffending when it is set within a wider package of support. The Scottish Government established an expert Working Group to look at Electronic Monitoring in Scotland to consider how best we take this forward, specifically looking at how electronic monitoring can be used at different points in the criminal justice system; what level of support can be provided in the community whilst maintaining public protection; and the opportunities that new technologies can provide.

The Working Group submitted their report to me at the start of the summer, and I plan to publish their report and recommendations shortly.

Question reference: S5W-02633

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendation of the Post-corroboration Safeguards Review to undertake research into jury reasoning and decision-making.

On 8 September 2015, during the passage of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice announced that the Scottish Government would take forward the recommendations made in Lord Bonomy's Post Corroboration Safeguards Review in relation to jury research.

As outlined in the Programme for Government, by spring 2017, the Scottish Government will commission independent jury research to consider the dynamics of decision-making by juries, including the current jury majority and three verdict system, helping to inform future proposals for the reform of the criminal justice system.

Question reference: S5W-02402

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the policing priorities have been in each year since 2013, broken down by division.

Question reference: S5W-02403

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support and guidance it provides to local authorities prior to them setting their local policing priorities.

Question reference: S5W-02404

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local police commanders since 2013 regarding policing priorities.

Question reference: S5W-02405

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has had with each local police commander since 2013.