- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 8 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been received anent the trafficking of women and their involvement in involuntary prostitution.
Answer
There have been no recent representations made to the Scottish Executive regarding the trafficking of women for the purpose of sexual exploitation. We are currently undertaking a joint consultation with the Home Office on
Tackling Human Trafficking: Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan. The consultation closes on 5 April 2006.
My officials have also been in discussions with a range of organisations with an interest in these matters as part of an exercise to determine the scope of the next phase of the review of prostitution, concerning indoor prostitution and trafficking.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 8 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with chief constables concerning the trafficking of women in Scotland to work as prostitutes.
Answer
There have been no recent discussions with chief constables on the issue of trafficking of women for the purposes of sexual exploitation. However, as indicated in our consultation Tackling Human Trafficking: Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan, the Executive recognises the importance of ensuring police are aware of trafficking issues and have the knowledge to deal with them it. I therefore welcome the UK–wide Operation Pentameter against human trafficking, launched by the police on 21 February 2006. My officials are maintaining close contact with police colleagues regarding this operation.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 8 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to modify extant legislation in relation to the trafficking of women into Scotland for the purpose of compelling them to work as prostitutes.
Answer
There are no plans at present to amend those aspects of current legislation on trafficking for sexual exploitation which are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Under section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, it is an offence for any person to be involved in the trafficking into or out of the UK of a person or people for the purposes of prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation. The maximum sentence on conviction on indictment is 14 years imprisonment.
We have sought views on investigation, enforcement and prosecution in relation to trafficking offences as part of our consultation on a UK Action Plan on Human Trafficking.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds statistics centrally, or any other relevant information, concerning the number of people who have been (a) stopped and searched and (b) detained temporarily under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Answer
The information requested isnot held centrally by the Executive.
The Home Office publishes onits website, information on arrests and charges throughout the United Kingdomunder the Terrorism Act 2000. The latest figures are available via the followinglink:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/?version=1.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a Scotland-wide rail, bus and ferry concessionary travel scheme for young people and what the definition will be of a young person under the scheme.
Answer
The Partnership Agreement commitsthe Executive to the progressive introduction of a national scheme of bus, railand ferry concessionary travel for young people. We are currently developing detailedproposals to implement this commitment and an announcement will be made shortly.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund in each year since 2000-01 and whether any specific amounts awarded to Inverclyde were designated for the regeneration of Port Glasgow.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
(a) BNSF allocated to Renfrewshireis as follows:
| | (£ Million) |
| 2001-02 | 1.0 |
| 2002-03 | 1.5 |
| 2003-04 | 2.0 |
| 2004-05 | 1.5 |
(b) BNSF allocated to Inverclydeis as follows:
| | (£ Million) |
| 2001-02 | 2.0 |
| 2002-03 | 3.0 |
| 2003-04 | 4.0 |
| 2004-05 | 3.0 |
Information regarding the amountspecifically designated to Port Glasgow cannot be determined accurately as Inverclyde’sBNSF programme was delivered on a thematic basis, mostly in social inclusionpartnership areas, focusing on employability, neighbourhood services and healthand drugs. Three specific target areas were identified for the neighbourhood serviceselement of the programme and these included Robert Street in Port Glasgow.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how much social inclusion partnership funding has been allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde in each year since 1999-2000 and what proportion of the sum allocated to Inverclyde was specifically designated for the regeneration of Port Glasgow.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
(a) SIP funding allocated toRenfrewshire (Paisley Partnership) is as follows:
| | £ |
| 1999-2000 | 2,749,276 |
| 2000-01 | 2,748,176 |
| 2001-02 | 2,707,953 |
| 2002-03 | 3,127,927 |
| 2003-04 | 3,509,751 |
| 2004-05 | 3,566,991 |
(b) SIP funding allocated toInverclyde (Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership) is as follows:
| | £ |
| 1999-2000 | 2,991,245 |
| 2000-01 | 2,423,735 |
| 2001-02 | 2,546,173 |
| 2002-03 | 2,464,011 |
| 2003-04 | 2,919,446 |
| 2004-05 | 3,958,903 |
Information regarding the amountspecifically designated to Port Glasgow cannot be determined accurately since mostprojects funded by the Partnership operated on an Inverclyde SIP-wide basis.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals there are to enhance or improve the financial and social circumstances of older people living in poverty in (a) West Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is tacklingpensioner poverty in Scotland in partnership with the UK Government.
Measures by the UK Government to reduce the proportion of olderpeople on low incomes include Pension Credit, Council Tax and Housing Benefit, theWinter Fuel Payment, the £200 Council Tax refund, and free TV licences. The Executiveis taking a number of actions including our central heating programme, free localoff-peak bus travel (extending to a national scheme), and free personal and nursingcare.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from the Community Regeneration Fund has been allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde in 2005-06; how much will be allocated in 2006-07, and whether a specific amount of the money given to Inverclyde will be for the regeneration of Port Glasgow.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
(a) The CRF allocations to RenfrewshireCommunity Planning Partnership are as follows:
| | £ |
| 2005-06 | 4,527,000 |
| 2006-07 | 4,554,000 |
(b) The CRF allocations to InverclydeCommunity Planning Partnership are as follows:
| | £ |
| 2005-06 | 5,381,000 |
| 2006-07 | 4,881,000 |
The allocation of CRF fundingto projects is determined locally by the respective Partnerships. Expenditure plansare contained in the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Regeneration Outcome Agreements2005-08.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 2 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to either education or training.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to providing young people in Scotland with access to worldclass education and training. Annual investment in our colleges and universitiesis at record levels and will rise to over£1.6 billion by 2007-08.
This is supplemented by Governmenttraining programmes such as the Modern Apprenticeship programme which is open toeveryone over the age of 16. The number of individuals on this programme has grownsubstantially since devolution and there are now over 34,000 modern apprentices.This shows a clear commitment to developing tomorrow’s skills today.
