- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the investigation by Premier Prison Services into allegations made in respect of HM Prison Kilmarnock in the BBC documentary on 9 March 2005 to be completed; who is undertaking this investigation; whether any member of the Scottish Prison Service is involved in the investigation; what its terms of reference are, and whether the report arising from it will be made public.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the answer to S2W-15194 on 14 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place between it and the UK Government prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget 2005 announcement regarding the establishment of a new animal health agency; which ministers participated in any discussions; whether it will place the minutes of any discussions in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre; whether the new agency will have offices in Scotland; how it will report to the Executive and the Parliament; what impact the agency will have on the provisions of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill; who will appoint its board; what role the Executive will have in such appointments, and how much of the agency's budget will be for devolved functions.
Answer
No discussions about the proposed animal health regulatory agency have been held with Scottish ministers. Animal health and welfare policy and its enforcement are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and we will monitor development of the UK Government’s proposals to see if there are any lessons to be learnt from this approach.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice has requested a copy of the documentary evidence used in the BBC programme on HM Prison Kilmarnock, broadcast on 9 March 2005 and, if so, when a copy was received and what action the Executive will take in relation to the allegations contained in the documentary.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS has a copy of the programme broadcast by the BBC. Both Premier Prison Services and the Scottish Prison Service have written to ask the BBC for their additional un-broadcast material to assist in the further investigation of this matter. The BBC has refused to provide this material.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its Justice Department officials have visited HM Prison Kilmarnock in each of the last six years; what positions they held, and what they reported from each visit and to whom.
Answer
This information is not available since aggregate records are not maintained on the number, purpose and outcome of visits by Justice Department officials to HM Prison Kilmarnock or any other prison.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place between it and the UK Government prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget 2005 announcement regarding the establishment of a new integrated countryside agency; which ministers participated in any discussions; whether it will place the minutes of any discussions in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre; whether the new agency will have offices in Scotland; how it will report to the Executive and the Parliament; who will appoint its board; what role the Executive will have in such appointments, and how much of the agency's budget will be for devolved functions.
Answer
The new agency is wholly a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs body and will have no powers with regard to Scotland. It will have no offices in Scotland, will not report to the Scottish Executive or the Parliament and the Executive will have no say over the appointment of its board or the budgets. The communications relating to the integrated agency will not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre because it is a matter reserved to the UK Government.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Justice will authorise publication of the most recent report into HM Prison Kilmarnock by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Answer
I refer the member to my answer to S2W-15295 on 14 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service has visited HM Prison Kilmarnock in each of the last six years; whether he reported his findings to the Minister for Justice; if so, what these findings were, and, if not, why he has not been instructed to do so.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
I visit prisons including HM Prison Kilmarnock periodically in conducting the business of SPS. I do not routinely report to the minister on particular visits to prisons but provide information on performance against targets and other matters in line with the Framework Document. The key information is contained in SPS's Annual Reports and Accounts which are published and laid before Parliament.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice has received my letter regarding the Scottish Prison Service's closure of the Longriggend Remand Centre and, if so, what action will be taken; what action will be taken to address issues relating to roads and lighting in Upperton Village, and what the reasons are for the minister having not replied to myself or the Upperton Residents' Association.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
As it raised matters which are my responsibility under the published framework document governing the relationship between SPS and ministers, I replied to the letter on 9 March 2005. The reply set out the position regarding roads and lighting in the area.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislation to reform the powers of the Minister for Justice in respect of the directions which she can issue to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
Answer
Legislation is not required. The authority which ministers delegate to SPS is set out in the Agency's Framework Document. The Framework Document has recently been revised and is available online at
http://www.sps.gov.uk/keydocs/framework/default.asp.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 April 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of treating obesity-related illness through the NHS.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
