- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21753 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 January 2006, in what way the answer indicates the Executive's opinion of the claims made by Senator Dick Marty.
Answer
The answer to S2W-21753 set out the Scottish Executive’s position in relation to Senator Dick Marty’s report. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to give an opinion on claims made by Senator Marty. The UK government will respond to the report, as required, when it is published.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22333 by Cathy Jamieson on 25 January 2006, whether the Executive has reached a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not intend to take a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn. Ministers have consistently made clear that if anyone has credible and reliable information regarding alleged criminal activity, it should be passed to the police.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21643 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006, how the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 will be equipped to monitor the potential beneficial effects on the Scottish economy of London hosting the Olympic Games in 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 has members from Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and CBI Scotland. These organisations have significant contact with the Scottish business community and are well placed to ensure that Scottish businesses are aware of all opportunities created by London 2012 and monitor the benefits occasioned by this.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to improve the situation identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 12.7 of his March 2005 inspection report into HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont where no alternative recreation is offered if a young adult refuses exercise when it is raining because “staff resources would be stretched to have exercise and recreation operating simultaneously”.
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 question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
The Governor does not regard this as a priority for action.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how far advanced plans are for the new reception in HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, referred to by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.6 of his inspection report of March 2005.
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 question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
New reception facilities are planned as part of Phase III of the development at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve conditions in Argyll Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, as recommended by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 2.5 of his inspection report of May 2004 but assessed as “not achieved” in his report of March 2005.
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 question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
In addition, a cleaning routine and audit system are now being introduced into Argyle Hall.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve the reliability of the emergency cell intercom system in Iona Hall at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont which was identified as being “problematic” by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.5 of his inspection report of March 2005.
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 question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
The problem identified has now been fixed.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the Scottish Prison Service not accepting the point of note identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 7.6 of his May 2004 inspection report into HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont that “some non-accredited classes in the learning centre would benefit from a clearer focus on achievement”.
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 question S2W-22272 on 1 February 2006. 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.
These comments refer to the previous education contract. A new contract was put in place in April 2005.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the procedures for infection control and monitoring in both Argyll and Spey Halls at HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, referred to by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraphs 11.2 and 11.3 of his inspection report of March 2005.
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 question S2W-22277 on 1 February 2006. 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.
The information requested has been published on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk, and copies of which have been lodged in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 38686 and 38687).
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will resolve the issue identified by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in paragraph 11.1 of his inspection report of March 2005 on HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont that children under the age of 16 are being held in that institution “as a result of their being deemed by Secure Units as too difficult to be held”, despite his earlier recommendation of May 2004 that children aged under 16 should not be held in a prison.
Answer
The Executive’s policy is to avoid, wherever possible, holding young people under the age of 16 in prison. In the exceptional circumstances where it is deemed necessary, it must be for the shortest appropriate period of time.
The normal expectation is that a child will remain in the same establishment until their release. Transfer to another secure unit or to a young offenders institute will only be considered if a child's behaviour becomes completely unmanageable within the current placement or where, for example, the child is convicted of further serious charges which suggest that the child would present an unacceptable risk to the safety of other residents or staff. Conversely, where a child makes suitable progress he or she will be considered for a move from a secure establishment to an open setting within the child care system.
The majority of those children who are recorded as being held in adult prisons are children whose behaviour is so challenging that the courts have certified them as “unruly”.
These special arrangements are in place in order to protect those children whose behaviour is so challenging that it would be inappropriate to place them in local authority secure accommodation at that point in time.
Staff in secure units already have well developed skills for dealing with difficult behaviour in a secure setting. Further training and development which will enhance these skills is ongoing within each unit.
