- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 8 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to present its proposals on prisons in the light of responses to the Scottish Prison Services Estates Review and whether it will consult further with the Parliament and bodies concerned before finalising its proposals.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's proposals for the future of the Scottish prison estate were published on 21 March 2002 for public consultation. The proposals focused on three main challenges: to provide enough places for the prisoner population; to end the practice of slopping out in our prisons as quickly as possible, and to find the option which represents the best value for money to the taxpayer. The Executive remains committed to meeting those challenges.By 28 June, 129 responses to the proposals had been received. This figure includes a small number of responses received after the formal deadline of 12 June and which the Executive has agreed will still be taken into account. A summary of the responses is being prepared and will be published during the recess. Copies will be sent to all those who responded.The Executive will study the responses to the proposals along with the reports of the Justice 1 Committee and of the group reviewing the future management of sex offenders whose establishment was announced on 18 April. I understand the strength of the concerns expressed by some in their responses, and I wish to build a better shared understanding of the challenges addressed by the Estates Review and the concerns raised by respondents. That process may include further dialogue with interested parties, but in the first instance I will be carefully considering all the comments made before announcing the next steps we propose to take. I emphasise that no final decisions have been taken on the proposals.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 6 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12351 by Iain Gray on 23 January 2001, how many closed circuit television (CCTV) schemes are currently operating; how many of these have been evaluated, and how many of these evaluations show (a) an increase and (b) a decrease in crime in the area covered and nearby areas.
Answer
Figures are held only for the public space closed circuit television (CCTV) projects funded through the 'Make Our Communities Safer' Challenge Competition. Grant is conditional on the submission of a report of the effectiveness of the system not later than 18 months after it becomes operational. Of the 161 projects part-funded through the competition, 127 have submitted completion certificates. To date, 60 of these have provided independent evaluation reports, with 40 recording a decrease in crime in the CCTV area and two showing an increase. The remaining 18 do not include crime statistics but all report that CCTV has made a positive contribution to the well-being and safety of the areas in which it is deployed. It is proposed to evaluate the new arrangements for funding community safety partnerships introduced on 1 April, which supersedes challenge competition funding, and to include a review of the effectiveness of CCTV and other community safety initiatives funded by the Executive.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 25 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, whether the outcome of any ballot undertaken prior to any transfer of Scottish Homes properties to other social landlords in the Central Scotland parliamentary region will have any legal standing or impose any binding obligations on any organisation involved in the process.
Answer
Ballots held by Scottish Homes are not required by statute, but are held as a matter of good practice. Although not binding, transfers will not proceed unless the majority of tenants vote in favour.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what examples there are of posts where the postholder works jointly for it, voluntary organisations and/or non-departmental public bodies or is jointly funded by them, as distinct from positions in voluntary organisations, part of whose funding comes from the Executive or non-departmental public bodies.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26488.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, when the transfer of Scottish Homes housing stock in the Central Scotland parliamentary region to other social landlords will take place.
Answer
Proposals from Clyde Valley Housing Association for stock in Hamilton are currently with Scottish Homes Board for consideration and, subject to ministerial approval, should proceed to ballot in August. Subject to a successful ballot of tenants, it is proposed that they will transfer later this year.There are currently no transfer proposals for the remaining two small parcels of Scottish Homes' stock within Central Scotland parliamentary region.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, what steps it will take to ensure that Communities Scotland complies fully with its Code of Practice for Tenant Participation in Stock Transfers in relation to any transfer of Scottish Homes properties to other social landlords in the Central Scotland parliamentary region.
Answer
Communities Scotland does not have a landlord role, therefore there is no obligation to comply with the Code of Practice for Tenant Participation in Stock Transfers. Scottish Homes does encourage tenant participation in the transfer process; methods of consultation are put in place to satisfy tenants' local preferences.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, what plans it has to publicise its Code of Practice for Tenant Participation in Stock Transfers during any transfer of Scottish Homes properties to other social landlords in the Central Scotland parliamentary region.
Answer
The Code of Practice for Tenant Consultation in Stock Transfers will be re-issued by the Scottish Executive in August 2002 to local authorities, Registered Social Landlords and other interested parties as part of the guidance for the implementation of the tenant participation provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, what plans it has to ensure the provision of independent professional advice to tenants in the Central Scotland parliamentary region as to their rights in relation to the transfer of Scottish Homes housing stock to other social landlords.
Answer
Scottish Homes, in line with its published procedures, will ensure that an independent adviser is made available to advise all tenants on all facets of the potential landlord(s) proposals for the houses.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to attract more people to become foster parents.
Answer
The Scottish Executive values the role played by foster carers. However, it is for local authorities to consider whether there are sufficient foster carers in their area to provide the type of care required. I met recently with members of the Fostering Network to discuss a range of issues concerning foster care.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 5 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the post of Agri-Environment Officer advertised in The Sunday Herald on 19 May 2002, whether the postholder will be a civil servant; who will employ the postholder and who the postholder's line manager will be.
Answer
The post of Agri-Environment Officer will be a civil service post within the Scottish Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department. The post is jointly funded by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The postholder will be employed by the Scottish Executive and subject to the Scottish Executive's terms and conditions, including the framework of conduct and propriety as set out in the Civil Service Code. The postholder's line manager will be a civil servant within the Scottish Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
