Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03727 on 15 November 2011. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

On 18 November the Scottish Government published A breakdown of religious aggravations charges (section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2010) in Scotland in 2010-11. We are also committed to annual analysis of the data collected in relation to religiously aggravated offences. The report can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/11/17154035/0.

The actions set out in the Action Plan on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland, introduced by the last Scottish Labour-led administration, have been completed and this document is therefore historic. There are no plans to use this as the basis for future Scottish Government work to tackle sectarianism.

I met Supporters Direct Scotland (SDS) with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport on 12 September to discuss unacceptable supporter conduct including the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill.

In recognition of the importance we place on ensuring the views of football supporters are heard, the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport recently announced a funding package of £70,000 to SDS. This investment will allow SDS to restructure themselves so they can broaden their reach and membership to football supporters groups and organisations along with individual fans themselves to help develop their role as a representative voice for all Scottish football fans.

There are no plans at present to review arrangements for marches and parades.

I met with Strathclyde Police and Glasgow City Council on 15 November to discuss their experience of operating the Council’s new guidelines over the 2011 marching season.

(a) There have been 29,545 charges reported to the Procurator Fiscal under section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 between the time this section of the act came into force (6 October, 2010) and 30 September 2011.

Source – Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Services.

(b) Information on convictions for 2010-11 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2010-11 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published in December 2011.

Source – Justice Analytical Service.

I met with the Sense Over Sectarianism on 22 June to discuss issues relating to sectarianism including the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill.

On 23 November I announced the formation of a Ministerial Group on Tackling Sectarianism to coordinate the Scottish Government’s long term work to tackle sectarianism. This group will work across all portfolio areas to ensure that our approach to tackling sectarianism is joined up, cross cutting and covers all policy areas.

On 7 June and 26 October, I invited Nil by Mouth to meet with me, and met with them on 24 November, to discuss issues relating to sectarianism including the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government announced a package of £527,000 of funding to organisations working to tackle sectarianism in 2011-12 on 8 March 2011, information on this is provided in the document Funding to Tackle Sectarianism 2010-11: Scottish Government Press Release: a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 53302). http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/03/08152206. No funding decisions have been taken beyond the current financial year.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03235 on 25 November 2011. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.