Chamber and committees

I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:

I refer the member to the answer to questionS2W-17354 on 24 June 2004 which sets out what information the SPS and Reliancehave agreed to publish. The information requested does not fall within thescope of this agreement. The agreed information can be seen on the SPS websiteat www.sps.gov.uk.

All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

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-25470 on 11 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

In relation to restrictedpatients, the State Hospital adhere to the advice contained in Section 5.10 of the Memorandum of Procedure which provides guidance to professionals for themanagement of restricted patients. In certain cases, visits to particular locationswould not be appropriate and if such limits are identified the reasons for thisare fed back to individual patients. It is important that suspension-of-detentionprogrammes are designed and conducted in such a way as to sustain publicconfidence in the arrangements as a whole, and to respect the feelings andpossible fears of victims and others who may have been affected by theoffences. Leave will only take place when it is deemed appropriate and safe.

I announced on 22 March, inresponse to the deficiencies identified in the Report by the Mental WelfareCommission into the care and treatment of Mr L and Mr M, that we were taking anumber of steps to reinforce public confidence in the services that areprovided. The full response is available on:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Inquiry/Treatment.

Scottish ministers do nothave a statutory role to consent to suspension of detention of non-restrictedpatients.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-23666 on 12 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be foundat http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:

The costs associated withthe petition of Scott Davidson for judicial review to date, inclusive of VAT,are (a) £363,277 for counsel’s fees and court costs, (b) £250 for an expertreport and (c) £100,500 for part of the Scottish ministers’ liability for expensesto the petitioner. The remaining costs to be borne by Scottish ministers (coveringthe most recent proceedings in the action) have yet to be finalised.

The latest population projections,based on the 2004 mid-year population estimates, assume a net in-migration of 11,350people to Edinburgh City Council area over the next five years.

I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

Since 2003-04 grant has beenallocated to local authorities to fund improvements in private sector housing includingthe replacement of lead piping. Private Sector Housing Grant (PSHG) is unhypothecatedand it is for local authorities to decide on priorities. In 2006-07, £65 millionPSHG has been allocated to local authorities.

In terms of public sector housingit is for each local authority to make provision for improvements mainly from rentalincome.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-19100 on 20 September 2005. The full figures for 2005-06 should be available shortly.I will write to you again, including an updated version of the table, when the finalfigures for 2005-06 become available.

There is no formalprocess for seeking membership of the Nordic Council. Nor does the council grant observer status.

The Executive hasno plans to seek to change its existing, very positive, relationship with the NordicCouncil or the Nordic Council of Ministers.

This information is not heldcentrally. However, I have asked the Chair of sportscotland to write to themember with the information that they have available.