- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 18 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to refer decisions relating to the number of fire control rooms in Scotland to the UK Government; if so, on what basis and what the reasons are for such a decision and, if not, when it will make a ministerial statement on the issue.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not intend to refer decisions on the number of fire control rooms in Scotland to the UK Government. It will be for Scottish ministers in consultation with Scottish stakeholders to decide on the most appropriate arrangements for Scotland. We are currently considering the responses to our consultation exercise on the consultants’ report on the future of fire controlrooms in Scotland and will make an announcement in due course.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 18 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement on 30 March 2004 by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport of funding for the Scottish Football Association’s (SFA) Action Plan for Scottish Youth Football, how much funding has now been allocated; when the remainder of the funding will be allocated, and why such funding is allocated through sportscotland rather than directly to the SFA.
Answer
The Executive and sportscotland have agreed to make available £12.2 million towards the agreed funding package of £31.1 million for implementation of the Action Plan for Youth Football. It will be for the Implementation Steering Group to determine how and when the funding is to be allocated against agreed work programmes. Executive and lottery funding for sports governing bodies in Scotland is routed through sportscotland as the national agency for the development of sport in Scotland and it is therefore wholly appropriate that funding for the action plan is also routed through sportscotland.Some of the funding may be allocated to bodies other than the SFA.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports it has received from the Scottish Law Commission in each year since 1999; of these, how many have been implemented, and what action it proposes to take regarding those reports which have not been implemented.
Answer
The Scottish Law Commission has published 23 reports on particular subjects since the beginning of 1999, a number of which remain unimplemented in whole or in part. The reports cover a wide range of subjects, and it has not been possible to produce the detailed information requested in the time available. I will reply to the member with the remainder of the information requested as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of investment has been provided for community-based drug rehabilitation in each year since 1999.
Answer
The Executive provides resource to NHS boards and local authorities to support treatment and rehabilitation services respectively. The allocations from 1999-2000 to the current financial year are set out in the table:
| £ Million | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 |
| NHS Boards | 11.352 | 12.352 | 14.973 | 16.951 | 16.951 | 19.751 |
| Local Authorities | - | - | 6.800 | 6.800 | 6.800 | 6.800 |
| Total | 11.352 | 12.352 | 21.773 | 23.751 | 23.751 | 26.551 |
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to (a) drug and (b) youth court pilots in each year since they began.
Answer
The information requested is as follows:
| Drug Court (£) | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 |
| Glasgow | 1,459,141 | 1,732,460 | 1,824,731 | 1,926,604 |
| Fife | - | 574,649 | 774,837 | 794,255 |
With the exception of 2004-05 (forecast expenditure), figures are actual spend by agencies involved with the drug court. Figures for Glasgow also cover cost of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders – the nature of service provision means that it is not possible to separate out certain specific costs in relation to the drug court.
| Youth Court (£) | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 |
| Lanarkshire | 49,579 | 1,444,395 | 2,772,350 |
With the exception of 2004-05 (forecast expenditure), figures are actual spend by agencies involved with the youth court. Hamilton Youth Court commenced June 2003, Airdrie June 2004.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated for (a) pay and (b) pension costs in the fire service in each year since 1999 and what funding has been allocated for modernisation costs in the fire service in each year in which figures are available.
Answer
The total funding in respect of Grant Aided Expenditure allocations to fire authorities is set out in the following table:
| Year | Staff Costs (Including Pay) (£000) | Running Costs (£000) | Pensions Costs (£000) | Total (£000) |
| 1999-2000 | 133,365 | 16,468 | 20,167 | 170,000 |
| 2000-01 | 142,435 | 20,000 | 24,465 | 186,900 |
| 2001-02 | 155,439 | 22,074 | 25,000 | 202,513 |
| 2002-03 | 163,114 | 23,164 | 26,235 | 212,513 |
| 2003-04 | 172,090 | 24,254 | 36,469 | 232,813 |
| 2004-05 | 181,090 | 24,254 | 42,469 | 247,813 |
In addition, we made a further £5.4 million available to fire authorities to assist with pensions costs during 2002-03. I have also authorised the release of a further £16.8 million during this financial year to assist with the implementation of the June 2003 pay and modernisation agreement. It is for the fire authorities to determine the use of these funds in delivering an effective and efficient service to their communities.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what the base year is from which a 10% (a) reduction in the number of persistent young offenders and (b) increase in the number of drug misusers entering treatment is to be achieved by March 2008.
Answer
The base year for (a) is 2005-06 and for (b) the base year is 2003-04.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated for legal aid in each year since 1999, expressed also in real terms with 1999 as the base year.
Answer
The following table sets out the funding, in cash and real terms, for legal aid made by the Scottish Executive in each year since 1999. The funding covers the costs of the Scottish legal aid fund and the administrative costs of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
| (£000s) | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
| Funding for legal aid allocated by the Scottish Executive (cash terms) | 125,732 | 132,980 | 133,484 | 145,651 | 157,020 |
| Funding for legal aid allocated by the Scottish Executive (real terms – base 1999) | 125,732 | 131,455 | 128,676 | 135,834 | 142,464 |
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it will put in place to help reintegrate prisoners at the end of their sentence while safeguarding the community.
Answer
Risk and community safety are always key considerations in the management of offenders. The enhanced throughcare strategy will provide an integrated approach to work in both prison and in the community. For those subject to statutory supervision, improved provision is being made through supervising officers being designated at the point of sentence and better information transfer between prison and the supervising authority.
For prisoners eligible for voluntary assistance, priority is given to supervision of high risk offenders, young offenders and those who require to continue programmes started in prison.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 16 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of additional investment will be provided for increased community-based drug rehabilitation.
Answer
The Minister for Justice announced on 27 October that an additional £6 million per annum will be provided to support drug treatment and rehabilitation services. This will bring direct support for services to a total of £32.5 million per annum, an increase of 23% from 2004-05.
