Chamber and committees

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The procurement of the new prison will be undertaken by the SPS using the PRINCE 2 project management methodology. Under PRINCE, detailed project plans and timetables are working documents frequently updated during the project's life, making publication impractical. They will also contain information covered by the exemptions set out in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information, in particular material whose publication would "prejudice... negotiations or the effective conduct of contractual activities" (paragraph 7a of Part II of the code), making it harder to secure best value for taxpayers' money. The SPS is committed to providing the new prison as soon as possible. The Scottish Prison Service Estates Review (Appendix D) estimated that this is achievable within three years of a site with planning permission being available. Once a site and planning permission are secured, it will be possible to determine the high-level procurement and construction timetable. That information will be published as part of the procurement process.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:None.

We expect the group's report to be available in December 2002, as stated in Scotland's Action Programme to Reduce Youth Crime 2002.

The proposed restrictions are for the purpose of preventing jurors or potential jurors in England and Wales from becoming prejudiced. As internet material could be viewed in England and Wales, the prime responsibility for dealing with the matter would lie with the authorities in England and Wales. In Scotland, the police, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service would be responsible for dealing with any suspected offences.

The response to question S1W-31448 was given by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service because it explained the nature of the operational and contractual matter to which question S1W-29277 referred and for which the agency is responsible.

The enforcement of the reporting restrictions set out in clauses 59 and 69 of the bill are subject to the offence provisions in clauses 60 and 70 respectively. Clause 60(2) and 70(2) both provide that where the publication which includes the report in contravention of the restriction is a newspaper or periodical the proprietor, editor or publisher is guilty of an offence. A proprietor, editor or publisher who is within the reach of the UK courts and who includes a report in contravention of the restrictions is liable to be prosecuted in the appropriate UK jurisdiction. In normal circumstances it is to be expected that that would be in a court in England or Wales.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The available capacity for each of the SPS establishments, as at the end of each of the last five financial years, is listed in the following table:

Establishment	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02
Aberdeen	128	163	163	155	155
Barlinnie	872	843	759	759	818
Castle Huntly	150	150	150	141	151
Cornton Vale	217	217	178	230	230
Dumfries	150	131	101	150	122
Dungavel	122	135	126	-	-
Edinburgh	472	637	597	533	578
Glenochil	667	668	656	663	630
Greenock	233	233	236	248	254
Inverness	107	107	108	108	108
Kilmarnock	-	20	500	548	548
Longriggend	157	171	176	-	-
Low Moss	396	396	396	399	345
Noranside	135	135	135	135	135
Penninghame	98	98	-	-	-
Perth	534	521	478	538	593
Peterhead	286	305	295	295	296
Polmont	420	422	422	422	422
Shotts	526	526	527	527	528
Zeist	-	-	6	6	6

There are no formal definitions set out in the SPS Framework document; the normal sense of the terms "policy" and "operational and contractual" therefore apply. In general terms policy matters which, are for me, include setting key performance measures and deciding the allocation of funds to the SPS and operational and contractual matters, which are for the agency, include decisions on the management of its affairs and contractual relationships with other bodies.

Any such determination would be agreed between me and the Chief Executive on a case-by-case basis.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:As stated in the previous answers, no land was transferred from the SPS in the last five years. Surplus land sold by the SPS is as follows.

Location	Financial Year	Sale Price
Angus	1997-98	£500
Aberdeenshire	1997-98	£32,000
Inverclyde	1998-99	£21,000
Aberdeenshire	1998-99	£2,000
Aberdeenshire	1998-99	£42,000
Falkirk	1998-99	£425,000
Falkirk	1998-99	£205,000
Falkirk	2001-02	£1,000
Falkirk	2001-02	£7,000

In addition, land with buildings was sold by SPS as follows.

Location	Land with Buildings	Financial Year	Sale Price
Various	Staff Quarters	1997-98	£360,210.50
Various	Staff Quarters	1998-99	£186,477.50
Various	Staff Quarters	1999-2000	£93,017.50
Various	Garages	1997-98	£35,869.99
Various	Garages	1998-99	£7,810
Various	Garages	1999-2000	£38,060
South Lanarkshire	Former HM Prison Dungavel	2000-01	£450,000
Dumfries and Galloway	Former HM Prison Penninghame	2000-01	£275,000
Various	Garages	2000-01	£4,850
Various	Staff Quarters	2001-02	£32,465