Chamber and committees

We very much welcome the increasein the number of tourists visiting Scotland in 2006. During the first nine months of 2006, overseastourist numbers have risen by 14 per cent and tourism is currently worth £4.2 billion a year to the Scottish economy.

VisitScotland continues to playan important role in support of Scotland’s tourism industry, with funding from the Scottish Executivein Financial Year 2006-07 of £44.4 million.

One of the functions of ScottishDevelopment International (SDI), the trade and investment arm of the Scottish Executive,is to help Scottish companies do more business overseas, and to promote Scotland as agood place to live, work and do business. SDI helps Scottish companies exploit thebest market opportunities wherever they might be geographically.

SDI is only just starting toget enquiries from Scottish companies about opportunities in Bulgaria andRomania. SDI’s Düsseldorf office, which covers the central Europe region includingthe two newest member states, works closely with the global network of British embassiesand consulates to provide a full range of services to companies interested in expandingin these markets.

The Euro Info Centre, which operatesas part of the Business Gateway within the Scottish Enterprise area, started increasingawareness of the 2007 enlargement during 2006 and is continuing to promote opportunitiesfor Scottish companies in Bulgaria and Romania.

At the time of an accused’s appearancein court the judge will have available the complaint which will show outstandingbail orders. The Crown can also refer to any matter which might assist the courtin coming to a decision about bail, including police information, further informationabout the bail orders, outstanding charges on separate complaints (or on a separatepetition or indictment) or deferred sentences. The court can also request furtherinformation from the Crown.

Currently, in cases where bailis not being opposed by the Crown, it is normal practice for the court to grantbail. In these circumstances some information held by the Crown would not normallybe provided to the judge. However, the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Bill,currently before Parliament, will clarify that the final bail decision always restswith the court and the court will have access to the complaint and such other informationas it sees fit to ask for.

The decision as to whether togrant bail in individual cases is a matter for the judiciary, and is not an issuein which ministers can intervene. The court should reach an independent and impartialdecision on bail in relation to a particular offence, based on the facts and circumstancesof the case. In reaching that decision the court is entitled to take into accounta range of factors, including the previous criminal record of the accused and anyoutstanding charges against the accused, particularly those in respect of whichbail has already been granted.

The Criminal Proceedings etc(Reform) (Scotland) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, seeks to strengthenthe bail system as a whole and contains a range of measures aimed at ensuring thatbail decisions taken in Scotland’s courts are more consistent and transparent. Thebill will require that judges provide reasons for every bail decision made in future.It also specifies that bail should only be granted in exceptional circumstancesto an accused with a previous conviction for serious, violent or sexual offences,or drug dealing, who has previous convictions for those offences.

All racistincidents are fully investigated by the police. Where sufficient evidence exists,these matters are reported to either the Procurator Fiscal or the Reporter to theChildren’s Panel.

The Crown Office and ProcuratorFiscal Service (COPFS) is committed to ensuring that all racially motivated crimesare treated seriously.

The Lord Advocate’s Guidelines to Chief Constables, publishedin 2002, set out guidance for the investigation and reporting of racist crime. Theyinclude a direction to the police that in cases of racistcrime, accused persons should be held in custody and reported by the police fromcustody where that is consistent with the Lord Advocate’s Guidelines on Bail.Where accused persons are not held in custody they should not simply be releasedbut should be subject to an undertaking to appear at court unless there is a goodreason not to proceed in this way. In cases ofracist crime where an early arrest is not possible the police should ensure thatan early report is submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in order that considerationmay be given to an application for a warrant to arrest.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

As far as we are aware, no prisonersin Scottish Prisons should be receiving disability living allowance.  The SPS haveimplemented a Service Level Agreement with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).The purpose is to provide data of all prisoner’s details.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:None. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28097 on 6 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28420 on 29 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

No. This is an operational matterfor Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28420 on 29 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.