- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 22 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the project for the new Strathclyde Police headquarters in Dalmarnock has been approved and, if not, what stage it is at.
Answer
This is a matter for the Strathclyde Police Authority. I have made clear to the authority my view that consideration of this project should be put on hold, and that no significant sums of public expenditure should be committed to it, until decisions about the future structure of Scottish policing have been made after the next Scottish Parliamentary elections.
This project would be mainly funded by borrowing which would not be repaid until 2064. We should not allow a project which may not be needed to impose such a burden on Scotland''s police service and public finances.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 21 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected cost of the proposed new Strathclyde Police headquarters is.
Answer
This is a matter for the police board. According to the Stage 1 Business Case published by Strathclyde Police Authority, the total projected capital cost of the project is £37.97 million.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 21 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to ensure that all prisoners undergo structured work, education and training or treatment throughout the normal working day.
Answer
I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
There is currently a requirement for all convicted prisoners to work during the core day Monday to Friday. This also includes a range of purposeful activity opportunities for self development, including education and training. While most of these opportunities are accessed in the establishments some are available as part of a work or education placement within the community. Prisoners also currently participate in offending behaviour programmes, health centre or community agency appointments during the normal working day.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 21 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage pay rises have been awarded to each grade of senior police officer in Strathclyde Police in each of the last three years and whether further pay rises are proposed.
Answer
The percentage pay rises for all senior police officers in Scotland, for the last three years are as follows:
2.65% effective from 1 September 2008
2.6% effective from 1 September 2009
2.55% effective from 1 September 2010.
The negotiation of police officer pay is initially carried out through the UK Police Negotiating Board (PNB). PNB has yet to start negotiations on police officer pay for 1 September 2011 onwards.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 18 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the development of a play and communication strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Government currently has no plans to develop a specific play and communication strategy but addresses the benefits of using play to develop language and learning outcomes for children through the Early Years Framework and Curriculum for Excellence.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 17 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39218 by Adam Ingram on 16 February 2011, what decisions were reached following the consideration of the short-life working group on school meal and clothing grant provision in the context of the draft budget for 2011-12.
Answer
Under the relevant legislation, the responsibility for the provision of free school meals and school clothing grants rests with the education authorities. The decision was taken to publish the short-life working group''s report on 24 January 2011 to allow them to take its recommendations into account when preparing their budgets for 2011-12. In making decisions about free school meals and school clothing grants, we would encourage education authorities to prioritise resources to those most in need.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the Metropolitan Police has invested £600,000 in a specialist team in the five Olympic boroughs to combat an expected surge in trafficking, whether specific resources have been allocated to the identification and support of women trafficked to Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games during the construction phase and games fortnight.
Answer
The Strathclyde Police 2014 Games Planning Team includes officers that are responsible for planning the security surrounding the construction programme, and their remit includes considering the potential for human trafficking. These officers can seek support from specialists at the Strathclyde Police Vice and Anti-Trafficking Unit and at the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency.
There is currently no intelligence indicating that either human trafficking or vice crime will be particularly associated with the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Should any instances arise, partner agencies will co-ordinate positive enforcement action and provide support to victims.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the progress made by the Blue Blindfold awareness programme run by Strathclyde Police and the UK Human Trafficking Centre at the 2014 Commonwealth Games site.
Answer
A human trafficking awareness session was delivered to key contractors when construction commenced on the National Indoor Sports Arena. This process will be repeated at all other games related construction sites as building commences.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 March 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the progress made in identifying and supporting women trafficked for sex during the construction phase and the games fortnight by the multi-agency group that considers security issues for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working closely with the police and other enforcement agencies on security planning for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. This includes potential issues which may arise not just during games time but from the build programme itself.
With construction work already underway, there have been no trafficking issues identified. At this time, there is no intelligence to indicate human trafficking and vice will be an issue linked to the games. Should any instances arise, partner agencies will co-ordinate positive enforcement action and provide support to victims.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 16 February 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the report of the short-life working group on school meal and clothing grant provision was not published until 22 months after it was completed.
Answer
As noted in the answer to question S3W-38465 on 26 January 2011, consideration of the report took place in the context of the Draft Budget 2011-12. The report was then published once ministers concluded consideration of the recommendations.
