- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 17 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the income of Scottish Prison Service Industries has been in the last year; what the cost of production has been, and how the money has been used.
Answer
I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The cost of production of Prison Industries products for the Financial Year 2009-10 was £1,041,187 which generated General Revenue Income of £1,269,941.
By way of comparison, the cost of production of Prison Industries products for the Financial Year 2010 to date (period of seven months) is £619,557 which has generated General Revenue Income of £762,074 to date.
It should be noted that the primary purpose of prison industries is not to generate income but to provide work opportunities and to develop skill sets for prisoners across a range of activities that may lead to vocational training qualifications.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 17 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what kind of work opportunities are available in Scottish Prison Service Industries production workshops.
Answer
I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Industries production workshops exist at Peterhead, Perth, Shotts, Glenochil, Barlinnie and Greenock. Work opportunities range from cutting, sewing and assembly of fabric components, cutting, machining and assembly of timber components, to cutting, machining, welding and assembly of metal products. There are also opportunities for ancilliary operations such as workshop housekeeping tasks and machine maintenance. Where possible, prisoners are provided with the opportunity to develop vocational skills leading to certification as part of their work activity.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 17 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Prison Service Industries products are manufactured in all prisons.
Answer
I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Six prisons currently manufacture Scottish Prison Industries products including Peterhead, Perth, Shotts, Glenochil, Barlinnie and Greenock.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the assertion by the Scottish Human Rights Commission that the use of taser guns on children is likely to breach international human rights standards, in particular the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Answer
The relevant human rights law with regard to firearms in the UK is the Human Rights Act 1998. Chief Constables are obliged to ensure that officers act in accordance with the law and in a manner compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. It would not be appropriate for Ministers to comment on a speculative opinion on a hypothetical situation.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to fulfil its responsibilities, as identified by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, which include “the duty to continue to monitor how the use of taser guns is operating in practice; whether the continued use of taser is justified and appropriate and whether adequate safeguards are in place.”
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that use of taser guns by Scottish police forces is consistent with human rights law and standards as is its duty under the Scotland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Answer
Firearms legislation is a reserved matter. The primary responsibility for ensuring consistency with human rights law and standards in relation to the regulation of firearms therefore lies with the UK Government. Police forces are public authorities for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998 and consequently Chief Constables are obliged to ensure that officers act in a manner compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to fulfil its responsibilities, as identified by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, which include “a duty to ensure that the system of law and administration in Scotland operates effectively to regulate the use of taser in a manner which respects Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the draft framework produced by the Scottish Human Rights Commission setting out shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns.
Answer
The draft framework produced by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is based on an interpretation of the Firearms Act 1968 which is not shared by the Scottish Government. We have written to the SHRC explaining our understanding of the legislation. As such, the Scottish Government disagrees with the responsibilities identified in the draft framework in so far as they are relevant to the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the assertion by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, as set out in its draft framework on shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns, that the Scottish Government bears distinct policy and strategic decision-making responsibility for the Strathclyde taser guns pilot and further roll-out of taser guns.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the assertion by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, as set out in its draft framework on shared responsibilities for the use of taser guns, that Scottish Ministers must authorise taser gun use at a policy and strategic decision making level.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37045 on 16 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
