Chamber and committees

It is standard practice not to release legal advice on policy formulation or otherwise.

Scottish ministers are currently considering the emerging findings from the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The Review will set out national investment priorities for 2012 to 2022. Glasgow Crossrail is being considered as part of this process. An announcement is expected later in the year which sets out recommendations on a portfolio of land based transport proposals that will contribute to the government''s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

Provision of medical services in police custody is determined at a local level, and each police force in Scotland has arrangements in place for the health care of those in its custody. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Health and Medical Service Reference Group, on which the Scottish Government is represented, is currently considering the range of existing arrangements for care in custody with a view to identifying best practice models which can be deployed to suit local circumstances.

In January 2009, Tayside Police and NHS Tayside will begin a three year pilot partnership to provide Police Surgeon Services, covering custody health care, forensic services, and training and development. This has been part funded by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government, working with ACPOS, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the NHS, has also commissioned research on drunk and incapable people. This aims to identify the potential scale of the problem in Scotland, and to identify different models of support practised by all relevant agencies including local authorities, both in Scotland and elsewhere, to establish the key elements of successful approaches. A set of conclusions and recommendations on how best to manage people who are drunk and incapable to help alleviate the unnecessary pressure on emergency services is expected in the New Year.

Available figures indicate that there were 6,232 off-sales licences in force in Scotland at 31 December 2007. Between December 2007 and September 2008 1,180 off-sales premises were tested.

There are a range of local alcohol referral, treatment and support services commissioned and funded by NHS boards and alcohol and drug action teams. It is for these bodies to ensure that these local programmes are effectively assessed and monitored and that local investment decisions are maximising the benefits to their local populations.

At national level, the Scottish Government measures overall delivery and achievements of outcomes against the policy priorities it sets for tackling alcohol misuse through the performance management arrangements it operates with the NHS and through Single Outcome Agreements developed with Community Planning Partnerships.

This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government provides funding for alcohol services through NHS boards and local Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (ADATs). It is for ADATs and boards to decide which services to fund based on identified local need.

In our first budget we allocated a record additional £85 million over three years for tackling alcohol misuse, the majority of which will be spent on increasing access to early intervention and treatment and support services.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

These matters are dependent upon a wide range of individual factors including the type and gender of the prison population and/or particular factors impacting on individual establishments.

This information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2006 provides some information on sources of alcohol for 13 and 15-year-olds. 61% of 13-year-olds and 39% of 15-year-olds who had ever had a drink didn''t purchase the alcohol. This suggests that it was obtained from other sources such as family and friends. Also, of those who had purchased alcohol, 22% of 13-year-olds and 29% of 15-year-olds had purchased from a friend or relative.

The Scottish Government has provided a range of funding to support diversionary activities for young people. It is not possible to specify which of this targets only under -18s.

Under the CashBack for Communities initiative we have invested £11 million in a range of projects for young people delivered through partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts and business associations all of which are of course alcohol-free. We have also provided £100,000 to Lloyds TSB partnership drugs initiative for alcohol misuse work.

Figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are not available.

This information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2006 provides some information on sources of alcohol for 13 and 15-year-olds. 61% of 13-year-olds and 39% of 15-year-olds who had ever had a drink didn''t purchase the alcohol. This suggests that it was obtained from other sources such as family and friends. Also, of those who had purchased alcohol, 22% of 13-year-olds and 29% of 15-year-olds had purchased from a friend or relative.