- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the likely impact on off-sales of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer
The accompanying documents for the Licensing (Scotland) Bill included a regulatory impact assessment. Further regulatory impact assessments have been published in respect of licensing fees and alcohol display areas, the latter of which applies to alcohol for consumption off the premises.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to licence holders regarding section 113 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer
Guidance is given to prospective personal licence holders as part of the training required by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Before a personal licence can be granted, the applicant must possess a licensing qualification. The training which leads to the award of a qualification includes training in respect of the offences under the act.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has (a) taken and (b) plans to take to inform young people that a child or young person who buys or attempts to buy alcohol, whether for personal use or for another person, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the need for increased awareness in this respect and will continue to look for appropriate opportunities to do so. For example, we would propose to cover it in the multi-faceted campaign that is currently being developed in conjunction with Young Scot and other agencies, to raise the awareness, profile and acceptance of the Young Scot National Entitlement Card as a proof of age card.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many licence holders have received a fine under section 113 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and what the amount was in each case.
Answer
None. In line with the previous Executive''s timetable for implementing the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 113 does not come into force until 1 September 2009.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11326 by Kenny MacAskill on 17 April 2008, what (a) targets it has in place and (b) action it is taking to increase the numbers of licence-holders prosecuted for selling alcohol to intoxicated customers.
Answer
Prosecutors have no targets for the number of prosecutions which should be brought against licence-holders who sell alcohol to intoxicated customers. Decisions to prosecute are taken on a case-by-case basis when reports of such offences are received from the police.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve public awareness of the new Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 regime, which will come into effect on 1 September 2009.
Answer
A leaflet
Alcohol Licensing in your Community is available which sets out information on the key changes, including supporting or objecting the award of a new premises licence, how to take action if there are problems with premises when it is trading, and information on the role of Licensing Standards Officers and Local Licensing Forums. These leaflets have been made available to community councils, Citizens Advice Scotland, and Alcohol Focus Scotland for distribution. In addition, information is available on the infoscotland website.
We also expect licensed premises to play their part in advising customers, particularly in relation to the hours during which alcohol may be sold if these have changed.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 31 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the acceptable operational occupancy limit is for each prison.
Answer
I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
The following table illustrates the design capacity and assessed operational limit for each establishment.
| Establishment | Design Capacity | Assessed Operational Limit |
| Aberdeen | 155 | 255 |
| Barlinnie | 1,018 | 1,692 |
| Cornton Vale | 375 | 440 |
| Dumfries | 179 | 216 |
| Edinburgh | 756 | 866 |
| Glenochil Prison | 670 | 750 |
| Greenock | 255 | 330 |
| Inverness | 104 | 162 |
| Kilmarnock | 500 | 644 |
| Open Estate | 425 | 519 |
| Perth | 722 | 801 |
| Peterhead | 306 | 306 |
| Polmont | 623 | 700 |
| Shotts | 537 | 549 |
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 31 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest number of prisoners was in each prison in each of the last three months.
Answer
I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
The following table illustrates the maximum daily population for each establishment in each of the last three months.
Max of Actual Population Each Month
| | Month |
| July | August | September |
| Aberdeen | 233 | 244 | 263 |
| Barlinnie | 1,694 | 1,690 | 1,763 |
| Cornton Vale | 395 | 419 | 434 |
| Dumfries | 201 | 220 | 225 |
| Edinburgh | 867 | 881 | 911 |
| Glenochil Prison | 722 | 751 | 755 |
| Greenock | 334 | 346 | 344 |
| Inverness | 158 | 180 | 167 |
| Kilmarnock | 651 | 652 | 651 |
| Open Estate | 300 | 296 | 296 |
| Perth | 797 | 793 | 803 |
| Peterhead | 306 | 307 | 306 |
| Polmont | 707 | 705 | 708 |
| Shotts | 543 | 542 | 549 |
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 31 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the significance is of a safe operating limit in the Scottish Prison Service.
Answer
I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS has established an Assessed Operational Limit, not a safe operating limit.
The Assessed Operational Limit (AOL) has been agreed with each establishment''s Governor and reflects the number of prisoners that an establishment can safely contain whilst at the same time allow the establishment to operate within its legal obligations. The AOL takes into consideration such aspects of the establishment as the capacity of the visits area, the kitchen and the ability to deliver appropriate levels of healthcare and hygiene. The AOL for each establishment is only sustainable in the medium term. If numbers remain high for a protracted period the difficulties associated with operating at the limit are such that, in all probability, limits would need to be revised downwards. The AOL is a dynamic assessment and the situation, and risks, within each establishment are managed, monitored and reviewed continuously.
- Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 31 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans there are to deal with a sudden loss of prison capacity.
Answer
I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS has in place contingency plans which take into consideration the loss of prisoner accommodation throughout the prison estate. These plans are reviewed and tested on a regular basis.
