Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has received legal advice as part of the normal development of policy options. We will not be divulging that advice.

We have researched a range of information to help frame our proposals for minimum pricing. Annex J to Changing Scotland''s relationship with alcohol: a discussion paper on our strategic approach lists evidence, research and other publications relevant to the government''s proposals.

I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of The Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.

Her response is as follows:

The Scottish Housing Regulator has published a Regulatory Code of Governance which describes the regulatory requirements relating to the governance of registered social landlords (RSL). This code and the supporting guidance is statutory guidance.

The public record of governing body meetings and sub-committee meetings should be freely available, for example upon request by a service user, tenants organisation or member of the public, or by being placed on the internet if the RSL has established a website.

There may be occasions when access to minutes needs to be restricted, for example on data protection grounds, or where information is judged to be commercially sensitive. Decisions to refuse access to information on these grounds should be made with reference to the circumstances of each case.

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

It is appropriate that all services contracted by the SPS are monitored closely to review performance and standards of service delivery.

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

It is expected that the new prison at Bishopbriggs will be ready for occupation by the end of 2011.

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

The design capacity and population figures for each establishment as of May 31 2008 are illustrated in the following table.

Establishment	Design Capacity	Total Population
Aberdeen	155	236
Barlinnie	1018	1461
Cornton Vale	375	386
Dumfries	179	190
Edinburgh	756	822
Glenochil	670	721
Greenock	255	304
Inverness	104	143
Kilmarnock	500	650
Open Estate	425	336
Perth	722	753
Peterhead	306	305
Polmont	623	661
Shotts	537	540

 

A new system of direct measures, including extended fiscal fines and compensation offers, was introduced on 10 March 2008 by the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 as part of the wider Summary Justice Reform programme. A key aim of the reforms is to ensure that those who offend can either be dealt with more effectively and expeditiously through the use of direct measures or through a faster summary court process.

Where there is sufficient evidence to establish that a crime has been committed, the Procurator Fiscal will consider what, if any, action is required in the public interest. Decisions are based on the facts and circumstances of each case. Direct measures are used for the type of less serious offending that would, for example, be unlikely to attract imprisonment or a community order at the conclusion of any court proceedings. This will, in turn, free the courts to tackle those offenders whose behaviour can have a corrosive effect on communities, and to address longer term offending behaviour.

All Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff involved in the new summary justice system have received two days of training which has been supplemented with new prosecutorial guidance which is focused on achieving the most appropriate outcome in each case at the earliest opportunity. While it would not be appropriate to publish this detailed prosecutorial guidance, it seeks to achieve the aims of the Summary Justice System Model which was published by the Scottish Government in 2007.

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

The following table illustrates the number of foreign nationals who have been admitted to the SPS since 2003.

Year	All Admissions Foreign Nationals
2003	257
2004	225
2005	250
2006	615
2007	803
2008	384

 

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

The following table illustrates the number of foreign national prisoners who have been released from the SPS from 2003:

Year	Individuals Released
2003 Count	273
2004 Count	254
2005 Count	262
2006 Count	598
2007 Count	828
2008 Count	338

 

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

One foreign national prisoner was transferred to serve a sentence abroad in 2007.

Repatriation of prisoners at the end of their sentence is a matter for the Home Office.