Chamber and committees

No specific research was commissioned in relation to the imagery of alcohol drinks or alcohol consumption. However, an extensive review of the existing evidence base was undertaken to inform Changing Scotland''s relationship with alcohol: a discussion paper on our strategic approach. A full list of references is provided in annex J of that document.

The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2007 report Something to be ashamed of or part of our way of life? Attitudes to Alcohol in Scotland, published by the Scottish Government in August 2008, outlines public attitudes to the role of alcohol in Scottish society and provides data on perceptions of the harm caused by different types of alcohol misuse. The report, available on the Scottish Government website, shows that 51% of people see alcohol as the drug which causes most problems for Scotland, compared to 22% for heroin.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with NHS Health Scotland and Information Services Division, published an update of the Scottish Alcohol Research Framework in June 2008. The framework sets out research currently underway (or recently completed) and priority areas for new research to help inform policy development. The framework is available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/930/0061845.pdf.

The national Alcohol Evidence Group continues to consider emerging research priorities.

Alcohol consumption on public transport is covered by the National Railway Byelaws, section 19 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (specific to vehicles carrying passengers to and from a designated sporting event) and local street drinking byelaws.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland confirm that they consider this legislation to be sufficient to enable officers to deal effectively with alcohol related offences and disorder on the transport network, where these are encountered.

Research on the effectiveness of substance misuse education, including alcohol education, in Scottish primary and secondary schools was commissioned from Stirling University in 2003. The research, which was published in 2007, provides evidence that there is much good practice in substance misuse education whilst acknowledging that there is room for improvement. Issues identified by the research include the need for better partnership working, increased staff development opportunities and more interactive teaching that links to the lives and experiences of young people. The government has now established a steering group to advise on practical developments to facilitate more effective substance misuse education in Scottish schools.

Following on from the original research, the University of Edinburgh has been commissioned by NHS Health Scotland to explore the range and relevance of substance misuse education teaching resources currently in place in primary and secondary schools in Scotland. The review will ensure that the broadest range of resources is examined, including physical resources such as teaching packs and DVDs, and human resources such as other practitioners, whether school-based or external, who support classroom delivery. The research report is due to be completed this winter.

The reform of the curriculum in Scotland through Curriculum for Excellence is a major contributor to change, with its focus on better teaching and learning for children aged 3 to 18. Through Curriculum for Excellence, pupils will develop their knowledge of skills and understanding in relation to substance misuse as part of a wider programme of education for health and well-being. Curriculum for Excellence will make a significant contribution through building resilience, equipping children and young people with the life skills to make positive choices and resist peer pressure to get involved in drug misuse and other risky or harmful activities.

The Scottish Government is also funding the Choices for Life initiative for the next two years via a grant to the Scottish Crime & Drug Enforcement Agency. All primary 7 pupils are invited via their schools to attend events focused on substance misuse education, to be held at a number of large venues around Scotland. Work has commenced to develop the initiative and deliver the 2009 events, particularly to increase the messages around alcohol, and to integrate choices fully into the teaching and learning opportunities offered by Choices into the Health and Well-Being component of Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government recognises that alcohol misuse affects all age groups in our society, including older people. Indeed many of the long-term health harms resulting from prolonged alcohol misuse are experienced by people in later life. The discussion document, Changing Scotland''s relationship with alcohol, outlines a robust package of measures to tackle alcohol misuse across the population, recognising that a range of responses is necessary to address a variety of needs. A record investment of £120 million over three years (2008-10) has been made available to tackle alcohol misuse. This will enable significant improvements to be made both in support services to prevent alcohol misuse problems arising in the first place, and in treatment and support for those already experiencing problems.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18970 on 14 January 2009. 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.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with the Violence Reduction Unit and other partners to prevent and reduce all forms of violence in Scotland. A key element of our approach is to better understand the nature and true extent of the problem and injury surveillance systems are helping us do so. In addition to Edinburgh, there are currently injury surveillance projects running in Glasgow and Fife, with another due to begin shortly in Lanarkshire, which we are helping fund. Information gathered through these schemes is shared with the police to inform their tasking and coordinating meetings in an attempt to prevent future incidents. These projects will be evaluated in due course and we hope that successful lessons can be replicated in other parts of Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18970 on 14 January 2009. 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.

There were no changes in prosecution policy in 2007-08 which impacted on the number of cases dealt with by criminal justice social work diversion. Factors which influence the number of cases where social work diversion has commenced in each year include the number of cases reported and the nature of the offending in each case, the availability of social work diversion programmes, the suitability of the accused for diversion and the accused''s willingness to participate in a diversion scheme.

The question refers to figures published by the Scottish Government in December 2008 which were derived from local authority social work management information systems. The published report explains that the figure for 2006-07 contains cases which were referred by Procurators Fiscal in the previous year.

Information available from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal''s case management system shows that all cases diverted from prosecution, including those dealt with under the Driver Improvement Scheme, decreased by 3% between 2006-07 and 2007-08. This is consistent with the 3% reduction in cases reported to Procurators Fiscal in 2007-08.

2007-08 court proceedings data is planned for release in April 2009. Data for the latest year available is contained in table 10 of the statistical bulletin Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2006-07, which can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/02124526/24.

2007-08 court proceedings data is planned for release in April 2009. Data for the latest year available on numbers sentenced to six months or less is contained in table 10 of the statistical bulletin Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2006-07. This can be found on the Scottish Government website at the following address:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/02124526/24.