Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1003 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4T-01109

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Police Scotland has breached the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 on multiple occasions.

Question reference: S4W-27436

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to merge the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland; what other options have been considered; whether there will be a consultation on the plans, and whether the Parliament will have the opportunity to (a) scrutinise and (b) approve them.

The timing for the integration of the Scottish Division of the British Transport Police within Police Scotland is subject to the progress of legislation through the UK Parliament.

Following the devolution of railway policing in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament, a detailed timetable for integration will be developed and implemented; this is likely to include legislation through the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government will engage with key stakeholders and partners, which will include a consultation on draft legislation, to ensure railway policing in Scotland is subject to appropriate oversight by the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S4O-04618

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in filling GP vacancies across the north east.

Question reference: S4W-27151

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 10 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances information would be given to a child’s named person regarding the (a) instigation and (b) outcome of a children’s hearing, and what information must be provided.

The instigation and processes around a children’s hearing includes local authority social work involvement. The Children and Young People Act under Part 4 will place duties on local authorities and others, including the principal reporter to share information with the named person service where in their view sharing information is likely to be relevant to the named person functions to provide the child, young person or parent with advice, information, support or help to access services with the aim of promoting supporting or safeguarding the wellbeing of the child.

It is normal practice now for local authorities and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration to seek information from the school and health services when a children’s hearing is being considered. It is also normal practice for social services to share information with the school and health services in the interest of the wellbeing of the child. This may include information relating to the instigation and outcome of a children’s hearing where it is considered that it would be in the wellbeing interest of the child. This practice will continue when Parts 4 and 5 of the Act are commenced.

The Act does not specify what information should be shared, as each individual child and their circumstances is unique; only information that is likely to be relevant to the named person functions can be shared, and this information is subject to a number of considerations, including the views of the child or young person and the effect the information sharing might have on the child’s or young person’s wellbeing (the likely benefit to wellbeing must outweigh any likely adverse effect on wellbeing that might be a consequence of sharing).

Question reference: S4O-04582

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Police Scotland’s restructuring and centralisation of the firearms licensing function.

Question reference: S4W-26809

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths (a) in police custody and (b) following police contact have been recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by Police Scotland division or legacy force.

The chief constable must refer to the police investigations and review commissioner (PIRC) the death or serious injury of any person who had direct or indirect contact with the police at or before their death or serious injury and where there is an indication that the contact with police may have caused, or contributed to, the death or serious injury. PIRC annual reports, state that, in 2014 to2015, three instances of deaths in custody and eight instances of death following police contact were referred to the PIRC. In 2013 to 2014 seven deaths in custody and 12 deaths following police contact were referred to the PIRC. Information for years prior to 2013 to 2014 is not held centrally.

Question reference: S4W-26808

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider publishing annual statistics on deaths (a) in police custody and (b) following police contact.

Question reference: S4W-26681

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether children using the prisoner and custody escort service are always asked about their experience on arrival.

<>Currently, children and young people who are sentenced to detention through court and transported by the escort services are not asked about their experiences on arrival.

The escort services contract contains a provision to ensure that an effective complaints procedure is in place, that both children and young people are made aware of it, understand it and have easy access to it. There have been no such complaints received since the commencement of this contract.

Question reference: S4W-26667

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest (i) distance and (ii) time was for a person to be transported by prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, also broken down by (A) age and (B) gender.

Question reference: S4W-26676

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether adapted prisoner and custody escort vehicles are always used for (a) disabled, (b) claustrophobic, (c) pregnant and (d) child detainees.

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

The court custody and prisoner escorting in Scotland contract provides escorting services for prisoners aged 16 and above.

Under the terms of the contract, the vehicle fleet must be sufficiently flexible to cover the range of care or specific needs of individual prisoners (both adults and children). This includes: those with mobility issues or in wheelchairs, as well as those with mental health issues or have a requirement for mother and baby escorts. As long as specific information is either available, or has been personally disclosed, the needs of each person are assessed, and the most suitable vehicle then allocated.

For example, multi-purpose vehicles are available, which have been purpose built with additional wheel chair access, to be utilised by all prisoners when appropriate. Furthermore, G4S have, on occasion, hired vehicles, including a purpose build ambulance, to escort prisoners in the most appropriate way to meet their needs.