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.

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Question reference: S4O-00963

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of jobs in the renewable energy sector in West Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-00917

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to tackle child poverty in the west of Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-06336

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it keeps information on the number of children with a parent in prison and, if so, how this is used when considering how to support these children and their families.

The Scottish Government does not routinely collect information on the number of children with a parent in prison. Our commitment to improve the support for children and families applies to all children including those affected by a parent in prison.

The Scottish Prison Service carries out an annual survey of prisoners which includes a question on the number of prisoners with children but the data collected is not verified.

The Scottish Prison Service is currently revising their Good Practice Guidelines as part of developing a new Family Policy, which will provide a comprehensive and joined up approach to family matters, covering strands such as children, families, parenting and child protection.

Question reference: S4W-06334

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the UN's guidelines for the alternative care for children and how it publicises this position among its agencies and the general public.

Scotland has in place, a well-established system through the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and secondary regulations setting out the responsibilities in relation to caring for children who for whatever reason are not cared for by their parents. In this context, the Centre for Excellence for Looked after Children in Scotland (CELCIS), funded by Scottish Government has recently won the tender to lead the development of the Global Implementation and Monitoring Handbook for the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care for Children, funded by an international funding consortia, including UNICEF.

Question reference: S4W-06327

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement child impact assessments at the point of custody of a parent.

Question reference: S4W-06337

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would implement a financial transaction tax in a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

The Scottish Government's proposal for Scotland is independence with a new relationship of equality between Scotland and the other nations of these islands and a voice in Europe and the wider world.

The Scottish Government supports measures that enable a well functioning financial system and that improve access to finance, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. We support the global application of the financial transaction tax to provide maximum benefit while avoiding the relocation of financial services.

Question reference: S4W-06329

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether training is given to teachers to support children with a parent in prison.

The teaching standards set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland require teachers to be able to identify and respond appropriately to pupils with difficulties in or barriers to learning and recognise when to seek advice in relation to their additional support needs. A child with a parent in prison would be likely to fall into this category.

One and four year courses of initial teacher education in each of Scotland's eight teacher education universities address, to differing extents, children's family circumstances and contexts. Beyond that, schools and local authorities are responsible for ensuring that continuing professional development is provided to meet teachers' agreed development needs both during their induction year and throughout their careers.

Question reference: S4W-06331

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what help it provides to assist families visiting prisoners.

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

The SPS recognises the importance of maintaining family contact. All prisons have a Family Strategy Group which comprises a range of interests working together to improve services for families affected by imprisonment. There are also Family Contact Officers in every prison who give advice and support to prisoners and their families.

Financial help is available through the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme for relatives who wish to visit a family member in prison. The SPS supports a helpline service provided by Families Outside, which includes help and advice on visits, and also works with a number of organisations who assist with transport to prisons for visits.

Question reference: S4W-06333

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, other than visits, what alternative means of communication are available to children to allow contact with a parent in prison.

Question reference: S4W-06328

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that every child has the right to visit a parent who is in prison and, if so, whether this right can be withdrawn as a disciplinary measure against that parent.

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

The Prison Rules expressly provide that persons of a prisoner’s choice, which includes (though not expressly) children, must be allowed to visit a prisoner and sets out the minimum period for this. The rules also provide various punishments in relation to a breach of discipline by a prisoner, but these do not include withdrawal of this right to a visit by a child.

The rules also provide that the governor may, however, in the interest of security, good order or the prevention of crime, prohibit a prisoner from receiving a visit from any person, terminate a visit to a prisoner or order that a visit must be held in closed visiting facilities. This may, for example, be for the protection of the child.