Chamber and committees

This information is not currently held centrally. However, VisitScotland are researching the economic impact of golf tourism and their report will be published in June 2009.

There are a number of mechanisms available to individuals experiencing financial difficulties which, subject to sheriff approval, allow the repayment of debt without the threat of further legal action.

The sheriff may grant a time to pay direction or order under the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987, for a period that the sheriff considers reasonable, based on the individual''s circumstances. These times to pay directions or orders may last for more than 12 months, however, this period is subject to the sheriff''s discretion.

The sheriff may grant a time order for consumer contract debts, under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Time orders have slightly different criteria for sheriffs to consider before granting but otherwise are similar to time to pay directions and orders. Time orders may also last for more than 12 months at the sheriff''s discretion.

Where a creditor has petitioned for an individual''s bankruptcy, a sheriff may continue the petition for such period as he sees fit, if that individual has applied for a debt payment programme under the Debt Arrangement Scheme.

Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, planning for post-school transitions must begin at least one year prior to a child or young person leaving school.

If the parent of a child with additional support needs, or a young person with additional support needs, felt that transitional arrangements were necessary and the authority disagreed with this, the parent or young person could refer the case to dispute resolution. If the child or young person has a co-ordinated support plan, a case can be referred to the additional support needs tribunals for Scotland, regarding the level of provision being delivered during the child''s or young person''s last year at school.

It is not currently our intention to introduce provisions similar to those proposed in the Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

Scottish debtors have had access to provisions which offer them protection against enforcement of debt by their creditors, since the introduction of the Debt Arrangement Scheme in November 2004. While a debt is being paid under the Debt Arrangement Scheme creditors cannot petition for the debtor''s bankruptcy and cannot enforce diligence. The Debt Arrangement Scheme also provides a moratorium against diligence for up to six weeks if a debtor registers their intention to pay their debts under Debt Arrangement Scheme.

I intend to introduce regulations to improve access to the Debt Arrangement Scheme during this Parliament.

We recognise that this figure has been used by Waterwatch but we do not use it to guide policy in relation to water charges.

Our policy is to deliver fair charges for all customers. Domestic water charges in Scotland are on course to be the third lowest in the UK by 2010. Water in Scotland costs on average across all households less than £1 a day, which is a flat rate irrespective of size of family or usage.

In real terms water charges in Scotland fell last year.

Creditors who wish to use legal means to pursue debt must do so by using a prescribed process. For example, a debtor must be served with a Debt Advice and Information Package prior to the instigation of legal action to recover debt. The debt must be constituted in court before diligence can be pursued. As creditors must follow this prescribed process, there is no opportunity available to them to instigate legal action earlier to recover debts owed than they have previously been able to.

The decision on how long a creditor will allow a debtor to default on payment before taking legal action, is a commercial one. It is possible that creditors, in the current economic climate, are making business decisions to commence the process of recovery sooner than they may have previously.

However, there is no evidence or mechanism to measure this.

The number of deaths in police custody since 1999 are as follows:

Year	Number of Deaths
1999	7
2000	5
2001	6
2002	8
2003	5
2004	6
2005	9
2006	9
2007	4
2008	9
2009	1 (as at 1 May 2009)
Total	69

 

Information on how many of these deaths were as a consequence of drug-taking is not held centrally.

The Scottish Enterprise strategy for the aerospace, defence and marine industry is in the process of being developed in consultation with the Industry Advisory Group. A publication date has not been set yet, as this will be dependent on progress in the development work and the considerations of the Industry Advisory Group.

The provision of medical care in police custody is determined at a local level, and each police force in Scotland has arrangements in place for the health care of those in their custody.

This information is not held centrally.