Chamber and committees

The application was considered at a public local inquiry in April and a report was submitted to ministers on 10 July. The contents of the report and the recommendation contained therein are currently being considered and every effort will be made to issue an early decision.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27522. The epidemiological study is not being carried out in a psychiatric setting.

I expect to announce proposals to enhance the effectiveness of public participation in planning later this year. These will largely be drawn from the outcome of our major consultation exercise, Getting Involved in Planning.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: There is no reliable data available on the re-offending rates of sex offenders in Scotland. However, in terms of re-incarceration, information previously collected for management purposes in one location (Peterhead) indicated that 13 persons who had completed a sex offender programme have been reconvicted or recalled in the period from 1993 to 2001.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Currently, two programmes designed to tackle sex offending are being delivered. These are the core programme, STOP 2000, and the Adapted programme. Peterhead delivers STOP 2000 and Adapted STOP; Polmont delivers Adapted STOP; and Barlinnie delivers STOP 2000.

The operation of facilities for asylum seekers is the responsibility of the Home Office. However, where school education is provided by a local authority, families seeking asylum have the same means of recourse available to them as other families who have concerns about the education being provided for their child by a local authority. Those means include seeking resolution through the authority's complaints procedures or if necessary seek to challenge the decision or action of the local authority in court.In practice, such families may wish to raise their concerns through support organisations for asylum seeking families or through liaison officers appointed by local authorities.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Except for Low Moss and Castle Huntly, all our prisons currently hold prisoners whom we categorise as sex offenders.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The information is not available in the form requested. Prisoners may, for a variety of reasons, be treated as sex offenders in prison though their crime may not formally be one which would meet the criteria for inclusion on the sex offender register which in any case has existed only since 1997.Apart from Low Moss and Castle Huntly, all Scottish prisons contain prisoners whom SPS treats as sex offenders but central records are not kept on the numbers.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Sex offenders are located within the prison estate according to operational needs. There is no limit as to how many can be placed in each prison. Sex offenders are not held at Low Moss.

As I indicated in the answer given to question S1W-25868, the schools cultural co-ordinators pilot programme will seek to maximise the contribution to children and young people's education of the full range of arts and cultural activities; and contemporary music has a special capacity to contribute to the pilot activities. I am delighted to report that my colleague, Mike Watson, has recently convened a group whereby representatives of the music industry can explore issues such as this with the Executive and the Scottish Arts Council. The group will look at ways in which the industry can develop in terms of adding to its considerable achievements and in its contribution to promoting the objectives of the National Cultural Strategy.