- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many mobile phones have been confiscated from prisoners and offenders in HMP Inverness in each month since May 2021.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table provides the number of mobile phone handsets that have been confiscated at HMP Inverness, each month, since May 2021:
Month / Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
January | - | 7 | 6 | 6 |
February | - | 10 | 10 | 4 |
March | - | 14 | 5 | 6 |
April | - | 9 | 6 | 4 |
May | 1 | 9 | 8 | 5 |
June | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
July | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
August | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
September | 6 | 12 | 6 | 5 |
October | 10 | 9 | 4 | 6 |
November | 12 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
December | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
The above figures include SPS issued mobile phones until 1 August 2023 when they were removed from use and replaced by in cell services.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on building new houses using the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme in each year since 2021.
Answer
The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) is available to local authorities which bring forward suitable project proposals associated with remediating and unblocking long-term vacant and derelict land, supporting place based approaches to delivering regeneration and sustainable inclusive growth, as part of a just transition to net-zero. Additional funding to support the delivery of new homes, where this is part of the project proposals, is considered as a part of the application process by the independent investment panel.
The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) has invested £6,258,299 in projects that support the development of affordable homes since 2021.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the written evidence provided by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport to the Citizen Participation and Public Petition Committee on 21 October 2024 regarding petition PE1871 (Full review of mental health services), whether it can provide an update on the work of the Partnership Delivery Group in producing a framework for collaboration and a cross sector-owned action plan.
Answer
The Partnership Delivery Group (PDG) continues to work across organisational boundaries to identify and deliver support to individuals that can be delivered in a person centred and trauma informed way.
The PDG has worked together to support the Scottish Government to develop a Framework for Collaboration (FfC). Subject to publishing timescales, this Framework along with the PDG’s cross-sector Collaborative Commitment Action Plan will be published imminently.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on building new houses using the Strengthening Communities Programme in each year since 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Strengthening Communities Programme (SCP) is a revenue fund which provides support to community anchor organisations to build capacity and sustainability. No funding from the SCP has therefore been spent on building new houses since 2021, however SCP provides organisations with capacity building funding which can include support for delivering new housing developments.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on building new houses from the Investing in Communities Fund Programme in each year since 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) is a revenue fund which aims to empower communities by supporting them to deliver activity that helps tackle poverty, inequality and rural disadvantage on their own terms.
The ICF is not intended to deliver capital projects, such as housing.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of e-bikes that have been seized in each year since 2020 were found to exceed the legal speed limit of 15.5 mph.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role of retailers in ensuring that customers purchasing e-bikes are informed about legal requirements.
Answer
The Scottish Government notes that Police Scotland have engaged in communications activity to ensure customers purchasing e-bikes are aware of the associated legal requirements under road traffic law. The Scottish Government recognises that it is important for retailers to provide information on this. Product safety and product labelling are reserved matters.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government which areas in Aberdeen have been identified as hotspots for the use of illegal e-bikes, and what targeted action has been taken in any such areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the use of technology to identify and monitor illegal e-bikes, such as speed tracking or motor compliance checks.
Answer
The Scottish Government maintains contact with the UK Government on the shared challenge of tackling illegal e-bikes. The Scottish Government has noted the work undertaken by the UK Government through its Defence and Security Accelerator to undertake research on technology to tackle e-scooter and e-bike enabled crime, including technology to bring these vehicles to a controlled stop in a manner which does not pose a significant risk to the rider, the public or police officers.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects data on the number of e-bikes that are imported into Scotland that do not meet UK safety standards.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32699 on 10 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.