- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Police Scotland being funded by the UK Government to train Sri Lankan police has compromised Scottish Government commitments on human rights.
Answer
Scotland has a strong and enduring commitment to securing democracy, the rule of law and human rights across the world. We expect all states to recognise fundamental human rights, comply with human rights legislation and condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur. Through International Engagement we will share our experiences, values and expertise in areas such as justice, education and climate change, with a view to seeing the human rights of people across the world fully realised.
The decision to enter into UK Government funded contracts to train police forces in countries such as Sri Lanka is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is operationally independent of the Scottish Government. The current training programme, provided by Police Scotland in Sri Lanka, is aimed at improving community policing and gender equality, with all training underpinned by equality and human rights. We understand that Police Scotland suspended the current training programme due to the coronavirus pandemic and that they will re-evaluate delivery of the programme when restrictions on foreign travel are lifted.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether community policing training delivered by Police Scotland in Sri Lanka includes training on intelligence gathering or operating intelligence databases on communities; whether any technology or software relating to community policing has been transferred to Sri Lanka, and what functions that technology or software has.
Answer
The Scottish Government do not hold the information requested. The delivery of training by Police Scotland, in Sri Lanka, is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that patients and staff at Old Aberdeen Medical Practice are consulted on the future provision of its GP services.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2021
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) considerations it made and (b) measures it took to act in accordance with the National Marine Plan when deciding the fishing vessel licence variations announced on 23 July 2021.
Answer
On 23 July 2021, the Scottish Government set out the catch limits that would apply in the various management areas for the North Sea handline mackerel fishery. The notifications took effect on 0001 hours on 25 July 2021.
This change was a routine adjustment for these longstanding fisheries and did not constitute a new activity or change in policy in Scottish seas. No new licences were issued.
Catch limits for the handline mackerel fishery and the other 10 metre and under non-sector fisheries are managed in line with the strategic objectives of the Scotland’s Future Fisheries Management Strategy (Scotland’s Future Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030) and the National Marine Plan.
The handline mackerel fishery is a distinct pool fishery. Due to the nature of the fishery, including the migratory nature of the species, Marine Scotland allocates and manages this stock by four separate geographic areas to take account of variation in the pattern of the fishery and the level of uptake. The fishery is an important income source for many hundreds of inshore vessels across the east coast and Northern Isles of Scotland.
Our long-standing policy intention in the management of the 10 metre and under handline mackerel fishery is to balance the requirement to ensure that we do not fish outwith sustainable limits with maximising socio-economic return in the fishery. The Scottish Government attempts to ensure that the fishing opportunity is utilised while seeking to ensure the opportunity extends as long as possible throughout the year and maximise market conditions for the fishery.
To deliver this, the Scottish Government analyses the uptake for the various areas and where necessary seeks to engage with local stakeholders.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 12 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of appointments to public boards by (a) gender, (b) age, (c) socio-economic status, (d) disability status and (e) ethnicity; what its response is to reports that women appointed to public boards are paid less than their male counterparts, and what steps it will take to address any gender pay gap on public boards.
Answer
Statistics providing a breakdown of those appointed to regulated public body Boards as requested can be found within the Ethical Standards Commissioner Report on Public Appointments 2019 – 20. [ ESC Annual Report on Public Appointments 2019-20.pdf]
Currently 51.7% of all regulated public appointments are held by women. Of these 39% of Chair roles are held by women, an increase from 29.4% in 2019.
The daily fee for a Board Chair attracts a higher rate of remuneration in recognition of the additional responsibilities placed upon them. The Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 sets a ‘gender representation objective’ for listed public authorities that 50% of its non-executive members are women. The Scottish Government is committed to improving gender equality on public boards and the 2018 Act also requires public boards take steps to encourage women to apply for board vacancies including Board Chair roles. The Scottish Government are also taking steps towards closing the gender pay gap through the Gender Pay Gap Action Plan.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 9 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the use of recorded warnings from the possession of small amounts of cannabis to the possession of small amounts of all drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Answer
Recorded Police Warnings are an alternative disposal option that are available to police officers that allow them to deal more quickly and efficiently with a range of offences which already commonly result in non-court disposals, including for small quantities of specified controlled drugs. The types of crime covered by the Recorded Police Warning scheme are a matter for the Lord Advocate as part of her independent role as head of the system of prosecution therefore it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on this.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 19 June 2021 regarding the establishment of an Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) business park adjacent to Aberdeen South Harbour, on what basis this project was chosen for funding; whether there is a requirement for projects such as this to demonstrate that they have considered all possible sites and have chosen the one that has the least environmental and social harm, and what action it is taking to ensure that people living in deprived communities in the vicinity of the ETZ will continue to be able to access the existing biodiverse green spaces in the area, including St Fittick's Park.
Answer
The project was chosen for funding through engagement with regional partners including the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group and the North East Regional Economic Strategy Group as part of the wider Energy Transition Fund support package to help deliver net zero and help the energy sector recover from the dual economic impacts of Coronavirus and the oil and gas price crash.
The location of the ETZ is primarily a matter for local partners, and the planning authority, in the first instance, not the Scottish Government.
Recognising the value of green space to local communities, a critical success factor of the project is that the ETZ must offer communities societal benefits including coastal access, open space, landscape and biodiversity enhancements and that project owners are able to demonstrate meaningful engagement with local communities as the project develops.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 6 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on adopting a so-called surrender provision for liquor licences, similar to that in Northern Ireland, to require a public-house or off-sales licence to be surrendered to the court before a licence for a new business can be granted, and what other ways of limiting alcohol availability are being considered, in light of evidence suggesting that availability drives alcohol consumption and that the number of licences in Scotland has continued to increase year on year.
Answer
Independent Licensing Boards are responsible for the day to day administration of the alcohol licensing regime within the legislative framework set out in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”). The 2005 Act includes 5 high level licensing objectives, one of which is “protecting and improving public health”, which Boards must have regard to in carrying out their functions under the legislation. The 2005 Act places a duty on Boards to make an assessment of overprovision and include a statement regarding this in their licensing policy statement. Boards are empowered to consider the unique circumstances of their area and decide whether, based on local needs, it is appropriate to restrict access to alcohol through limits on new licences, licences of a particular type, or variations of existing licences. In light of this the Scottish Government has no plans to adopt the “surrender provision” which operates in Northern Ireland.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 6 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34320 by Angela Constance on 20 January 2021, and in light of the work of the overdose prevention service in Glasgow, which did not attract prosecution by the Lord Advocate, and did not require UK Government support or new devolved powers to implement, by what date it will enable such overdose prevention facilities to operate as part of NHS Scotland's health provision.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports piloting supervised safe consumption facilities in Scotland given the evidence from other countries over the past 30 years.
The Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) is reserved to the UK Government, but we will continue to seek constructive engagement to move matters forward. The Minister for Drugs Policy, Angela Constance, has written to the UK Government on a number of occasions this year to engage with them on the evidence.
We are working with services to leave no stone unturned to overcome the existing legal barriers to implement safe consumption rooms in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 6 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave, as part of its revised alcohol and drug treatment policy, to the importance of services assessing the needs of clients for concessionary travel support and proactively signing off NCT002 forms as an integral component of a recovery-oriented system of care.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the barriers that prevent people from accessing treatment and services and ensuring that people are able to access the treatment and support they need, when they need it.
We know that for many people, problematic substance use co-occurs with mental health problems and we are committed to improving integration between mental health and addiction recovery services.
The Scottish Government is also considering options that could improve access to drug and alcohol services, such as supporting people to travel to services and addressing digital exclusion.
NCT002 forms are used for mental health applications for concessionary travel and better integration between mental health and drug and alcohol services is an important part of ensuring that those who are eligible under existing concessionary travel scheme criteria are accessing the support they are entitled to.
