Seòmar agus comataidhean

Scottish Executive officialshave met with HM Treasury representatives on four separate occasions to discussthe possible introduction of a planning-gain supplement. Specifically, ScottishExecutive officials met with Treasury officials in Edinburgh on18 April 2005 and 23 February 2006, and in London on 28and 29 November 2005 and 6 June  2006.

The 10% target reduction inthe number of persistent young offenders in Scotland was to be achievedbetween 2003-04 and the end of 2005- 2006.

The 2005-06 youth justicedataset was published on 11 July 2006 and laid in the Scottish Parliamen InformationCentre (Bib. number: 40065).

The Scottish Children’s ReporterAdministration holds information relating to the number of referrals to the Children’sReporter under section 52(2)(j) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (i.e. “has misusedalcohol or any drug, whether or not a controlled drug within the meaning of theMisuse of Drugs Act 1971”). Children referred under section 52(2)(j) are referredbecause of concerns about their safety. It is not possible to separate alcohol anddrug misuse because of the nature of this ground for referral.

Count of Grounds forChildren Referred to the Children’s Reporter under s52(2)(j)

Year
1999-2000	1,260
2000-01	1,272
2001-02	1,697
2002-03	1,854
2003-04	1,969
2004-05	1,521*

Note: *SCRA Statistical Footnote:Receipt based. All other data are disposal based.

The Scottish Children’s ReporterAdministration holds information relating to the number of referrals to the Children’sReporter under section 52(2)(j) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (i.e. “has misusedalcohol or any drug, whether or not a controlled drug within the meaning of theMisuse of Drugs Act 1971”). Children referred under section 52(2)(j) are referredbecause of concerns about their safety. It is not possible to separate alcohol anddrug misuse because of the nature of this ground for referral.

Count of Grounds forChildren Referred to the Children’s Reporter Under s52(2)(j)

Year
2004-05	1,521*

Note: *SCRA Statistical Footnote:Receipt based.

The youth justice performancebaseline for 2003-04 indicated that there were 1,201 persistent young offendersin Scotland at that time. The target was to reduce that by 10% byend 2005-06.

No instances of procurement irregularityhave occurred at the Scottish Court Service Headquarters since 2004.

Since the agency was establishedin 1995 there have only been two allegations of procurement irregularities in theSCS. Both occurred in 2003. The first in relation to procurement of IT equipmentwould have resulted in disciplinary action but the middle manager concerned resignedfrom the agency. The second in relation to the property department was the subjectof an audit by Scottish Executive auditors who found no evidence of improprietyto substantiate the allegations.

Office of the Permanent Secretary

 Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive howmany briefing papers it holds, including previous versions, on the possible impactof fiscal autonomy, financial independence or full fiscal power.

(S2W-26216)

Mr Tom McCabe The Executive does not keep a central count of the briefingpapers held on any subject.

There were no staff directlyemployed by the Scottish Executive at the Social Work Inspectorate disciplined followingallegations of staff misuse of resources in 2004-05.

There was, however, a temporaryworker supplied by an employment agency who was found to be unsuitable and removedfrom her temporary post. Subsequent to her removal some financial irregularitieswere identified and these were referred to the police.

The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This is a pilotproject which the Department of Trade and Industry believes will have run its courseand where in the DTI’s view resources would be better targeted at enforcement andcriminal prosecutions of non-compliant employers.

The Scottish Children’s ReporterAdministration publish validated youth justice data both quarterly and annually.

They also circulate monthly managementdata to local youth justice agencies on offence referral patterns and timelinessindicators.