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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S2W-00436

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to amending the law on the registration and/or monitoring of sex offenders in order to include retrospective provisions.

The Scottish Executive and the Home Office jointly reviewed the Sex Offenders Act in 2000 and published the results in July 2001. That review concluded that there was no viable way of extending the act to offenders convicted before the legislation came into force, beyond the limited retrospection with respect to those serving relevant sentences on 1 September 1997.There are measures, however, to protect the public from sex offenders who have completed their sentences prior to 1997 but who continue to display risky behaviour. Chief constables can, for example, apply for a Sex Offender Order, which triggers notification and can place prohibitions on the individual.A number of changes to strengthen the existing sex offenders' regime are contained in the Sexual Offences Bill currently before the UK Parliament. No further changes to the retrospective element of the legislation are planned.

Question reference: S2W-00455

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Euan Robson on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has following the recommendation of the report by Ms Anne Black of 25 April 2003 that no disciplinary proceedings should take place in respect of Scottish Borders Council social work department following the "Miss X" case and what powers it has to intervene in the matter and request to see the report.

Question reference: S2W-00433

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give, in particular to the communities of East Lothian, that the whereabouts of John Cronin will be monitored following his release.

The task of monitoring any individual who poses a threat to local communities is taken extremely seriously by the police and by other agencies which have a responsibility. The measures available to the police include, for example, applying to the sheriff court for a Sex Offender Order which would seek to place restrictions on the actions of the individual in question. While it would be a matter for the relevant Chief Constable to determine the measures to be taken in each individual case, Lothian and Borders Police has already given assurances that it will undertake a full assessment in respect of Mr Cronin, should he return to the East Lothian area.

Question reference: S2W-00463

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34753 by Ross Finnie on 27 March 2003, what the timescale is for increasing the fixed penalty fine for littering.

Question reference: S2W-00344

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Euan Robson on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has following the conclusions of the two reports on the "Miss X" case regarding the professional and personal practice and culture of the social work department of Scottish Borders Council and issues regarding the accountability of those involved.

Question reference: S2W-00391

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain and expand on the meaning of "constructing", as used in the statement "constructing the Larkhall to Milngavie line" in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Question reference: S2W-00434

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be given to Lothian and Borders Police in respect of efforts to monitor the movements of John Cronin.

Funding for the police in Scotland is at record levels and Lothian and Borders Police has substantial resources at its disposal. This year Lothian and Borders Joint Police Board set a budget of £159.8 million, an increase of £10.7 million over the budget set by the Joint Police Board for 2002-03. It is for the chief constable to make decisions on how the resources made available to him are used to meet local needs and priorities.

Question reference: S2W-00390

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain and expand on the meaning of "re-opening", as used in the statements "re-opening the Kincardine - Alloa - Stirling rail link" and "re-opening the Airdrie to Bathgate railway" in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

The private bill promoting the re-opening of the Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine railway line was introduced to Parliament in March this year. Subject to its successful passage, the project could be authorised for construction by summer 2004, with a view to running services by winter 2005-06.For the proposed re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line, the Scottish Executive has made available £500,000 to West Lothian Council in order to fund a detailed engineering study into the scheme. We expect to receive the study's findings by spring 2004.

Question reference: S2W-00407

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 9 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider any proposals to make statutory provision for the funding of approved day centres.

It is for local authorities to decide on how they provide day care services for individuals, in consultation with the users of those services and their carers. While day care centres may be one form of appropriate provision, service users are entitled to choice and services tailored to their needs. Achieving this can result in a move away from the provision of fixed services in day care centres and it would therefore be a retrograde step to consider statutory provision for funding of a form of day care which may not be every user's choice.

Question reference: S2W-00181

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the transport section of A Partnership for a Better Scotland, whether re-instatement of the Borders railway line remains subject to the test of a "business case".