- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on section 2.5 of the Annual Report 2001-02 of the Over 21's Visiting Committee of HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale, with particular regard to the committee's concerns about the (a) level of success of action on drugs programmes in the prison and (b) place of mandatory drug testing within the prison's overall drug strategy.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Cornton Vale makes available and is further developing a range of interventions/drugs programmes including health care and addictions assessment, information and awareness, detoxification and substitute prescribing, relapse prevention and pre- and post-release support. Mandatory drug testing allows the prison to monitor drug misuse and the effectiveness of interventions and to identify inmates who may need specialist support. The increased pressures on Cornton Vale have been caused by numbers rising markedly above the available capacity of the establishment. SPS have announced the conversion of Darroch Hall at HM Prison Greenock to house women prisoners. This will ease overcrowding at Cornton Vale.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on reduced efficacy of the induction process at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institution Cornton Vale owing to increased numbers and staff shortages, referred to in the Annual Report 2001-02 of the prison's Over 21's Visiting Committee.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The standard induction process of three days for convicted prisoners has continued to operate as normal. Additional nursing resource has been supplied in order that health care for the increased number of admissions can be more effectively provided. The increased pressures on Cornton Vale have been caused by increased numbers rising markedly above the available capacity of the establishment. SPS have announced the conversion of Darroch Hall at HM Prison Greenock to house women prisoners. This will ease overcrowding at Cornton Vale. This will be in addition to the creation of an open prison facility in the SPS houses adjacent to Cornton Vale which will also help to ease pressures.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale are currently accommodated in shared cells.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Currently about 50%.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners at HM Prison Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale have been (a) on remand and (b) in custody awaiting sentence in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02 and (iv) 2002-03 to date.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The information is not available in the requested format. Figures are available for average daily population and are listed below.Average Daily Population on Remand in Cornton Vale
Year | Untried | Convicted | Awaiting Sentence | Total Remand |
1999-2000 | 35 | 13 | 18 | 48 |
2000-01 | 27 | 13 | 23 | 40 |
2001-02 | 38 | | | 55 |
2002 (Apr-Jul) | 47 | | | 70 |
Note: Components may not add due to rounding.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for issuing guidance to Children's Panels.
Answer
The Scottish Executive Education Department is responsible for issuing guidance to members of Children's Panels. The intention of such guidance is to provide members with generic advice which will assist them in reaching decisions at Children's Hearings.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what directions or guidance is given to Children's Panels on the information panels may forward to the Youth Crime Diversion Programme when making a referral to the programme.
Answer
Rule 21 of the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Rules 1996 sets out what information, and to whom, the Reporter should communicate following the decision of a Children's Hearing. However, that is only one aspect of the network of communication involved in these situations. Where a child is referred to a diversionary project, the project itself will usually have clear expectations, agreed with referring agencies, about what information it should receive.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided for bail schemes in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.
Answer
Funding to local authorities for bail information and supervision schemes in the years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 amounted to £313,322; £426,553, and £945,536 respectively.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when guidelines on the setting of bail conditions were last issued.
Answer
In granting bail, the courts are required by law to impose on the accused a set of standard conditions. They may also impose any such further conditions as they consider necessary to secure that the standard conditions are observed and that the accused makes himself available for attending an identification parade or for any print, impression or sample to be taken.The nature of the further conditions which may be imposed is a matter for the discretion of the courts. By law the prosecutor has a right to be heard when the courts are considering the question of bail. The Lord Advocate has in the past issued guidance to procurators fiscal as to the attitude they should adopt to bail conditions which the courts may be considering imposing. That guidance was reviewed at the time the Bail, Judicial Appointments etc (Scotland) Act 2000 was enacted. It was found to be appropriate and no further guidance has since been issued.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how the estimated #2 million cost for a new-build courthouse at Peebles was calculated and whether the estimate includes the cost of any land purchase.
Answer
I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is as follows:I have been asked by the minister to respond. The estimated new build cost of £2 million is based on current construction industry yardstick costs and on actual building costs obtained from recent Scottish Court Service projects, some of which have included the provision of new courtroom accommodation as part of the refurbishment programme. The estimate does not include the cost of land purchase.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 5 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns that local authorities are not interpreting its guidance on the application of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 uniformly.
Answer
The Scottish Executive and local authorities worked together to develop the guidance to ensure there was fair and consistent implementation across Scotland. Monitoring arrangements have been established to ensure this is achieved.