- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 18 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have signed up to the Better Government for Older People programme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24589.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to introduce scale fees for junior counsel appearing in the sheriff court in legally aided cases.
Answer
Fees for junior counsel in criminal proceedings in the sheriff court are prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989. Legal aid fees for junior counsel undertaking civil work in the Sheriff Court are prescribed in Regulation 10(2) of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989. This is 90% of the amount of fees, which would be allowed for that work on a taxation of expenses between solicitor and client, third party paying, if the work done were not legal aid. My officials are in discussion with the Scottish Legal Aid Board about the need for a detailed table of legal aid fees for counsel involved in civil cases in the sheriff court.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of civil legal aid cases (a) sought and (b) were refused a sanction for (i) junior and (ii) senior counsel in each of the past three years, broken down by subject matter (such as matrimonial, reparation or contract).
Answer
This is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that an anomaly has arisen as a consequence of the implementation of the McCrone Agreement in regard to the guarantee of a placement for the one probation year for new graduates which affects the 2-year probation of graduates intending to qualify in primary or secondary disciplines and who currently complete 2-year probationary placements in primary and secondary schools, and how many probationers this situation will effect.
Answer
Currently those teachers graduating with a teaching qualification in a secondary subject can teach their subject in a primary school. However, to gain full registration they must complete two years probation within a secondary setting. They cannot become fully registered as a primary teacher without further training and a further period of probation.The new scheme will guarantee all eligible probationary teachers a one-year training contract, teaching the subject in which they are qualified. In the case of those with a secondary qualification, this will be in a secondary school. This will lead to achievement of the standard for full registration and the opportunity to register as a fully qualified secondary teacher.The opportunity to teach in their subject in primary schools is still available but, as with the current situation, will not lead to full registration as a primary teacher.The Scottish Executive considers there is no anomaly in this situation and does not collect information on how many students are in this position.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 9 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19094 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, what measures to encourage the use of alternatives to custody for female offenders are being considered by the ministerial group on women's offending.
Answer
The Ministerial Report on Women's Offending, A Better Way, was published on 28 February 2002.The report looks at the pressure points in the Criminal Justice System in respect of women offenders i.e. remands, imprisonment for fine default and short sentences and proposes specific action to address these problems. Specifically, the report proposes the development of a Time Out Centre in Glasgow to provide access to services and specific programmes including assessment, counselling and support for women either on a day or residential basis.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 8 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish an open prison for women.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service is currently evaluating the need to provide an open facility for women.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 4 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a young person to be placed in the Young People's Unit.
Answer
The information is not available in the form requested, however current waiting times range from one week to 24 weeks. All referrals to the Young People's Unit are prioritised according to clinical need.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of building insurance cover is for HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:This is a matter for Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what HM Treasury guidance the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has complied with, as referred to in paragraph 4 of the report by the Auditor General for Scotland in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts for 2000-01 which states that the SPS has "complied with HM Treasury guidance" in regard to HM Prison Kilmarnock, given the statement "that neither party is recognising HMP Kilmarnock as a property asset with both parties claiming to have transferred substantially all risk and rewards associated with ownership of the property asset to each other".
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Treasury Task Force, Private Finance, Technical Note (Revised).
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service has building insurance cover for HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:No. Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited is responsible for insurance matters, as specified in the contract.