- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 4 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult interested parties before issuing guidance on physical accessibility strategies for schools, as detailed in section 13 of Her Majesty's Government's Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill.
Answer
Unlike the other disability provisions of the UK Government's Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill, which are reserved, clause 13 is concerned with local authority organisation and management which is devolved. The clause will therefore not extend to Scotland. The Executive is considering how best to introduce similar provisions here.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8630 by Henry McLeish on 31 July 2000, what progress has been made in discussions with telecommunications companies on plans for the provision of broadband technology.
Answer
Officials in the Executive undertook a round of informal discussions with telecommunications companies on their plans for the provision of broadband technology. Further consultations have recently taken place at a UK level. We are in close contact with Whitehall departments to ensure co-ordination of policy.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether fiscal fines are included in the crime statistics.
Answer
All crimes and offences recorded by the police are covered in the published statistics on recorded crime, including those which result in a fiscal fine. Totals of the number of criminal reports concluded by way of a fiscal fine are given in the annual Scottish Executive Justice Department statistical bulletin on criminal proceedings in Scottish courts and also in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Annual Report. Information on the numbers of fiscal fines paid is included in the annual statistical returns made by the district courts.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 December 2000
To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Executive has to ensure that the business sector has telecommunications technology of the highest specification available to it.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises the high importance of ensuring businesses have access to the telecommunications they need to help them achieve maximum competitiveness. This will largely be achieved through the promotion of competition.There are, however, actions falling to the Executive which may contribute. These will include building on public sector demand for higher bandwidth services to encourage the spread of appropriate infrastructure. The Executive is now in discussion with UK departments on these issues.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 14 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of Procurators Fiscal in Glasgow and to monitor the impact of any increases in workload within the criminal justice administration system.
Answer
The number of Procurators Fiscal in Glasgow has increased over this year, with three additional deputes. A further depute and five precognition officers have just been added to the structure and will be in place by early January. The resource planning process which will set staffing levels and other resource allocations from April 2001 onwards is under way, and will be completed early next year. During that process current and projected workload statistics, including an increase in reports of serious crime in Glasgow, will be carefully taken into account.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what input black and ethnic minority communities will have to the inquiry to be led by Dr Raj Jandoo to review liaison with victims' families in the justice system in the light of the experience of the Chhokar family.
Answer
It will be for Dr Jandoo to determine the extent and form of the input that he seeks during his inquiry. I understand he intends to consult with representatives of the ethnic minority communities and his remit requires him to consult with the Chhokar family and their representatives and the Commission for Racial Equality.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to announce the further recruitment of temporary sheriffs
Answer
The names of the first tranche of appointments to the new office of part-time sheriff were announced on 13 October 2000.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive how many criminal trials were postponed at first sitting in Glasgow Sheriff Court in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answer
The following table shows the number of summary trials called and adjourned at Glasgow Sheriff Court during the period from September 1999 to August 2000. Trials can be adjourned for a variety of reasons including, for example, the unavailability of witnesses. The table, therefore, also provides information on the percentage of trials adjourned due to lack of court time.
| Trials Called | Trials Adjourned | Adjourned Lack of Time |
Sept 1999 | 805 | 270 | 1.3% |
Oct 1999 | 873 | 327 | 3.2% |
Nov 1999 | 832 | 279 | 1.4% |
Dec 1999 | 548 | 188 | 0.9% |
Jan 2000 | 665 | 242 | 1.3% |
Feb 2000 | 861 | 271 | 1.9% |
Mar 2000 | 782 | 304 | 1.2% |
Apr 2000 | 695 | 252 | 3.8% |
May 2000 | 782 | 259 | 2.0% |
June 2000 | 790 | 268 | 1.8% |
July 2000 | 680 | 235 | 3.6% |
Aug 2000 | 676 | 249 | 3.9% |
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow Sheriff Court is meeting the 12 week target for sending civil cases to trial, how many cases are meeting the target, and how many are not and by how long
Answer
The attached table shows the number of civil proofs fixed at Glasgow Sheriff Court during the period from September 1999 to August 2000. The 12 week target was met throughout the period with the exception of December 1999 when the period increased to 15 weeks. The table also provides information on the percentage of proofs/debates adjourned due to lack of court time.
While trial diets may be available within the 12 week period, dates for individual cases may be fixed outwith this timescale to suit the convenience of the parties to the action at the request of solicitors.
The statistical information available does not differentiate between those proofs fixed within the 12 week waiting period or those fixed outwith this period at the request of solicitors.
| Civil Proofs Assigned | Adjourned Lack of Time |
Sept 1999 | 53 | 0 |
Oct 1999 | 133 | 0 |
Nov 1999 | 111 | 1.3% |
Dec 1999 | 63 | 0 |
Jan 2000 | 65 | 0 |
Feb 2000 | 64 | 1.1% |
Mar 2000 | 52 | 0 |
Apr 2000 | 56 | 1.5% |
May 2000 | 61 | 1.3% |
June 2000 | 65 | 0 |
July 2000 | 57 | 0 |
Aug 2000 | 63 | 1.2% |
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 28 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review prosecution practice and policy in the light of any recent trials.
Answer
The trial of David Montgomery and Andrew Coulter for the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar concluded today at the High Court in Glasgow. Neither was convicted of the murder. Andrew Coulter was convicted of assaulting Surjit Singh Chhokar, while acting along with Ronnie Coulter, by repeatedly striking him on the body with a piece of wood and metal. He was also convicted of a charge of housebreaking at Mr Chhokar's house and theft of a cooker and giro cheque and of a charge of uttering in connection with the giro cheque. He received a total sentence of 15 months detention, consecutive to the sentence that he is currently serving.David Montgomery was acquitted. I acknowledge that mistakes were made in this case, particularly in relation to the level of support and information given to the late Mr Chhokar's family. I am determined that all possible lessons will be learnt and I am today setting up independent inquiries to look into two separate aspects of the case.Sir Anthony Campbell, of the Northern Ireland Judiciary, will carry out an independent examination of the Crown's decision making following the death of Surjit Singh Chhokar, including the decision to indict Ronald Coulter separately from Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery. He will have the opportunity to interview all staff in the PF office at Hamilton and Crown Office as well as Advocate Deputes and Law Officers who dealt with the case. Sir Anthony will make such findings and recommendations for changes in practice and procedure as he sees fit. Sir Anthony's findings will be published.Raj Jandoo, Advocate and Deputy Chair of the Scottish Executive Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Steering Group, will review and report on the liaison arrangements between the police, the Procurator Fiscal Service, and the Crown Office and the family of Surjit Singh Chhokar. As part of his remit, Dr Jandoo will consider and complete an internal report prepared by the Crown Office. He will take evidence from the family of Surjit Singh Chhokar, their representatives and from the police. He will also consult the Commission for Racial Equality and Victim Support Scotland. While most of the inquiry will be conducted in private, there will also be a public dimension to consider draft recommendations. Dr Jandoo's findings and recommendations for action will also be published.The Deputy First Minister will be inviting the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Steering Group, which comprises representatives of the police, Crown Office, Commission for Racial Equality and independent members, to oversee the implementation of Dr Jandoo's recommendations.A number of measures have already taken place to implement the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in Scotland, including the production of a Racial Diversity Strategy and Guidance Manual by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Crown Office guidance prosecution of racist crimes and a programme of anti-racist training for Crown Office staff. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary has carried out a thematic inspection on the police and race issues in Scotland which will be published in the New Year. The steering group has reviewed the Executive's action plan and their report will also be published shortly. We intend to build on this progress that has already been made in taking forward the lessons to be learnt from the Chhokar case.