- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in each of the last three financial years, how many remand prisoners have been assessed for (a) substance use and (b) mental health issues; what proportion of those on remand this represents, and, of those assessed, how many have accessed (i) drug treatment services and (ii) mental health services.
Answer
This is a matter for matter for individual health boards who are responsible for providing prisoner healthcare. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Prison Service is taking to ensure that those on remand are (a) assessed for and (b) offered support and/or treatment for (i) substance use and (ii) mental health issues.
Answer
All individuals have a healthcare consultation with an NHS healthcare professional within 24 hours of arrival.
Whilst in prison individuals can self-refer to see the NHS Healthcare team and where needed, SPS staff can also refer prisoners to the healthcare team.
The SPS Drug & Alcohol Strategy, currently under revision, aims to reduce re-offending and drug-related deaths by adopting the principles of recovery to reduce the supply and demand of illegal substances and the harm caused by problematic substance use. The revised Strategy will reflect the national approach to embed Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards across SPS.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has carried out on the effectiveness of the Scottish Prison Service's (a) assessments for and (b) support for and/or treatment of (i) substance use and (ii) mental health issues for remand prisoners, and whether this has been published.
Answer
The Scottish Government published prison population health needs assessments for mental health and for substance use ( Prison population health needs: synthesis report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and Prison population health needs: synthesis report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . These reports aim to provide stakeholders, including the SPS, with a better understanding of the health needs of the prison population and help align services to support people whilst in prison, along with their transition into and out of prison custody.
The SPS is currently working in partnership with mental health experts to co-produce a revised mental health strategy for those in custody.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 12 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason alternatives to custody for non-violent women with dependency issues, such as Turning Point Scotland's 218 service, have not been (a) replicated in other cities and (b) piloted for men.
Answer
Decisions about specific programmes or interventions for those who have committed offences are generally taken at a local level under the model of community justice introduced in 2017. Local authorities have significant autonomy to direct justice social work funding to deliver statutory justice services and meet local priorities aimed at reducing reoffending. Services are also commissioned through local partnerships such as Health and Social Care Partnerships, and priorities will be informed by local Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plans.
The funding of Turning Point Scotland’s 218 service pre-dates the implementation of the current community justice model, so central funding has been protected as part of the legacy arrangements for the last 5 years. The creation of any new services, however, would primarily be a matter for local areas to consider.
We currently invest over £119 million of ring fenced funding in community justice services, which includes community sentences and other interventions. The bulk of this funding – around £108 million – is distributed to local authorities for the delivery of justice social work services. The remaining £11 million is directed towards third sector organisations for the delivery of community justice related services. From the main funding, £1.5 million is specifically for bail services for women which is distributed across 32 local authorities.
An additional £50 million per annum over this Parliament is also allocated to support the National Mission to reduce drug deaths and harms. Of this an additional £20 million per year goes to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and the further £30 million supports grassroots initiatives, implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment Standards, and work with nationally funding organisations.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring adequate support provision is available for staff and pupils in schools.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 1 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the senior leaders who will "take responsibility for driving the necessary changes and reporting on progress" of the implementation of the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards, as announced by the Minister for Drugs Policy to the Parliament on 23 June 2022, have now been appointed by local authority chief executives and chief officers, and whether it will publish the name and position of each local authority's responsible senior leader.
Answer
In the letter of direction I issued to delivery partners on 23 June 2022 on implementing the MAT Standards, I asked for timed, specific plans for implementing the standards to be submitted and published. I also requested a lead officer be nominated to take responsibility for driving the necessary changes and reporting on progress for each area across the country.
I can confirm that a lead officer has been nominated by delivery partners for each of their Health and Social Care Partnership areas.
We are now scrutinising the submitted Implementation Plans to ensure they will deliver the standards and, we will be asking each area to publish their plans, which will detail the position of lead officers for each area.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 31 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when distribution of funding for the Youth Music Initiative will be resumed following the “brief pause” reportedly advised in September 2022 by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.
Answer
Contracting letters were issued by Creative Scotland to local authority delivery partners on 21 September. Creative Scotland have also contracted successful applicants from the first round of the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds and activity is beginning to take place.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 31 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it is marking the 20th anniversary of the Youth
Music Initiative.
Answer
There is a range of activity being delivered by Creative Scotland to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Youth Music Initiative, which is delivered by Creative Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. This includes activity to spotlight the successes of the YMI to date and projects to further strengthen the programme as part of this year's celebrations.
The projects include a targeted fund supporting five projects to encourage children and young people to engage with a wide range experimental music practice. Additionally there has been a Strengthening Community Music project which focuses strengthening the connections between the youth music sector across Scotland as they rebuild after the pandemic. There is also the Formal Sector Development Fund which supports the development of Music Service Managers and the formal music workforce by providing opportunities for reflection, collaboration, peer-to-peer networking, and project activity which supports a period of renewal and recovery.
More activity is expected and I will write to the member with an update in due course.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 31 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of any initiatives for which funding distribution has been paused while the Emergency Budget Review is completed, in light of reports in The Scotsman on 16 September 2022 that Creative Scotland was told by ministers that, in relation to the Youth Music Initiative for 2022-23, “all government portfolios have been asked to identify remaining non-contracted spend in 2022/23” and “to defer issuing contracts indefinitely”.
Answer
An update was provided to Parliament and the Finance and the Public Administration Committee on 7 September in relation to the Emergency Budget Review. This set out over £500 million of savings in order mitigate the impact of the cost crisis, to meet increased costs arising from public sector pay and unprecedented levels of inflation, and to support our Ukraine response.
As the majority of our spend cannot be changed at this stage of the financial year due to contractual and legal commitments, there are limited options to make savings. With a largely fixed budget, intervention to support those who need most help and manage the nation’s budget will be difficult without impacting further on planned spend and on programmes.
The Scottish Government had previously informed Parliament that a statement setting out an Emergency Budget Review, in relation to the 2022-23 Scottish Budget, was planned for the week commencing 24 October. However, following the unprecedented uncertainty and instability brought about by the UK Government in recent weeks, on 25 October I announced that the outcome of the Emergency Budget Review would be deferred until after the UK Government fiscal statement which was, at that time, scheduled for 31 October. On 26 October, the UK Government delayed its fiscal statement and independent forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility until 17 November. As such, it is prudent to review the timing for the Emergency Budget Review. The Scottish Parliament will be kept informed regarding the timing of the statement.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to support the museum and gallery sector during the cost of living crisis.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2022
