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The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) approached the Executive in September 2004 seeking Scottish ministers’ views on extending the operational trial of Taser as a less lethal option for Scottish forces in dealing with firearms incidents. The proposals made clear that the use of these devices would adhere to the ACPO/ACPOS Manual of Guidance on Police use of Firearms; that threat and risk assessments would be conducted so that Chief Constables could be satisfied about their force’s tactical and operational capabilities to deploy this weapon, and that before any operational deployment is made a rigorous training programme would be conducted.

On that basis, ministers supported the decision to use these devices, while recognising that it was an operational matter for chief constables to determine the appropriate response to any firearms incident in the light of circumstances in each case.

The available data on closure orders granted by sheriff courts are presented in the following table and cover the period from October 2004 to September 2005. This is also available in the Standing up to Antisocial Behaviour First Anniversary Report:

www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com.

At present we can only provide information on the number of closures by police constabulary area. However, we will be able to provide the additional information required after 30 April 2006, when we receive the first annual reports on the use of the measures of the act.

Constabulary Area	October 2004 to September 2005 Number of Closure Orders Granted
Fife	4
Tayside	3
Lothian and Borders	1
Strathclyde	1

 

If Scottish ministers wanted to make it compulsory for those using the services of Disclosure Scotland to hold an identity card or submit to an identity check through the National Identity Register, then this, according to Section 44 of the Identity Cards bill, would require an act of the Scottish Parliament.

The Executive currently has no plans to require individuals to hold an identity card in order to have a criminal record check carried out or for any other purpose.

Comprehensive information on all grants made by the Executive to voluntary organisations is available publicly on the Executive’s website. Information for 2004-2005 is to be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Voluntary-Issues/15300/22255

Information for 2005-2006 is at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Voluntary-Issues/15300/DF0506.

The Planning Bill will lay the foundations for a planning system that will serve Scotland’s aspirations for prosperity, a better environment and greater participation. Its primary purpose is not to address the protection of the historic environment but it will provide an opportunity to update some of the detailed provisions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

The Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland has been asked by Scottish ministers to advise on whether there is a need to review heritage protection legislation in Scotland. They are due to report in May 2006. Ministers will then consider whether revised legislation for the protection of the historic environment is required.

The SEA Gateway team are in regular contact with the team in the Executive reviewing the National Planning Policy Guidance 6 (NPPG 6) on Renewable Energy Developments. The SEA Gateway has given support by providing general policy advice on SEA; highlighting the relevant SEA guidance and will manage the transmission of required SEA documentation to and from the Consultation Authorities.

The SEA Gateway offers this support to any Responsible Authority developing plans, programmes or strategies subject to SEA legislation, including those from the Executive.

No such specific discussions have taken place.

We shall remain in close communication with the Government about any implications that the identity card scheme may have for people living in Scotland, including in the event that the Government pursues plans to introduce a link between identity cards and other official government documents.

I can confirm that it is still the case, as stated in my answer to S2W-16501, that no-one will be denied access to the services that they are entitled to because they do not have a citizen’s account card (national entitlement card).

Citizen’s accounts containing basic, non-transactional information will be created for all citizens in Scotland. However, each account will only be enabled and used with the informed consent of the citizen. This is the point at which transactional data will be generated in respect of the different services that a person uses or is entitled to.

The citizen’s account will support a number of local and national entitlements, with the first national entitlement being the Scotland-wide free bus scheme in April 2006.

As Schedule 1 of the Identity Cards Bill stands at present, this would not be possible. Clause 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 refers to “the number of any ID card issued to him”, and “ID card” is defined at Section 43 of the bill as meaning a card issued under the identity card scheme as specified by Section 8(1) of the bill.

The bill allows for Schedule 1 to be amended via secondary legislation. However, we are not aware of any plans to seek to do so in the foreseeable future.