- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00906 by Jamie Hepburn on 28 June 2021, whether it will provide an update on the proposed Scottish Education Exchange Programme.
Answer
The development of a Scottish Education Exchange Programme is a Programme for Government commitment and will help maintain Scotland’s place as an outward looking, internationally connected destination for work and study.
We are engaging with stakeholders from across the education spectrum including higher and further education, community learning and development, youth work and adult education, schools and sports and are developing the programme ensuring it is fit for Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners are being held in (a) individual cells and (b) cells holding more than one person, and how many are being "doubled-up" in individual cells.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
On 21 February 2022 the prison population at unlock was 7,561. A breakdown is provided below regarding the accommodation the individuals were located in:
1. 4,885 people were accommodated alone in a cell intended to accommodate one person and,
230 people were accommodated alone in a cell that is designed to be double occupancy.
2. 918 people were accommodated in a cell, or dormitory, intended for more than one person and,
1,528 people were accommodated with another person in a cell intended for one person.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) design capacity, (b) average number of occupants and (c) average occupancy rate was in each prison in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following tables detail the (a) Average occupancy (b) Design capacity and (c) the Average occupancy rate of each prison over 2019, 2020 and 2021.
2019
Name | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 758 | 702 | 108% |
Barlinnie | 1431 | 987 | 145% |
Cornton Vale | 97 | 112 | 87% |
Dumfries | 194 | 176 | 110% |
Edinburgh | 914 | 867 | 105% |
Glenochil | 728 | 668 | 109% |
Grampian | 455 | 552 | 83% |
Greenock | 214 | 237 | 90% |
Inverness | 118 | 93 | 127% |
Kilmarnock | 574 | 501 | 115% |
Low Moss | 798 | 784 | 102% |
Open Estate | 189 | 284 | 66% |
Perth | 700 | 631 | 111% |
Polmont | 472 | 758 | 62% |
Shotts | 541 | 538 | 100% |
2020
Name | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 728 | 702 | 104% |
Barlinnie | 1215 | 987 | 123% |
Cornton Vale | 70 | 109 | 64% |
Dumfries | 182 | 176 | 103% |
Edinburgh | 866 | 867 | 100% |
Glenochil | 660 | 668 | 99% |
Grampian | 427 | 552 | 77% |
Greenock | 192 | 230 | 83% |
Inverness | 103 | 93 | 110% |
Kilmarnock | 547 | 501 | 109% |
Low Moss | 795 | 785 | 101% |
Open Estate | 139 | 284 | 49% |
Perth | 642 | 631 | 102% |
Polmont | 389 | 758 | 51% |
Shotts | 544 | 538 | 101% |
2021
Name | Average Occupancy | Average Design Capacity | Average Occupancy Rate |
Addiewell | 699 | 702 | 100% |
Barlinnie | 1208 | 987 | 122% |
Cornton Vale | 57 | 109 | 52% |
Dumfries | 183 | 176 | 104% |
Edinburgh | 867 | 867 | 100% |
Glenochil | 700 | 668 | 105% |
Grampian | 435 | 552 | 79% |
Greenock | 191 | 218 | 88% |
Inverness | 107 | 93 | 115% |
Kilmarnock | 529 | 501 | 106% |
Low Moss | 827 | 785 | 105% |
Open Estate | 145 | 284 | 51% |
Perth | 648 | 631 | 103% |
Polmont | 341 | 758 | 45% |
Shotts | 543 | 538 | 101% |
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of purposeful activity prisoners had, on average, per week in each month between December 2020 and December 2021, broken down by each prison.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table details the average number of purposeful activity (PA) hours that individuals in custody engaged in, within each public sector establishment, between December 2020 and December 2021.
SPS Establishment | Dec 20 | Jan 21 | Feb 21 | Mar 21 | Apr 21 | May 21 | Jun 21 | Jul 21 | Aug 21 | Sep 21 | Oct 21 | Nov 21 | Dec 21 |
Barlinnie | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Cornton Vale | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 20 |
Dumfries | 9 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Edinburgh | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 |
Glenochil | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Grampian | 22 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Greenock | 21 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 24 |
Inverness | 25 | 22 | 22 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 22 | 29 | 30 |
Low Moss | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Castle Huntly | 21 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 17 |
Perth | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 |
Polmont | 16 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 17 |
Shotts | 15 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
HMPs Addiewell and Kilmarnock are privately operated prisons and are not required to provide PA hours on a monthly basis. The delivery of PA hours within these establishments is monitored through contractual arrangements with SPS Controllers and Contract Managers to ensure compliance.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of purposeful activity prisoners had, on average, per week in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021, broken down by prison.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table details the average number of purposeful activity hours per week for convicted prisoners across the prison estate, in each financial year that incorporates 2019, 2020 and 2021: -
Year | April 2018 – March 2019 | April 2019 – March 2020 | April 2020 – March 2021 | April 2021 – January 2022 |
Establishment | Average PA hours | Average PA hours | Average PA hours | Average PA hours |
Barlinnie | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
Cornton Vale | 19 | 20 | 20 | 26 |
Dumfries | 18 | 15 | 8 | 10 |
Edinburgh | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 |
Glenochil | 17 | 16 | 11 | 11 |
Grampian | 25 | 25 | 19 | 16 |
Greenock | 20 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
Inverness | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 |
Low Moss | 23 | 22 | 16 | 18 |
Castle Huntly | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Perth | 18 | 14 | 9 | 14 |
Polmont | 21 | 18 | 14 | 19 |
Shotts | 25 | 25 | 9 | 10 |
HMP Addiewell and Kilmarnock are privately operated prisons and are not required to provide PA hours on a monthly basis. The delivery of PA hours within these two establishments is monitored through contractual arrangements with SPS Controllers and Contract Managers to ensure compliance.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update building standards to ensure that, within the next five years, all new housing is built to Passivhaus standards, as recommended by Scotland's Climate Assembly in its report, Recommendations for Action.
Answer
Our response to the recommendation of the Climate Assembly agrees with the need for review of regulation to further improve energy and environmental standards for new homes. It noted the relevance of the current review of Scottish building regulations, due to be completed this year. It provides an assurance that the outcome sought by the recommendation will be reported on, as part of the current review of standards.
I can confirm that we are looking at opportunities to move to Passivhaus or an equivalent standard within the timescale indicated by the Assembly. I have asked that work on this topic be undertaken over the coming months, in support of the ongoing review of Scottish building regulations and for this be reported back to the Assembly as work progresses.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about using the sanctions regime to prevent Russian government-owned tankers entering ports in the UK, including in Orkney.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2022
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Regan on 25 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects all of the provisions of the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021 to be in force.
Answer
The Scottish Government sets out its expectation that commencement regulations will be laid in early May 2022 and come into force this summer.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Regan on 25 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when regulations will be laid to bring into force (a) section 1 (dealing with serious harm); (b) section 6 (dealing with publication on a matter of public interest), and (c) section 32 (dealing with the single publication provisions) of the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government expects to lay commencement regulations in early May 2022 that will bring into force the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021 this summer.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the Islands Energy Strategy.
Answer
We will consult on the draft Islands Energy Strategy during the summer of 2022.
The Strategy will set out an approach to supporting island residents and communities to decarbonise, and to develop renewable energy solutions that can promote resilience, enhance sustainability, and meet their energy needs.
In developing the draft Strategy, we will engage with our island stakeholders, to ensure we reflect their differing needs and priorities and work alongside the Carbon Neutral Islands initiative to maximise impact and shared learning.