- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2017
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason prisoners contesting their convictions are reportedly denied privileges afforded to the wider prison population.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2017
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce the National Citizen Service, or an alternative, in Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07030 on 24 February 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what alternatives to the National Citizen Service are available for Scotland’s youth.
Answer
There is a wide range of youth work opportunities available to young people in Scotland that provide similar outcomes for young people as the National Citizenship Service. For example:
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The Outward Bound Trust provides residential programmes for over 200 young people aged 16 and 17 each year through the Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award.
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Young people aged between 16 and 25 who are unemployed can take part in the 12 week Team programme run by the Princes Trust. The programme helps young people to gain new skills and improve their confidence through residential, community projects and work placements. In 2014-15, 2,500 young people took part in the Trust’s Team, XL, Fairbridge and Get Started programmes.
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Ocean Youth Trust Scotland works with over 550 young people each year who take part in voyages which provide the opportunity for self-development through the experience of sailing voyages.
There is also evidence that many young people in Scotland are already achieving similar outcomes which might be available through a NCS through involvement in youth work and volunteering activity. For example:
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The number of young people participating in, completing, progressing and gaining accreditation through Youth Awards in Scotland has increased dramatically in recent years. There has been significant growth in the number of young people looking to achieve awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the John Muir Award, the Saltire Award and the Dynamic Youth Award – from less than 20,000 awards in 2009-10 to more than 60,000 in 2014-15.
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Recently published research by Volunteer Scotland shows strong growth in youth volunteering in Scotland with 52% of young people involved in volunteering, up from 45% in 2014. There are higher rates of youth participation in Scotland compared with the other UK nations.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 24 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to eliminate what is claimed to be a grey area in succession rules, which means that static motorhomes serving as the main residence of a deceased person are treated differently to a bricks and mortar home.
Answer
The Scottish Government consulted on recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission for reform of substantive succession law between June and September 2015. The recommendations are based on the removal of the distinction between heritable and moveable property with rights in succession coming from the whole of the estate regardless of the types of property which it comprises.
The Scottish Government is considering the analysis of responses to that consultation together with the findings of a survey of public attitudes towards succession law of just over 1000 people representative of the Scottish population and a targeted Survey Monkey on disinheritance which received over 800 responses.
The analysis of, and the responses to, the consultation together with the Scottish Government’s response will be published when that consideration is concluded and will inform the way forward. The issue raised about static motor homes will be considered in the context of any further reforms to the law of succession.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 24 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the rules in relation to winding up the estate of a deceased person.
Answer
The Scottish Government brought forward a number of changes to the rules in relation to winding up the estateof a deceased person in the Succession (Scotland) Act 2016 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/7/contents/enacted.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 23 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on providing the National Citizen Service in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government believes that youth work has a significant impact in improving the life chances of young people. The national youth work strategy for Scotland 2014-18 sets out our ambitions for improving outcomes for young people through youth work. It aims to ensure that we harness and build on our partnerships and what we know works in delivering vibrant and effective youth work practice.
The Deputy First Minister has requested that officials work with appropriate youth work partners to consider the option of undertaking a NCS pilot project in Scotland. Education Scotland officials and YouthLink Scotland held a meeting on 16 December 2016, attended by a range of national youth work organisations and a representative from the UK Cabinet Office, to consider the option of undertaking a NCS-style pilot project in Scotland.
Partners agreed that further discussion was needed before committing to a Scottish pilot.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2017
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation has been made of its previous suicide prevention strategy, and how this will underpin its updated mental health strategy.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2017
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 6 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when in 2017 the updated suicide prevention strategy will be published.
Answer
In Spring 2017 we will begin engagement with stakeholders regarding possible content of a future Suicide Prevention Strategy or Action Plan. This engagement will build on the engagement we undertook on the forthcoming Mental Health Strategy, and on engagement already undertaken with stakeholders e.g. in academia, in the NHS and in the Third Sector who have a specific interest in suicide prevention. We aim to publish a new Suicide Prevention Strategy or Action Plan in late 2017 or early 2018.
In the meantime, whilst the timeframe of the existing Suicide Prevention Strategy (2013-16) has passed, its key themes (e.g. improving responses to distress; improving the NHS response to suicide; talking about suicide; and developing the evidence base) remain pertinent to continuing efforts to reduce the suicide rate; we will continue to work with stakeholders to implement the commitments under these themes.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 January 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 3 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when the post of national coordinator of childhood bereavement services will be advertised.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03840 on 10 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 January 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 3 February 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05304 by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016, whether (a) the consultation will include extending the powers to practitioners other than psychologists and (b) it expects to introduce new legislation as a result of the consultation.
Answer
The details of the consultation have yet to be finalised but it is anticipated that views will be sought on extending the powers to practitioners other than psychologists and the need for new legislation. It would be inappropriate at this stage to comment or the likelihood or not of new legislation.
