- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 11 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27460 by Mr Jim Wallace on 6 August 2002, whether, in calculating the additional cost of implementing the transfer of sheriff court business from Peebles to either Edinburgh or Selkirk, an informed assessment of any additional costs associated with the use of police resources, including personnel, will be made.
Answer
Yes. The Scottish Court Service will be consulting with Lothian and Borders Police on the options for future provision of court services in Peebles.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing levels have been at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale in each quarter in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 to date, expressed as a percentage of the full staff complement.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The readily available information is shown in the following table.
| Date | Staff in Post | %Age |
| 1 April 1999 | 250 | 102 |
| 1 August 1999 | 247 | 100 |
| 1 December 1999 | 246 | 99 |
| 1 April 2000 | 246 | 99 |
| 1 August 2000 | 248 | 100 |
| 1 December 2000 | 245 | 99 |
| 1 April 2001 | 239 | 97 |
| 1 August 2001 | 244 | 99 |
| 1 December 2001 | 254 | 99 |
| 1 April 2002 | 278 | 107 |
| 1 August 2002 | 269 | 103 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on patients in the Scottish Borders who require dialysis treatment being unable to receive such treatment in their local area.
Answer
I am aware that there is a need for increased dialysis clinics, and provision of increased support services in the Borders.I am pleased to learn that the capacity to treat such patients in the Borders will increase from early October, and that a full Review of Renal Service in the Borders is about to take place. The review will report to Borders NHS Board in time to feed into the 2004-05 financial plan. An initial meeting is to take place in early October.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided for bail schemes in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.
Answer
Funding to local authorities for bail information and supervision schemes in the years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 amounted to £313,322; £426,553, and £945,536 respectively.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when guidelines on the setting of bail conditions were last issued.
Answer
In granting bail, the courts are required by law to impose on the accused a set of standard conditions. They may also impose any such further conditions as they consider necessary to secure that the standard conditions are observed and that the accused makes himself available for attending an identification parade or for any print, impression or sample to be taken.The nature of the further conditions which may be imposed is a matter for the discretion of the courts. By law the prosecutor has a right to be heard when the courts are considering the question of bail. The Lord Advocate has in the past issued guidance to procurators fiscal as to the attitude they should adopt to bail conditions which the courts may be considering imposing. That guidance was reviewed at the time the Bail, Judicial Appointments etc (Scotland) Act 2000 was enacted. It was found to be appropriate and no further guidance has since been issued.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Annual Report 2001-02 by the Over 21's Visiting Committee at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale, what steps it is taking in respect of care provision for mentally disordered female offenders in the prison, given that the committee is "extremely concerned" that the needs of such offenders are not adequately met within the current criminal justice system.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Well defined support systems are in existence within the prison to identify and support those with mental health needs. This includes the assessment of all admissions by a Registered Mental Health Nurse and four sessions per week contracted psychiatric provision (supplemented by registrars). Extensive links exist with mental health teams in the community and locally a co-ordinated mental health referral/multidisciplinary team approach is in place.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for issuing guidance to Children's Panels.
Answer
The Scottish Executive Education Department is responsible for issuing guidance to members of Children's Panels. The intention of such guidance is to provide members with generic advice which will assist them in reaching decisions at Children's Hearings.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale are currently accommodated in shared cells.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Currently about 50%.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the comments made in the Annual Report 2001-02 by the Over 21's Visiting Committee at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale that women with serious medical conditions do not have reasonably timely access to toilet facilities.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The increased pressures on Cornton Vale have been caused by numbers rising markedly above the available capacity of the establishment.Procedures are in place which identify women with serious medical conditions and exclude them from cell sharing. Access times to toilet facilities are being monitored during patrol periods and an additional member of staff has recently been allocated to the night shift to cope with increased demand. The SPS have announced the conversion of Darroch Hall at HM Prison Greenock to house women prisoners. This will ease overcrowding at Cornton Vale. This will be in addition to the creation of an open prison facility in the SPS houses adjacent to Cornton Vale which will also help ease pressures.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners at HM Prison Young Offenders' Institute Cornton Vale have been (a) on remand and (b) in custody awaiting sentence in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02 and (iv) 2002-03 to date.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The information is not available in the requested format. Figures are available for average daily population and are listed below.Average Daily Population on Remand in Cornton Vale
| Year | Untried | Convicted | Awaiting Sentence | Total Remand |
| 1999-2000 | 35 | 13 | 18 | 48 |
| 2000-01 | 27 | 13 | 23 | 40 |
| 2001-02 | 38 | | | 55 |
| 2002 (Apr-Jul) | 47 | | | 70 |
Note: Components may not add due to rounding.
