At Scotland level, the number of premises licence applications refused under section 23 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 during the years 2010-11 to 2014-15 is in the following table.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 came fully into force in September 2009 and 2010-11 was the first full year of operation under these new licensing arrangements. Figures from these new arrangements cannot be compared to earlier years' figures due to changes in the way licences are now being administered (for instance, single licences for premises which were previously subject to multiple licences, and registered clubs coming under the responsibility of licensing boards rather than sheriff courts).

Figures for years 2010-11 to 2014-15 at local authority level can be obtained from http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubLiquor but numbers by SIMD decile are not collected centrally. On 7 October 2016, the figures at Scotland and local authority level for 2015-16 will be published on the Scottish Government website.

Number and proportion of premise licence applications refused under section 23

of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, 2010-11 to 2014-15

This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The management of the interim Vulnerable Persons Database is a matter for Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government will bring forward a Bill in year one of this Parliamentary session which will include a new domestic abuse offence. In discussion and engagement with relevant Scottish stakeholders, a number of views have been offered including on whether the new offence should only be focused on psychological abuse and coercive control (as the offence in the Serious Crime Act 2015 is), or whether the new offence should be wider, encompassing the whole range of abusive behaviour which can occur in a relationship. We will carefully consider these views before introducing the legislation as we are determined to develop that offence in line with the expectations and views of stakeholders.

The number of premises liquor licence applications received, by local authority area, in each of the years 2010-11 to 2014-15, can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubLiquor.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 came fully into force in September 2009 and 2010-11 was the first full year of operation under these new licensing arrangements. Figures from these new arrangements cannot be compared to earlier years' figures due to changes in the way licences are now being administered (for instance, single licences for premises which were previously subject to multiple licences, and registered clubs coming under the responsibility of licensing boards rather than sheriff courts).

On 7 October 2016, the figures at Scotland and local authority level for 2015-16 will be published on the Scottish Government website.

The justice system has an important role in the enforcement of the law and prevention of violence against women and girls. This includes the provision of appropriate perpetrator programmes for domestic abuse offenders where this is deemed a suitable alternative to custody.

The Caledonian System is available in 13 local authorities across Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government in the amount of £2.3 million per year. The Caledonian System runs an integrated service (with parallel men’s, women’s and children’s services) aimed at addressing domestic abuse perpetrated by adult male offenders and improving the lives of women and children. An evaluation of the Programme is expected to be published before the end of 2016. The Scottish Government will consider carefully the recommendations of the Evaluation report within the wider context of work on going to prevent and eradicate violence against women.

The Scottish Government also funds the Respekt Project which is a part of Safer Families Edinburgh, based within the Children and Families Department of City of Edinburgh Council. It is an intervention for Polish families consisting of a behaviour change programme for perpetrators and a support, advocacy and safety planning service for their partners.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02233 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Since 12 July 2016, the Scottish Government has received one representation from a member of the Scottish Parliament only. Senior officials from the Scottish Government meet regularly with senior officers to discuss a range of issues including armed policing. I also meet regularly with the Chief Constable to discuss a range of issues, most recently on 7 September 2016.

As I said in my statement to Parliament on 16 June 2016 Police Scotland keeps its policy on the deployment of armed police officers under constant review. The Chief Constable is advised on armed policing by its armed policing monitoring group. The Scottish Government’s position continues to be that any future consideration by Police Scotland of any proposed change to the model of deployment should be subject to wide consultation by Police Scotland and take into account the views of the public, stakeholders and Parliament. The vast majority of Scotland’s police officers are not routinely armed and we have made an unequivocal commitment that that position will not change.