Questions and answers

Question reference: S5O-04930

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with dualling the A75.

Question reference: S5W-34120

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of parents at Canonbie Primary School regarding changes to the building to establish additional space to deliver increased nursery hours.

The Scottish Government’s 2017 publication A blueprint for 2020: the expansion of early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland - ELC expansion planning guidance for local authorities sets out a framework to support local authorities in developing plans for the expansion of early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours. This framework encourages local authorities to make full use of existing assets before purchasing or building additional capacity.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for the planning and execution of any changes required to its infrastructure in preparation for the increase to 1,140 funded nursery hours for eligible children in August 2021.

The Scottish Government would expect local authorities to work with school communities to discuss how they make changes to the learning estate, and we would encourage anybody who is concerned about the proposals for Canonbie Primary School to discuss these with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Question reference: S5W-34121

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to Canonbie Primary School to facilitate the changes required to accommodate a nursery classroom.

The Scottish Government has provided no direct funding to Canonbie Primary School to facilitate the accommodation of a nursery classroom.

In May 2018, the Scottish Government awarded Dumfries and Galloway Council a multi-year capital funding settlement of £9.1m for early learning and childcare, including any capital works required to make the council’s infrastructure ready for the increase to 1,140 funded nursery hours for eligible children.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for decisions on how that £9.1m should be allocated to individual projects.

Question reference: S5W-34119

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 cases have been identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

Question reference: S5W-34286

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent COVID-19 developments, whether it will reconsider its proposals to move trials from Dumfries Sheriff Court.

Question reference: S5W-34123

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns regarding the need for roof repairs and a long-term roof replacement at HMP Dumfries, and what plans there are for further investment on the site.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS is developing proposals for replacing the roof over the health centre, prisoner reception, gymnasium and a section of the prisoner accommodation. Additional works will also be carried out to the prison’s workshed roof. It is intended to award a contract during this financial year and for the work to be carried out during the summer and autumn periods of 2021 at an indicative cost of circa £350k.

SPS also plan to undertake a condition survey of the prison buildings at HMP Dumfries. This work is due to be completed before the end of this financial year and will help to develop a rolling 5 year development plan for the prison. This plan will include a programme of work based on a number of factors and will be used to identify future investment required at the site which will be subject to available funding.

Question reference: S5W-34065

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment has been carried out regarding the decision to move business from Dumfries to Ayr Sheriff Court.

Impact assessments relating to the operation of the courts are a matter for SCTS.

SCTS has informed Ministers that of Scotland’s 39 Sheriff Courts, 16 are linked to remote jury centres, with jury trials from the remaining 23 courts being transferred to allow their resumption at close to pre-COVID-19 levels. In respect of Dumfries and Stranraer this equates to an average of 2.5 evidence-led jury trials being transferred each month. SCTS has confirmed that the temporary solution which has been developed while public health restrictions remain in place ensures that the vast majority of those involved in trials will not need to travel to Ayr. Furthermore, the operation of the remote jury centres will be kept under constant review.

Question reference: S5W-34066

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of solicitors and the Faculty of Procurators of Dumfriesshire regarding plans to move all sheriff and jury business from Dumfries to Ayr Sheriff Court.

Question reference: S5W-34068

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of the (a) assessments that have been carried out and (b) reports to ministers that have been produced regarding the future use of Dumfries Sheriff Court.

Assessments relating to the operation of the courts is a matter for Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).

SCTS has informed Ministers that the introduction on remote jury centres is not a business as usual solution, but is an innovative solution within the wider programme of work for system recovery – Recover Renew and Transform Programme (RRT) - that allows the re-start of Sheriff and Jury trials after a 10 month absence. The operation of the remote jury centres will be kept under constant review, and SCTS is already considering options on how this might be extended next year to deal with an increasing backlog, depending on the likely requirements for continued physical distancing. SCTS has confirmed that in order to minimise travel for those participating in trials transferred from Dumfries To Ayr, jurors will cited from the Ayr jurisdiction and, where the defence and the Crown agree, and the Sheriff has determined it is appropriate, a witness can give evidence remotely from Dumfries Sheriff Court.

SCTS has assured Ministers that this is a temporary solution to deal with the consequences of COVID-19, balancing safety and proportionality, and has also confirmed that as soon as restrictions are removed jury trials will be returned to Dumfries.

Question reference: S5W-34067

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to keep jury and sheriff business at Dumfries Sheriff Court beyond January 2021.

While this is an operational matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the Scottish Government does not hold this information, SCTS has confirmed the matter in Dumfries cannot be viewed in isolation to the recovery programme across the country and that the temporary solution which is being put in place is based on the overall funding available, takes account of business volumes and minimises disruption for the greatest amount of people. SCTS has worked with the judiciary, legal profession and third sector to introduce highly innovative remote jury centres within cinema complexes to ensure that the criminal justice system continues to operate during unprecedented times. This is an incredibly complex technical solution both to install and to service and operate on an ongoing basis and is not one that can be replicated in every court in Scotland.

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