- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many times prisoners who have been accommodated according to their self-declared identity under the Scottish Prison Service Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy have been moved from a (a) women’s to a men’s and (b) men’s to a women’s prison, also broken down by how many of these moves were at a prisoner’s request.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS is currently unable to provide information on transgender people who are no longer in our care.
However, I can advise that on Wednesday 8 January 2020 there were 14 people in Scottish prisons identifiable on the Prisoner Records System as having, at some stage, engaged in the gender reassignment process. This number includes 3 people who had previously began the gender reassignment process but who now identify as the gender they were assigned at birth.
Following a careful consideration of risk, 2 transwomen currently in SPS care have been moved from the women’s estate to the men’s. On both occasions these relocations were aligned to the expressed desire of the individual’s concerned. One transman has been moved from the men’s estate to the women’s. However, this relocation was not aligned with their expressed desire.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners identified as falling within the Scottish Prison Service Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy have requested accommodation according to self-declared identity in a (a) men’s or (b) women’s prison, also broken down by how many requests were approved.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS is currently unable to provide information on transgender people who are no longer in our care.
However, I can advise that on Wednesday 8 January 2020 there were 14 people in Scottish prisons who were identified on the Prisoner Records System as having, at some stage, engaged in the gender reassignment process. This number includes 3 people who had previously began the gender reassignment process but who now identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Of those currently in SPS care, 7 transwomen have previously requested to be accommodated in the women’s estate; 4 of these requests are currently being facilitated. One transman, currently residing in the women’s estate, has previously requested to be accommodated in the men’s estate.
Decisions as to the most appropriate location to accommodate transgender people are made on an individualised basis after careful consideration of all relevant factors, including risk and the individual’s preference.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how possessing a gender recognition certificate impacts on a prisoner’s legal entitlement to be accommodated in the prison estate in a manner that is consistent with their acquired gender.
Answer
I have asked, Teresa Medhurst Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. Her response is as follows:
A transgender person in the care of SPS who possess a gender recognition certificate will normally be managed and held in an establishment that reflects their gender reassignment status. However, where it has been identified that such persons may represent a risk to the safety of those of their reassigned gender or they themselves may be at risk, SPS can take the decision to hold that person in an establishment that reflects their birth gender. The Equality Act 2010 allows trans people to be excluded, in certain restricted circumstances, from single-sex services, where that is proportionate and justifiable, and this could include the exclusion of a trans person who has a gender recognition certificate. For example, a help group for female victims of sexual offences may seek to exclude those who are born male, even where they identify as female, in order to provide the participants with the necessary reassurance to participate freely.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 16 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures from the EIS stating that one in three teachers in Aberdeen are considering leaving the profession.
Answer
We are already taking a range of actions to provide additional support for teachers to improve recruitment and retention, improve teachers’ pay and tackle workload. Teacher numbers have increased for the fourth year in a row - rising to 52,247 in 2019, teacher vacancies are lower and the pupil teacher ratio is at its lowest since 2013. Teacher numbers in Aberdeen have also been rising since 2016.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with victims of crime regarding the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2020
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme and diversions through Laurencekirk high street, how it will monitor noise levels, and what steps it will take to (a) mitigate any significant increase in such levels and (b) ensure there is no diminution of the ability of residents to cross the road.
Answer
There are no permanent diversions that will affect the town’s High Street planned as a result of the new grade-separated junction. Detailed traffic modelling undertaken as part of the development and assessment of the preferred option indicates no significant increase in traffic on the High Street is anticipated as a direct result of the Scheme. There is therefore no anticipated requirement to monitor noise levels on the High Street as a result of the new grade-separated junction and the ability of residents to cross the road is not expected to be affected compared to the existing situation. Any temporary traffic management arrangements, including any temporary road closures and diversions, proposed by the appointed contractor during the construction period will be subject to consultation and approval by Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council as relevant Roads Authority.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme, whether it has discussed increasing the frequency of trains stopping at Laurencekirk railway station in order to reduce traffic requiring to use the area during the works.
Answer
The current timetable which has been in effect since May 2019 - well in advance of any construction works - has already resulted in an increased service provision with 40 trains now stopping each week day at Laurencekirk railway station. There are currently no proposals to increase further the frequency as a result of the proposed A90/A937 Laurencekirk Junction Improvement Scheme.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of road closures and diversions through the town's high street as a result of the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme, what traffic orders it proposes in relation to the displaced parked traffic on the high street to ensure no loss of amenity to residents.
Answer
There are no permanent road closures or diversions planned that will affect the town’s High Street as a result of the new grade-separated junction. Traffic orders on the High Street are a matter for the local authority and Transport Scotland are is not aware of a requirement for any planned traffic orders as a result of the new grade-separated junction.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of road closures and diversions through the town's high street as a result of the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme, what road orders it proposes to ensure a clear and safe route, and what impact increased usage will have on local businesses, amenity for residents and the cost to the local authority of maintaining the road.
Answer
The draft road Orders as published on 19 December 2019 are those necessary to deliver the Scheme. There are no permanent road closures or diversions planned that will affect the town’s High Street as a result of the new grade-separated junction. Detailed traffic modelling undertaken as part of the development and assessment of the preferred option indicates no significant increase in traffic on the High Street as a direct result of the grade-separated junction and no detrimental effect to local businesses is expected as a result of the new grade-separated junction. Amenity for local residents will be improved in terms of provision for non-motorised users (NMUs) and opportunity for active travel as part of the Scheme. As the proposed realigned A937 replaces sections of the existing A937 there is not a significant increase in infrastructure for the local authority to maintain and all local roads under Aberdeenshire Council’s authority will continue to be considered as part of the Scottish Government’s Grant Aided Expenditure allocation processes.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Laurencekirk Junction A90/A937 Improvement Scheme and diversions through Laurencekirk high street, what journey time increase it projects for users of the A90.
Answer
There are no permanent road closures or diversions planned that will affect the town’s High Street as a result of the new grade-separated junction. Minimising disruption during construction is a key consideration throughout the preparation and delivery phases of all major trunk road improvement schemes. Should any temporary road closures and diversions be proposed by the appointed contractor during the construction period these will be subject to approval by Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council as relevant Roads Authority. Detailed traffic modelling undertaken as part of the development and assessment of the preferred option indicates that removal of the 50mph speed restrictions on the A90 following construction of the new grade-separated junction will result in journey time savings for traffic using the A90.
