Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-00103

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 26 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a spokesperson stated on 18 March 2016 that the Scottish Government “remains open to considering future change” to the age of criminal responsibility and that “Ministers are not taking a firm position on these matters at this point”.

Question reference: S5W-00100

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 26 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) implement the recommendations of the Advisory Group on the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility and (b) take early action to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years.

The Scottish Government commissioned the advisory group last year to look at potential issues relating to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, with the aim of securing a report and recommendations from that group for further consultation.

In responding to the advisory group’s report, the Scottish Government published it alongside a raft of supporting material and immediately opened its own public consultation on the advisory group’s recommendations - open until 10 June 2016.

The Scottish Government remains open to considering future change and will consider the consultation responses and analysis before taking a forward position.

Question reference: S5W-00102

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 26 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce primary legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12.

Question reference: S5W-00101

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 26 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current age of criminal responsibility is (a) damaging Scotland’s international standing and (b) impacting on the life chances of young children.

Question reference: S5W-00045

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurse practitioners specialise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, broken down by NHS board.

Information on how many nurse practitioners specialise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), broken down by NHS board, is not centrally held.

ME/CFS is a complex condition which requires the support of a variety of health professionals, including nurses. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with conditions such as ME/CFS are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

Question reference: S5W-00088

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 24 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many children under the age of 12 have received a criminal record since the publication of Do the Right Thing: Progress Report 2012.

The information is not held centrally.

A criminal record is only created on the Criminal History System when offence grounds are accepted or established through the children's hearing system. Annual information on children's hearings is the operational responsibility of the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) and is published in respect of each business year i.e. 1 April to 31 March.

SCRA have published research information about backgrounds and outcomes of a number of children aged 8-11 who have been referred to the reporter on offence grounds:

http://www.scra.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Backgrounds-and-outcomes-for-children-aged-8-11-years-old-who-have-been-referred-for-offending.pdf.