Here you can find out about your MSPs' political activities and how to get in touch with them.
Ash is a member of the following Committees:
Ash is a member of the following Cross-Party Groups:
Meeting of the Parliament 27 June 2019 : 27 June 2019
Ash Denham
I thank the member for raising that point—I can see that she is driving at more general guidance rather than guidance of a specifically legal nature. The Scottish...
The Minister for Community Safety (Ash Denham)
The Scottish Government expects public bodies and other organisations to be aware of the current legislative framework and to update their procedures and guidance accordingly. The Scottish G...
Meeting of the Parliament 04 June 2019 : 04 June 2019
I am not persuaded that introducing whole-life sentences for a small minority of the most serious cases would make a practical difference to our justice system. I understand that, as of Marc...
This has been a useful debate that has highlighted the importance of ensuring that our sentencing law provides our courts with the powers to sentence offenders appropriately while meeting th...
One of the most difficult and important decisions that anyone working in our criminal justice system can face is that which is faced by High Court judges who are ...
Children and young people are transported in non-cellular escort vehicles that have a range of securing measures. For example, each vehicle must be fitted with a ...
The member has raised an important point. I believe that contractors should be held accountable for their level of service. I do not have any further information ...
I thank the member for that question. I take on board the concerns that he has raised. The escorting contract has, of course, freed up front-line staff in both th...
We absolutely do not think that. The Scottish Prison Service does not have a record of staff raising such concerns, but if any instances were to be raised with th...
About 180,000 prisoner movements are undertaken every year, the vast majority of which are in cellular vehicles. There are occasions on which non-cellular vehicle...
That the Justice Committee recommends that the the Scottish Tribunals (Listed Tribunals) Regulations 2019 [draft] be approved.
Supported by: Humza Yousaf
That the Parliament agrees that the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill be passed.
That the Justice Committee recommends that the Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) etc. Amendment Order 2019 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill be passed.
That the Justice Committee recommends that the Services of Lawyers and Lawyer’s Practice (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 [draft] be approved.
That the Justice Committee recommends that the Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 [draft] be approved.
As an amendment to motion S5M-15615 in the name of Liam Kerr (Tackling Antisocial Behaviour), leave out from "supports" to end and insert "recognises that fixed penalty notices play an important role in tackling antisocial behaviour when used as part of a comprehensive package of penalties and interventions, which include diversionary, early intervention and preventative activities that are aimed at steering individuals away from antisocial behaviour whenever possible, and calls on the Scottish Government to keep all of these approaches under review by working with Police Scotland, local authorities and the court services to ensure that appropriate and proportionate penalties and/or interventions are applied to deliver the best outcomes for victims and wider society.”
That the Justice Committee recommends that the Sheriff Court Simple Procedure (Limits on Award of Expenses) Amendment Order 2019 [draft] be approved.
That the Justice Committee recommends that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property Chamber (Incidental Provisions) Regulations 2019 [draft] be approved.
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all NHS PFI/PPP facilities, broken down by the (a) total (i) unitary charge costs for each (A) in 2018-19 and (B) over their lifetime, (ii) capital value of each and (b) ratio of the overall unitary charges relative to the capital value.
Information on PPP/PFI projects in Scotland, including a link to HM Treasury’s list of projects and corresponding capital values and unitary charges, is available online from: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/12308 .
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its negotiations with the EU, following the First Minister’s recent meeting with Michel Barnier.
To ask the Scottish Government how its fiscal policy supports first-time buyers.
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve the lives of disabled people.
Delivering transformational change in the lives of disabled people is a top priority for this government as set out in detail in A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People which we published in December 2016.
Since then some of the actions we have taken include the launch of a New Independent Living Fund Scheme for young disabled people aged 16-21; the publication of the first ever BSL National Plan, and we have started the second phase of the NHS disabled graduate intern programme alongside extending Modern Apprenticeship funding to disabled people up to age 30. Further, we launched a consultation on setting targets for employing disabled people in the public sector as well as a £1 million Business Engagement Fund to provide businesses with advice on recruiting and retaining disabled staff.
To ask the Scottish Government how many lapdancers have been (a) seriously harmed and (b) murdered in each year since 1999.
Data of this type is not collected by the Scottish Government.
To ask the Scottish Government how many prostitutes have been (a) seriously harmed and (b) murdered in each year since 1999.
The Scottish Government did however, commission research to consider the reliability of the evidence base internationally on the impacts of the criminalisation of the purchase of sex, and to explore the available knowledge and evidence of prostitution in Scotland. The research reports were published in February last year and can be viewed at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/02/3333 and http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/02/6562 .
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ongoing review of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, what consideration it is giving to putting a professional system, such as the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England, in place for family courts in Scotland.
To ask the Scottish Government what process it will use to monitor the effectiveness of the pricing per unit of alcohol.
To ask the Scottish Government what response it has had from universities regarding the announcement that every institution will be provided with a toolkit to challenge violence on campus.
The Scottish Government was pleased to fund the development of a Toolkit for higher education institutions to develop coherent responses to tackling and eradicating violence against women and girls.
My Letter of Guidance to the Scottish Funding Council is clear about my expectation of institutions adopting and working with the Toolkit, which itself builds on good practice in the sector.
I am encouraged by the positive engagement that we have had from the sector through Universities Scotland on this issue.
To support the sector, both Universities and Colleges, I inaugurated a Working Group specifically to look at Equally Safe in Further and Higher Education.
I am pleased that the Sector is already demonstrating action.
Universities Scotland are taking the lead in working with stakeholders including the College Development Network, NUS Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid and UCU Scotland in developing Support Cards. Work is underway to have these ready by the start of the new academic year and they will contain key national helpline numbers.
Alongside this we are also working with stakeholders on how to make best use of Fresher’s week, parallel colleges arrangements, and beyond, to share information and raise awareness.
To ask the First Minister whether the UK Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill has been adequately amended to meet the approval of the Scottish Government.
From 12 March 2018 face-to-face lobbying conversations with MSPs must be registered on the Lobbying Register. Find out more at www.lobbying.scot.
Email our Public Information Service for more information.