Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason only 2% of victims were reportedly notified through the Victim Notification Scheme of the early release of prisoners in summer 2024.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The Scottish Government’s Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) in Scotland is an opt-in scheme, which affords victims the right to dec…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding potentially expanding the recently announced inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales to include Scotland.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The UK Government has made clear that the scope of it’s inquiry into grooming gang activity is limited to England and Wales. Scottish Government officials have met with UK Government officials to discuss the UK Government’s response to Baroness Ca…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether an estimated £6 billion annual cost for a minimum income guarantee would be fiscally sustainable.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We thank the independent Expert Group for their dedication and expertise in drawing together a proposal for a Minimum Income Guarantee in Scotland. We will take time to consider their recommendations and the research that was published alongside, in light of …
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will rule out using income generated from any new or increased taxation to fund a minimum income guarantee.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have no plans to change tax policy in Scotland to finance a Minimum Income Guarantee. As part of Scotland's Tax Strategy, the Scottish Government has committed to exploring the reforms needed to continue to deliver sustainable and growing tax revenues in t…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners convicted of violent offences were released under the early release scheme between February and March 2025.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS have proactively shared the data analysis for those released under the early release scheme between February and March 2025, and the…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Public Service Reform Strategy and plans to reduce costs by £1 billion, whether it will identify the areas in which savings can be made without impacting on frontline services.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is committed to delivering sustainable public services that continue to meet the needs of the people of Scotland. As set out in our Public Service Reform Strategy: Delivering for Scotland (June 2025), our approach to achieving £1…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs it estimates have been lost in Scotland due to its policy against the building of new nuclear power stations under current technologies.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested and has not had any recent discussions with the UK Government regarding Scotland's participation in the nuclear energy programme.The Scottish Government has been clear that it does not support th…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many buses have been ordered by Transport Scotland or the Scottish Government from manufacturers in China in the past five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Neither Transport Scotland nor the Scottish Government have ordered any buses in the past five years.Since 2020, Transport Scotland has supported the Scottish bus sector with over £150 million of grant funding to support operating companies to acquire 8…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners released early in 2024 had convictions for (a) violent or antisocial behaviour and (b) crimes against women.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS have proactively shared the data analysis for those released early in 2024, and the full breakdown can be accessed on our website he…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Scotland’s participation in the nuclear energy programme, which was announced in the UK Spending Review 2025.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38932 on 22 July 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Grangemouth, how many of the 80 reported investment approaches have been formally progressed.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Enterprise continues to work at pace to triage enquiries and identify a route forward for viable proposals at Grangemouth, with a focus on how the public sector might be able to support the deployment of near term propositions. Ministers are receivin…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which of its departments or directorates are being considered for (a) closure, (b) consolidation and (c) staffing reductions under the recently announced £1 billion annual savings plan for public services.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Public Service Reform Strategy sets out a clear direction for modernising how we work, with workforce transformation at its core. It supports a shift in operating models, with a focus on efficiency, collaboration, and protecting frontline delivery, and wi…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the full terms of all grants and funding arrangements made to Alexander Dennis since 2010.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not issued any direct grants to Alexander Dennis since 2010. Grants issued to Alexander Dennis Ltd by Scottish Enterprise are an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, who will be able to provide further information upon reque…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the role of nuclear energy in supporting industrial growth and reducing energy costs.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38932 on 22 July 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards exist to ensure that victims and the courts are aware of an offender’s full history in gender identity cases.
Answer · Angela Constance: Victims are not provided, in whole or in part, the criminal record of any offender in the context of a prosecution.Prosecutors may present an accused person’s previous convictions to the court for specific purposes, including the consideration of bail a…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions for group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse there have been since 2010.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.The Scottish Government publishes data on individuals prosecuted and convicted in Scottish courts in the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistical bulletin. Although this data set includes information …
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Alexander Dennis and NFI Group regarding the company's reported proposed relocation of manufacturing to England.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government, both Ministers and officials, are in regular contact with Alexander Dennis. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister spoke with Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) and NFI Group on 25 May and met with them on 5 June. The Cabinet Secretary …
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an economic impact assessment of its policy against the building of new nuclear power stations under current technologies.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38932 on 22 July 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported decision to provide medical aid to Ukraine for civilian use only was signed off by the First Minister or a cabinet secretary, and whether it will publish any related decision-making record.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The decision to approve the donation of the surplus NHS Scotland medical supplies to Ukraine was made jointly by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and myself. The submission, dated 18 September 2024, was released under FOI/202500451642. The tra…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic impact on Falkirk, Larbert and the surrounding region of the reported decision by Alexander Dennis to cease bus manufacturing.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) is a significant employer in Scotland and its operations at Falkirk and Larbert support a highly valuable supply chain. That is why the Scottish Government is working with the company to explore every possible option to retain b…
23 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will launch an independent public inquiry into the operation of grooming gangs in Scotland.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government will give every consideration to the need for an independent public inquiry into the operation of “grooming gangs” in Scotland, should it be deemed necessary following the completion of evidence-gathering activities current…
17 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason medical supplies were sent to Ukraine with a condition that they be used for civilian purposes only.
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Business and Employment met representatives of PetroChina during his visit to Beijing on 9 April 2025, and, if so, for what reason, and what the outcomes of the meeting were.
Answer · Gillian Martin: On 9 April, the Minister for Business and Employment met the vice president of PetroChina and the China National Petroleum Cooperation to discuss our shared ambitions for the future of the Grangemouth refinery site. It was agreed that the Scottish Government …
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37224 by Ivan McKee on 13 May 2025, what the average desk occupancy was for each of its offices from January to December 2024.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government can only provide data on those buildings where its own data systems are in place. Some locations have landlord data systems in place and the Scottish Government does not have access to that data.Average occupancy levels are shown in th…
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total lease cost is for its offices at (a) Tankerness Lane, Kirkwall, (b) Longman House, Inverness, (c) Marine Scotland (Eyemouth), (d) Marine Scotland (Peterhead), (e) St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, (f) Cadzow Court, Hamilton and (g) 4 Atlantic Quay, Gla…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Tankerness Lane, Kirkwall; Longman House, Inverness; St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh and Cadzow Court, Hamilton are all owned under the core Scottish Government core estate.The lease at 4 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow expired on 14 July 2024. Therefore, there are…
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37224 by Ivan McKee on 13 May 2025, what the annual running cost was for each of its offices from January to December 2024.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The following table shows the annual total running costs for each of the leased Scottish Government offices as per the response to question S6W-37224. These figures include all associated costs for running each office building and cover January to December 20…
12 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the total cost of all public inquiries in each year since 2015.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Public inquiries are independent of the Scottish Government. Publication of information on costs is a matter for each individual inquiry and its Chair, and is typically done via their website. For inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005 there is a …
12 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns of the Scottish Police Federation that public inquiries are having a "detrimental impact" on policing.
Answer · Angela Constance: As Public Inquiries are independent of Ministers, it is for the Chair to direct how an Inquiry carries out its duties whilst being mindful of their responsibilities under section 17(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 to avoid unnecessary costs.The operation of Poli…
12 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ringfence any Barnett consequential funding relating to winter fuel spending in England and Wales for the support of pensioners in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: Under the Fiscal Framework with the UK Government, the Block Grant Adjustment for Social Security will be increased to reflect the costs related to the UK Government's changes to eligibility to the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales. The Scottish Govern…
12 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect households from any cold-call scams linked to green energy grants.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Consumer Scotland, as the statutory independent consumer body in Scotland, has responsibility for overseeing scams prevention and awareness work. In addition, the Scottish Government funds a post in Trading Standards Scotland to help minimise the scale and im…