Stephen Kerr

10 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to the public purse has been of supporting Ferguson Marine since 2019.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Ferguson Marine was brought into public ownership in 2019 to ensure completion of the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa vessels at Port Glasgow and to retain commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde. During that time, the Scottish Government has supported the business wi…

10 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reported findings from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) survey that 44% of teachers work the equivalent of an extra day each week.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government values the teaching profession and the important work that teachers do.We are clear that reducing teachers’ class contact time by 90 minutes per week will help address critical concerns around teacher workload, thereby creating t…

10 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has measured any return on investment at Prestwick Airport since it was brought into public ownership.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Government officials have commissioned an Economic Impact Assessment of the value delivered by our investment in Glasgow Prestwick Airport. As previously set out to Parliament, a market testing exercise evaluating the potential for returning the airp…

10 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of teachers currently have access to protected non-contact time within the working week.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: All teachers should have access to protected non class contact time as set out in the Scottish Negotiation Committee for Teachers Working Time Agreements. Appendix 2.18 - SNCT Handbook.

10 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it undertook with families in the Central Belt before proposing the transfer of neonatal care services to Aberdeen.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There is no proposal to transfer neonatal care services to Aberdeen. In July 2023 I announced that three hospitals in Scotland, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital would provide neonata…

10 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many road fatalities in 2023 occurred on single carriageway roads where dualling had previously been committed to.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government can respond in terms of where single carriageway trunk roads have been previously committed to being dualled. The Scottish Government cannot comment on any commitments made by Local Authorities to dual single carriageways roads on the …

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any safety risks associated with transferring mothers and premature babies over long distances for specialist neonatal care.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The transfer and repatriation of mother and babies is a normal component of neonatal care provision in Scotland, ensuring babies receive the most appropriate care at the correct time.The intention with the new model of care is that mothers in suspected extrem…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria were used in the reported decision not to include two NHS Scotland surgeons on its task and finish group for making recommendations on improving abortion care.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Task and Finish Group was established by the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland Planning and Delivery Board. In line with other Task and Finish Groups, NHS Board regional lead Chief Executives were asked to nominate regional representatives with a range…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it will reportedly not disclose the cost of the procurement process for the new Intercity rail fleet.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The procurement process for the replacement Intercity rail fleet is ongoing. Releasing any details related to the live procurement would substantially harm economic interests of ScotRail, thus affecting the Scottish Government’s ability to secure a good…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reverse Scotland’s reported decline in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings in maths, reading and science.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is important to acknowledge that PISA is one source of evidence amongst a broader set of data. Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (ACEL) 2023-24 data showed that ACEL levels for numeracy in primary and secondary schools were at their highest ever lev…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the Curriculum for Excellence on (a) numeracy and (b) literacy outcomes.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government invited the OECD to assess the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in primary and secondary schools in 2020. The OECD report Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence - Into the Future endorsed CfE as the right approach …

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that there is expert clinical representation on any of its panels tasked with making recommendations on abortion services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government values the input of clinicians in informing any recommendations regarding abortion services. The Scottish Government works closely with services through the Scottish Abortion Care Providers network in particular to identify contributor…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what environmental conditions or targets there are for the procurement of the new Intercity rail fleet.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Rail contributes just 1.2% to Scotland's total annual greenhouse gas emissions from transport, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly way of moving both people and heavy goods.Whilst there are no specific conditions or targets related to the futu…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many S4 pupils left school in the last academic year without any qualification at SCQF Level 5 or above.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In 2023-24 the vast majority (95.8%) of young people who left school at S4 achieved qualifications or units under the All SCQF measure. Less than 43.0% of S4 leavers left school without obtaining at least one qualification at SCQF Level 5 or above. However, m…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring transparency in rail procurement projects, in light of reports that it will not disclose the cost of the procurement process for the new Intercity rail fleet.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government and its subsidiaries apply the policies and principles set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) to any procurement, as well as adhering to Scottish Procurement legislation.I refer the Member to the answer to the question S6…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many senior officials have been involved in the Intercity rail fleet replacement project since 2023.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Investment of such scale is approved by the Investment Decision Making Board comprised of Directors and Chief Executive of Transport Scotland. The aforementioned senior officials have been involved in the project at various stages, as required.

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it is playing in resolving the reported pay dispute between local authorities and trade unions.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has no formal role in Local Government pay negotiations, although we recognise workers’ desire for an agreement to be reached between COSLA – as the employer – and trade unions as soon as possible. I have engaged clos…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it has in place to support local authority service delivery in the event of industrial action.

Answer · Shona Robison: Contingency planning in the event of industrial action is a matter for individual local authorities.In previous years, the Scottish Government has worked collaboratively with Local Government when needed to act in order to prevent industrial action.

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated in its Budget 2025-26 to (a) address school violence and (b) support staff wellbeing.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government remains committed to tackling school violence and supporting staff wellbeing.In 2025-26, we are providing over £2m to implement the Violence Prevention Framework, delivering actions including addressing youth violence, the carryi…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors compliance with confiscation orders, and whether this process is subject to independent audit.

Answer · Angela Constance: Where a confiscation order has been made by the court, payment of the order is supervised by the Court which imposed it.

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact any delayed discharges are having on (a) hospital capacity and (b) elective surgery cancellations.

Answer · Neil Gray: No one should remain in hospital when they no longer need to be there, and we are clear that the current level of delay is unacceptable. It is important to reflect that 97% of all hospital discharges happen without delay. The latest published statistics show …

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role the Scottish Funding Council has played in scrutinising the University of Edinburgh’s financial strategy.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has continued to monitor and assess the financial health (sustainability and viability) of universities, including Edinburgh, through regular engagement and analysis of financial returns, which universities are required to s…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, on average, what proportion of reported incidents of school violence currently result in disciplinary action.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as local authorities are responsible for the delivery of education. Local authorities may hold this information.

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many delayed discharges in 2024-25 were as a result of the lack of a care package, rather than a clinical reason.

Answer · Tom Arthur: A delayed discharge occurs when a hospital patient who is clinically ready for discharge from inpatient hospital care continues to occupy a hospital bed beyond the date they are ready for discharge. Information held nationally on delayed discharges can identi…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much in total has been spent since 2015 on initiatives aimed at reducing delayed discharge in hospitals.

Answer · Neil Gray: While the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and …

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legal or enforcement powers are available to ensure the payment of confiscation orders.

Answer · Angela Constance: Where payment is not made within the time permitted by the Court the case will be brought back before the Court at which time further enforcement to recover the outstanding balance will be considered. That may include, for example, the appointment of an admin…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that sufficient social care placements are available to prevent so-called bed-blocking as a result of delayed discharge.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Statutory responsibility for commissioning and delivering appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships. In doing so, they take account of local population needs which includes the number…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish new national guidance to support local authorities in managing pupil violence in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment guidance was published on 17 June.This non-statutory guidance aims to support schools to foster a positive, inclusive and safe school environment through their approaches to positive relationship…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any funds recovered through confiscation orders are returned to the affected communities in a timely manner.

Answer · Angela Constance: Recovered monies from confiscation orders are remitted to the Scottish Consolidated Fund which goes towards the Cashback for Communities Programme.The Scottish Government has committed £156m to the Programme since 2008, which supports young people at ri…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many confiscation orders issued prior to 2016 remain unpaid in full or in part.

Answer · Angela Constance: Data regarding confiscation orders is held by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). SCTS publish the Courts Data Scotland bulletin on a quarterly basis, which provides national level information on confiscation order penalties currently going back…