Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of each emergency service's vehicles currently carry a defibrillator.
Answer · Maree Todd: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The emergency services may be able to provide this information.
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in each of the last five financial years with Dance Ireland, and for what purpose.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has spent a total of £2,577.32 in the last 5 financial years with Dance Ireland for the purpose of Supporting Dance Ireland/ Dance base Exchange Programme. £2,577.32 in Financial Year 2024-25 is the only expenditure.Financi…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in each of the last five financial years with the group, Total Politics, and for what purpose.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has spent a total of £25,082.4 in the last 5 financial years with Total Politics for the purpose of Women into Leadership conference tickets and training events. £10,752 in Financial Year 24-25 and £14,330.40 in 25-26…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, how it quantified the social value of maintaining established communities and preventing potentially distressing uncertainty ag…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the opportunity to purchase these homes and concluded that it was a strategic priority – taking into account the potential risk of homelessness to the tenants in-situ, the proposed p…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, what is the total purchase price for the properties.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The proposed total purchase price for the properties by Fife Council is expected to be £3.333 million which includes a discount on the home report valuation. This is based on information provided to date ahead of finalisation of the purchase by Fife Cou…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, whether its £2 million contribution to the purchase is part of a new national policy of government-funded buyou…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the situation and took a strategic decision to redirect Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) (2026-27) funds in Fife to purchase these homes. Due to funding commitments for other pro…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, whether it will provide information on how its £2 million contribution was determined, and whether there are fu…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the situation and took a strategic decision to redirect Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) (2026-27) funds in Fife to purchase these homes. Fife Council requested AHSP grant fundin…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, how does the purchase price compare with the price Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited paid to Wemyss Estates …
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, and in light of a Fife councillor reportedly describing this intervention as "stepping in at the right time", what specifi…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As the strategic housing authority for the area, Fife Council assessed the situation and took a strategic decision to redirect Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) (2026-27) funds in Fife to purchase these homes. Due to funding commitments for other pro…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its joint purchase with Fife Council of 26 homes from Torah Capital Limited and TC CAPS3 Limited across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath, what assessment it has made of the number of additional households that could have been supported through existing na…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Grant awards for projects supported with grant through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) for social rent will vary across Scotland based on a number of factors such as tenure, location, property type, property size, client group and a range of ot…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what records it holds of any communications between the First Minister’s office and the Scottish National Party headquarters in March 2020 regarding COVID-19 public messaging, including messaging on panic buying, supermarket shortages or public behaviour.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government holds no records of any communication between the First Minister’s office and the Scottish National Party headquarters in March 2020 regarding Covid-19 public messaging, including on panic buying, supermarket shortages or public …
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any internal advice or briefing material provided to ministers before 9 March 2020 relating to panic buying, supermarket shortages or supply-chain pressures was marked “official-sensitive”, or subject to similar classification markings or handling restrictions, and, i…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Ministers did not receive any internal advice or briefing marked “official sensitive”, or a similar classification marking, before 9 March 2020 relating to panic buying, supermarket shortages or supply-chain pressures.
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any information marked “official-sensitive”, or subject to similar classification markings or handling restrictions, relating to COVID-19 public messaging, panic buying, supermarket shortages or supply-chain pressures was shared by it with the Scottish National Party …
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no record of information marked “official sensitive”, or of a similar classification marking or handling restrictions, relating to Covid-19 public messaging, panic buying, supermarket shortages or supply-chain pressures being shared with …
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance was in place in March 2020 regarding ministers, special advisers and officials sharing internal COVID-19 briefing material, lines to take or public messaging plans with individuals outside government, including political party staff or officials.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In March 2020, external sharing of any information including, briefings, plans and communication lines to take was governed by the general Information Governance Policies and Guidance in place for the Scottish Government at the time. These included the Record…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many students (a) began studying for nursing qualifications and (b) completed those qualifications, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The number of students who began undergraduate nursing programmes (entrants) and the number of students who completed undergraduate nursing programmes (qualifiers) at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Scotland in the last five years are as follows:Acade…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many newly qualified nurses started to work in NHS Scotland in each of the last five financial years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The following table shows the number of individuals entering the NHS Scotland workforce following completion of pre-registration education (headcount), by sub job family. Midwifery is included for completeness alongside nursing sub job families. Figures may b…
27 May 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it will take to help ensure clear and transparent sentencing.
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment on 13 November 2025 to introduce legislation against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) "at the next legislative opportunity" and the subsequent pledge in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to introduce anti-SLAPP legislation,…
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government remains committed to taking action against strategic lawsuits against public participation. We are considering proposals for legislation in light of responses to the recent consultation. At this time the forward legislative programme f…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public money has been spent by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland on employment settlements, legal advice and associated employment dispute costs in each of the last five financial years.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Information on how much money the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) has spent on employment settlement agreements (taken to mean a contract entered into by employer and employee to resolve an employment dispute); associated legal advice; and settl…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will direct the Scottish Prison Service to revise its maternity and parental leave policy to restore explicit references to women, mothers, pregnancy and stillbirth.
Answer · Neil Gray: I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS’ Maternity and Parenting policy was last reviewed in partnership with trade unions in April 2026. It applies to all staff who ar…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will proceed with an appeal against the proposed Category A-listed status of HMP Barlinnie, and what impact assessment has been undertaken regarding any effect on prison redevelopment plans.
Answer · Neil Gray: I have asked Linda Pollock, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS welcome and value the continued interest in HMP Barlinnie and we recognise its historic significance, however we believe that a more p…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party 2026 manifesto commitment to make the changes necessary to existing legislation to implement domestic abuse protection orders, when it plans to implement these orders.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing Part 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 despite the complex operational challenges that have been identified.In March 2025 the former Minister for Victims and Community Safety out…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people with diabetes have lost access to insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring and related technology in each of the last five years and for what reasons.
Answer · Maree Todd: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. In 2026-27 we have added £14.4 million to the record £17.6 billion of core funding to Health Boards to ensure that the ongoing costs of consumables for people currently us…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party 2026 manifesto commitment to legislate to increase the use of football banning orders, when it plans to introduce the relevant legislation.
Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government Football Banning Order consultation opened on 1 December 2025 and closed on 23 February 2026. There have been over 900 responses to that consultation, the results of which will be published shortly and will inform legislation.
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the Scottish National Party 2026 manifesto commitment to bring forward a misogyny bill to outlaw harassment and abuse based on misogyny, when it plans to introduce this bill.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has committed to bring forward legislation to criminalising misogynistic harassment and abuse in Scotland. As is standard practice, we will set out the timetable for the upcoming legislative programme in due course.
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently in receipt of Adult Disability Payment where anxiety is recorded as the principal qualifying condition, broken down by (a) age, (b) sex and (c) local authority area.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland regularly publishes statistics on Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 January 2026 - Social Security Scotland.However, information on the number of people in receipt of Adult Disability Payment where anxiety is recorded as the p…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people experiencing anxiety receive timely access to mental health treatment and employability support rather than long-term welfare dependency.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises that anxiety can impact people’s ability to enter and sustain employment, and is committed to ensuring timely, joined up support that improves wellbeing and enables access to fair work. Our social security system takes…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party 2026 manifesto commitment to roll out bleed kits to community settings and public areas including high schools, supermarkets, community centres and parks, when it plans to implement this commitment.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s public health approach to violence has prevention at its core and our focus is aimed at preventing and reducing harm for people in Scotland’s communities.My heartfelt condolences go to Lisa Petrie for the heartbreaking lo…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal action has been taken against any contractors or suppliers involved in the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in relation to reports of defective materials or workmanship.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00360 on 8 June 2026. 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/w…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party 2026 manifesto commitment to establish a specialist sexual offences court, when it expects the court to be operational.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Sexual Offences Court was legislated for as part of the landmark Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. The Act makes a range of significant reforms to the justice system to deliver meaningful improvements for victims and witnesses. I…