Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been waiting for over two years for an outpatient appointment.
Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes statistics on the length of time patients wait to be seen as a new outpatient or admitted for treatment as an inpatient or day case in the Stage of Treatment (SoT) publication. The latest publication release contains dat…
28 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason only 56.7% of inpatient or day case treatments were completed within 12 weeks of referral during the quarter ending March 2025.
Answer · Neil Gray: We must recognise that our health service has experienced unprecedented pressures over the past few years, including pandemic backlogs, staff shortages and the most difficult winter the NHS has ever faced, with the pausing of all non-emergency treatment inevi…
28 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring forward a revised financial memorandum to reflect the scaled-back care reform proposals for the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government’s supplementary Financial Memorandum, to reflect the scaled-back care reform proposals for the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, was published on the Health, Social Care & Sport Committee’s website on 25 March 2025.
28 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the tourism sector regarding any alternatives to the current model of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has had a range of discussions with a number of stakeholders regarding implementing the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, including on alternative models.
28 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate steps are being taken to reduce the number of patients who have been waiting for over two years for an outpatient appointment.
Answer · Neil Gray: We want patients to be treated as soon as possible. However, we know many are facing unacceptable waits and we are determined to do more. That is why we are targeting an additional £200 million to reduce waits and enhance capacity. Funding of £106…
27 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure there is equitable access to givinostat across all NHS boards while the Scottish Medicines Consortium reviews the drug.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37609 on 27 May 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/w…
27 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the implementation of early access to givinostat for eligible patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Answer · Jenni Minto: It is a matter for Health Boards to consider the implementation of any new medicine to meet the needs of their local population. However, in response to concerns raised regarding access to givinostat in Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary has met with the four he…
27 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding or support to NHS boards to help administer early access programmes for (a) givinostat and (b) other treatments for rare diseases.
Answer · Jenni Minto: It is a matter for individual Health Boards to consider the implementation of any new medicine to meet the needs of their local population, and they are responsible for funding new medicines from their local medicines budgets. However, the Scottish Government…
27 May 2025 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister, in light of it being almost five years since the Scottish Government committed to spending £60 million to renew every play park in Scotland and of reports that less than half of the funding has been spent, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that children do not mis…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, in what yearthe number of total jobs in operational phase (including direct, indirect andinduced impacts) falls to zero in the (a) Base Case, (b) Growth Case and (c)Full Potential scenario, as set out at page 203.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Our immediate priority is to capitalise on the near term opportunities set out in Project Willow, with a focus on bringing forward new jobs at Grangemouth as quickly as possible. The Grangemouth investment taskforce is delivering on this priority by working w…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what year it expects 500 jobs to have been created by the nine projects under Project Willow in the (a) Base Case, (b) Growth Case and (c) Full Potential scenario.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Project Willow sets out what could be possible at Grangemouth if the public and private sectors work together. Scottish Enterprise is triaging proposals from private sector developers and investors. As set out in their 2025- 2028 operating plan, Scottish Ente…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, how it plans to address the skills-related risks associated with the construction and operation of the Grangemouth site, as set out at page 184.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of skills provision to realising the potential of Project Willow, and to securing an industrial future for Grangemouth more widely. We are prioritising skills development through the Grangemouth Just Transitio…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, what assessment has been made of the (a) likelihood and (b) potential impact of any leakage of toxic substances resulting from Project 9 (E-ammonia), in light of the risk set out at page 175.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Any project developer will have to satisfy environmental and planning regulations throughout the project lifecycle.
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, what itsposition is on whether it is feasible to use approximately 240,000 hectares ofagricultural land for the production of cover crops for Project 6 (HEFA), asset out at page 124, and, if it considers it to be feasible, …
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is taking forward work to assess and further understand the policy recommendations set out in Project Willow. When available, we will update parliament of our conclusions.
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon and in relationto Project 4, how it plans to increase the production of Scottish softwood fromapproximately 6.2 Mtpa in 2023 to approximately 10.1 Mtpa by 2040, as set outat page 88 of the report.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forest Research publishes production forecasts every 5 years for softwood availability in Scotland and the UK. The most recent forecast, published in 2022, estimates that over 8 million cubic metres (m3) of softwood is currently available annually in Scotland…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement at page 21 of the detailed Project Willow report byEY-Parthenon that "across all scenarios, the direct GVA impact in totalacross projects is negative", how it plans to keep the nine projectsidentified in the Project Willow report operational.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Enterprise and UK Office for Investment have established the Grangemouth Investor taskforce which is focussed on identifying and attracting investment in the proposals outlined in Project Willow, with a particular focus on opportunities that the …
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, what Governmentdecisions that are to be made before the end of 2025 in respect of Project (a)5, (b) 6, (c) 7, (d) 8 and (e) 9 are being referred to at page 44.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is working with developers and investors alongside Scottish Enterprise as part of the Investment Taskforce to identify any barriers to the deployment of projects at Grangemouth, including near term funding challenges as well as longer …
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37624 by Kate Forbes on 22 May 2025, andin light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, what itsposition is on whether Regional Growth Deals are necessary to enable thedelivery of the nine projects identified in the Project Willow re…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Project Willow sets out a truly transformative future for Grangemouth and will be possible if the public and private sectors work together. The current 10 year Deal was signed in November 2024, so our focus is on delivering the Growth Deal, which commits &pou…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, what itsposition is on whether the A9 dualling project is necessary to enable thedelivery of the nine projects identified in the Project Willow report.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Dualling of the A9 will improve connectivity of the Highlands with the Central Belt of Scotland, reducing journey times and improving journey time reliability. Whilst dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness is likely to support delivery of some of the …
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the detailed Project Willow report by EY-Parthenon, whether theScottish National Investment Bank will provide investment to fill the gaps inprivate finance requiring state support set out at page 39; if so, how muchwill be invested, and what it will be invested in.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Bank makes commercial investments in businesses or projects in line with the three strategic missions set for it by Scottish Ministers:Achieving a Just Transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2045Extending equality of opportunity through improving plac…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to speed up grid connections for projects in Grangemouth, in light of the recommendations in the Project Willow report.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Reforms to electricity transmission infrastructure and grid capacity reforms are reserved to the UK Government. We welcome the UK Government’s mission to accelerate development of grid infrastructure to deliver Clean Power by 2030. Actions to increase c…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what wholesale power market price reforms it plans to introduce, in light of the recommendations in the Project Willow report.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The power to undertake reforms to the wholesale market is reserved to the UK Government.The Scottish Government has been consistently been clear with successive UK Governments, NESO, Ofgem and industry that reforms must reduce costs for Scottish consumers, en…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what studies for cover crop viability it plans to support, in light of the recommendation in the Project Willow report.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We will update parliament in due course on the progress made against the recommendations set out in Project Willow.
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to promote modern forestry methods, in light of the recommendations in the Project Willow report.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry in Scotland is guided by the principles of sustainable forestry management set out in the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) requirements and guidelines and must also operate within the legal requirements regarding biodiversity and wider environmental impac…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to introduce to increase plastic collection and aggregation across Scotland, as recommended in the Project Willow report.
Answer · Gillian Martin: This year Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) will commence payments to local authorities to support efficient and effective collection services for household packaging waste. There will be no reduction in the local government finance settle…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs there are projected to be in 2060 under the (a) Base and (b) Growth Case scenario outlined in Project Willow.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Our immediate priority is to capitalise on the near term opportunities set out in Project Willow, with a focus on bringing forward new jobs at Grangemouth as quickly as possible. The Grangemouth investment taskforce is delivering on this priority by working w…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what accountability mechanisms are in place to monitor the delivery and impact of its Just Transition plans on energy workers.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of accountability in relation to our plans for a just transition. This is why we established the Just Transition Commission in 2019 to advise on and scrutinise our journey to net zero.The Commission has publis…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Just Transition Commission regarding the potential loss of thousands of jobs.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: We welcome this report from the Just Transition Commission. I set out the Scottish Government response to this report in my ministerial statement on Tuesday 3 June, confirming that we accept the headline recommendations in principle. Ahead of further just tra…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported 600% increase in serious assaults by teenagers over the last five years.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-04747 on 4 June 2025 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parl…
26 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the recording of biological sex by public bodies is necessary for (a) accurate crime statistics and (b) public transparency.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government strongly supports the production of accurate statistics, based on the transparent recording of information. In terms of crime-related Official statistics in Scotland, it is a matter for relevant public bodies that collect information o…