Stephen Kerr

13 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been allocated to the (a) University of Strathclyde and (b) Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights for the establishment of the Anti Racism Observatory for Scotland.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: A total of £2,826,472.75 over two years has been allocated to the University of Strathclyde (who submitted a bid in partnership with the Coalition of Racial Equality and Rights) to host and support the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland.

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of potential job losses in the north east that could result from a possible “presumption against new exploration for oil and gas", as set out in its Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Decisions on offshore oil and gas licensing, as well as on consenting and the associated fiscal regime, are matters currently reserved to the UK Government.The Scottish Government is clear in its own support for a just transition for Scotland’s valued o…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of what the risk of legal challenge would be for any public bodies that continue to apply policies of gender self-identification in relation to access to single-sex spaces.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: All public bodies must comply with the law. It is not for the Scottish Government to direct public bodies in matters relating to compliance with reserved matters in the Equality Act 2010, for which the EHRC is the regulator and enforcer.Public bodies and serv…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is acceptable for different parts of the public sector to apply different policies regarding access to single-sex facilities.  

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: It is not for the Scottish Government to issue immediate instructions or temporary guidance to public bodies or services, and we are not responsible for monitoring or enforcing compliance with the Equality Act 2010. That is the statutory role of the Equality …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent steps it is taking in light of reports that nearly one in five people abandoned their call to NHS 24 in 2024. 

Answer · Neil Gray: Calls to the 111 service can go unanswered for a variety of reasons, including callers choosing to end their call after being connected to the automated messaging service and hearing the options available to them – including an NHS 24 callback service d…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported findings from a survey by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce that more than two thirds of voters want the UK and Scottish governments to adopt a "pragmatic, domestic-first approach" to energy.  

Answer · Gillian Martin: Offshore oil and gas licensing, as well as consenting and the associated fiscal regime, are all matters that are currently reserved to the UK Government.The Scottish Government has been clear in our commitment to achieving net zero by 2045. Any further extrac…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any risk to patient safety from reported delays of up to four hours in NHS 24 call answering.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS 24 have robust practices in place to ensure patient safety is paramount and that the appropriate procedures are in place for assessing risk.Scottish Government monitor the performance of NHS 24 and regularly engage with the service to discuss performance …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the British Medical Association (BMA) about any clinical risk associated with reported delays in NHS 24 services.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government have had no recent discussions with the British Medical Association (BMA) regarding clinical risks associated with NHS 24 services.

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance or negotiations it has undertaken with COSLA to reduce teacher class contact time.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing class contact time, and we will continue to explore with COSLA and the teacher unions, through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), how best to deliver this commitment.Local Government a…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities are delivering additional support needs support to a consistent national standard.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The intention behind the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is that we have an inclusive approach to Education with a needs-led approach in Scotland.The Scottish Government remains committed to the inclusive approach to meeting th…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not implemented its 2021 commitment to reduce teacher class contact time to 21 hours per week.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Implementation of the reduction of class contact time requires agreement through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing class contact time, and we will continue to work with COSLA and the t…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any costing or modelling has been done to deliver its commitment to reduce teacher class contact time. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government commissioned Pupil projections and implications for teacher resourcing needs: education workforce modelling and research, which was published on 7 May 2024. This independent research has informed our engagement with partners on the com…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its proposed timetable is for legislation to reform additional support needs provision.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is working closely with our local government partners to improve the experience of children and young people with additional support needs at school, implementing the recommendations of the 2020 review of additional support for learnin…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional support needs staff are currently employed in schools, and how this compares with demand.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Statistics on 'additional support needs teachers’ are published in the teacher census supplementary statistics. This is available on the Scottish government website here Teacher census supplementary statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).In addition, stat…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS 24 is meeting its statutory and clinical obligations to members of the public. 

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government monitor the performance of NHS 24 and regularly engage with the service to discuss any performance related issues. We are satisfied that the Service continue to meet their statutory and clinical obligations and are committed to continuing …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance or oversight it has provided to the SQA on how to assess compassionate or exceptional circumstances in relation to appeals.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37627 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-commit…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported decision by the SQA to not approve over 90% of exam appeals made on the grounds of bereavement.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Decisions in relation to Exceptional Circumstances and Appeals services for the National Qualifications are an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).Figures quoted in a recent media article related to SQA’s Exam Exceptional …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that any future phase ofCity and Regional Growth Deals is not hampered by what have reportedly beendescribed by some MSPs on the Economy and Fair Work Committee as “slow andoverly bureaucratic processes."

Answer · Kate Forbes: We are working with the UK Government to consider options to potentially streamline Growth Deal governance whilst continuing to ensure a level of scrutiny appropriate to the £3.4 billion of public funding we are collectively investing in the programme. …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any formal requests from the UK Government for collaboration on a second phase of Scottish City and Regional Growth Deals.

Answer · Kate Forbes: There have been no formal requests from the UK Government for collaboration on a second phase of Scottish City and Regional Growth Deals at this time.

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reform governance arrangements for growth deals to ensure greater transparency and accountability to local communities.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We have put a number of measures in place to ensure transparency and accountability in the Growth Deals.The activities supported by Regional Growth Deals are designed by Local Authorities in consultation with the communities they serve. The decision-making st…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many representations it has received from parents, schools and MSPs in the last five years regarding bereavement-based appeals not being accepted by the SQA.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37627 on 27 May 2025.The following table sets out any representations that officials have identified as being received by the Scottish Government referencing bereavement-based exceptional circumstances or appea…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of funding it expects to commit to growth deals in the next financial year, and how this funding will be distributed regionally.

Answer · Kate Forbes: In financial year 2025-26, City and Regional Growth Deals have a combined budget of £215 million. We are working with individual deals to finalise allocations for the year ahead, aligned with the anticipated profile for programme delivery. We expect to …

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ensuring that the small business sector is given a formal role in the design and delivery of any future growth deals.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has no current plans for any future growth deals. We encourage all local authorities responsible for the design and delivery of growth deals to consult the communities they serve in shaping the Growth Deal programmes. This includes the…

12 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the economic outcomes achieved through the first round of City and Regional Growth Deals.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Each Deal is required to produce a Benefits Realisation Plan setting both quantitative and qualitative objectives and measures for the programme. Each Deal produces an annual report detailing progress made on the delivery of agreed projects and programmes and…

7 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to roll out stroke thrombectomy services on a 24/7 basis across the country.

5 May 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it will take to address the reported failure by NHS boards to publish significant adverse event reviews related to mother and baby deaths in hospitals.

2 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, whether it will provide the (a) office seating capacity and (b) annual running cost of each building (i) 4 Atlantic Quay (Glasgow), (ii) 5 Atlantic Quay (Glasgow), (iii) Bothwell House (Hamilton), (iv) Cadzow Court (Hamilton), (v) Compass House (Dundee), (vi) Denholm House (Livingston),…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The information requested is set out in the following table:OfficeSeating capacityAnnual running cost (2024-25)4 Atlantic Quay (Glasgow) 1670£51,465.415 Atlantic Quay (Glasgow)764£1,507,095.13Bothwell House (Hamilton) 212£13,708.11Cadzow Cou…

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many formal (a) warnings, (b) notices and (c) interventions regarding suicide risks linked to infrastructure in mental health units have been issued since 2022, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Maree Todd: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it is not held centrally.

27 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many public body equal pay claims are outstanding, and what assessment it has made of the financial implications of these.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The information requested is not routinely gathered or held centrally by the Scottish Government. Any outstanding liabilities to settle equal pay claims will be reflected in a public body's annual accounts. Information of this nature can be obtained by approa…

27 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34000 by Angela Constance on 7 February 2025, and in light of the recent judgment by the Supreme Court on the legal definition of  "woman”, whether it plans to publish a bill to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Misogy…

Answer · Angela Constance: As set out in answer to question S6W-37425, which was answered on 2 May 2025, due to the short amount of time left in this parliamentary session, there is insufficient time for a Misogyny Bill to be finalised and introduced. Therefore, the Scottish Government…