Stephen Kerr

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a breakdown of running costs for each of its buildings in which average desk occupancy fell below 50% in the last year.

Answer · Ivan McKee: No. This information is not proactively published. Information on running costs for Scottish Government buildings has been previously provided, under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many violent incidents involving pupils have been recorded across each local authority in the current academic year.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Information on the number of violent incidents involving pupils is not held centrally.Some information is available on physical assaults have either resulted in, or contributed to, the exclusion of a pupil. The latest data available is for school year 2022-23…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions have been brought for breaches of mandatory catch-and-release rules since their introduction, and how many convictions there were.

Answer · Angela Constance: The relevant legislation in this context is the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016, which outlines the areas where the retention of salmon is prohibited, meaning catch and release is mandatory when fishing for salmon in these areas.There were …

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in response to the 2025 conservation assessment, which suggested that 72% of Scotland’s rivers are now classed as “poor” for wild salmon.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We recognise that wild salmon populations are now at crisis point in Scotland. Although the pattern of decline is repeated across the salmon’s North Atlantic range, caused at least in part by the effect of climate change on survival during its marine ph…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current level of office occupancy across its estate represents value for money.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government core estate is under review to allow us to plan for affordable, inclusive, accessible, modern, secure, energy efficient buildings of the right size to meet our changing needs and net zero ambitions, as well as to ensure best value for …

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly spent £2.67 million on office buildings, in light of reports that occupancy rates in some have been as low as 20%.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The fixed facilities management contract running costs of Scottish Government buildings focus on ensuring buildings are operational, compliant and secure in line with our building management responsibilities. The costs cannot be varied with changing occupancy…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost-effectiveness of continuing to maintain large office buildings such as Victoria Quay, St Andrew’s House and Saughton House, in light of their reportedly low average desk occupancy.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government estate is under review to allow us to plan for affordable, inclusive, accessible, modern, secure, energy efficient buildings of the right size to meet our changing needs and net zero ambitions, as well as to ensure best value for taxpa…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which ministers were involved in taking the decision to disband its constitutional futures division.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Management decisions on the detail of Scottish Government staff resourcing and divisional structures, to ensure the right capacity and capability to deliver Ministerial priorities, are primarily a matter for the Civil Service.

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the main reasons are for the highest S4 school leaver numbers in more than a decade, in light of recent statistics for 2023-24.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While the percentage of school leavers in S4 remains unchanged in 2023-24 from the previous year at 14.4%, we acknowledge the importance of understanding the factors influencing early school leaving.After a rise last year, the Scottish Government have been ex…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the decision was reached to disband its constitutional futures division.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Constitutional Futures Division (CFD) was established to take forward the government’s commitment to providing the people of Scotland with information about independence through the development of the Building a New Scotland (BANS) series of papers.…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is responsible for any increase in the number of pupils leaving school at 16 years old.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This government has overseen a long period of sustained improvement in S4 Leaver positive initial destinations from 78.4% in 2010 to 91.9% in 2024. We are however not complacent and recognise the proportion of S4 leavers in positive initial destinations has d…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to concerns raised by NHS doctors about a reported increase in the number of A&E admissions resulting from failed cosmetic procedures carried out by unqualified individuals.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware of concerns that have been raised on this important matter. We ran a consultation between December 2024 and February 2025, to seek views on how best to further regulate non-surgical cosmetics procedures. Over 2200 responses we…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on staffing the constitutional futures division between 2019 and its disbandment.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government established a small team of civil servants in the months following the publication of the 2019 Programme for Government until 18 March 2020 which had work to update Scotland’s Future as part of its remit. We cannot provide you wi…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any civil servants are still working full or part time on independence-related work, and, if so, how many, and in which directorates they are based.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has set out its commitment to giving people information about independence. Across the Scottish Government, a range of civil servants provide input to developing and communicating this information. We do not routinely record details of…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing a legal entitlement to return to school for pupils who leave early and later change their minds.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all young people have access to education and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Schools and Local Authorities are responsible for admissions to school and therefore can allow pupils to rejoin scho…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted to determine the impact of careers advice services on the reported increasing number of early school leavers.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has not conducted analysis to determine the impact of career advice services on the reported increase in the number of early school leavers.We are continuing to work collaboratively with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and other part…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will follow the example of England in prohibiting under-18s from receiving non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as fillers and Botox

Answer · Jenni Minto: Age restrictions for non-surgical cosmetic procedures are one of a number of issues that are being considered as part of our wider consultation on how best to further regulate non-surgical cosmetics procedures in Scotland.In addition to the consultation, we w…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish any further independence-related papers in the series Building a New Scotland.

Answer · Angus Robertson: As already stated, the Scottish Government will publish further material on independence to give the people of Scotland the information they need to make an informed choice about their constitutional future.

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that care staff who are working with children and young people do not feel pressured into affirming identities or behaviours that may lead to irreversible medical decisions.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: All social care workers are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and are therefore subject to their fitness to practise rules and requirements. Social care practice is clearly complex and it is for employers and the regulator to assess whether…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendation by the Care Inspectorate, in its Guidance for children and young people’s services on the inclusion of transgender including non-binary young people, to “Use gender-inclusive language, such as ‘come on everybody’ instead …

Answer · Maree Todd: As the Care Inspectorate is an independent non-departmental body, it operates at arm’s length from Government. The Care Inspectorate therefore issues its own guidance independently from the Scottish Government to maintain its role as an impartial and ob…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to the Care Inspectorate in relation to children in care and the protection of biological sex-based rights.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As an independent non-departmental body, the Care Inspectorate operates at arm’s length from Government and issues its own guidance independently from the Scottish Government to maintain its role as an impartial and objective regulator.

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Care Inspectorate's Guidance for children and young people’s services on the inclusion of transgender including non-binary young people is compatible with the value of free speech.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As the Care Inspectorate is an independent non-departmental body, it operates at arm’s length from Government. The Care Inspectorate issues its own guidance independently from the Scottish Government to maintain its role as an impartial and objective re…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that any ideological language or policies do not undermine the professional judgment of staff working with vulnerable young people.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There are a range of approaches in place which support the prevention of harm to vulnerable young people by those who work with them.If an organisation has employees or volunteers doing a regulated role, it has a legal duty to report harmful behaviour to Disc…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been disciplined or prosecuted in connection with receiving contraband delivered by drones in the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS do not record this information. SPS’ Disciplinary Hearings guidance does not provide a specific ‘breach of discipline&rs…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering introducing no-fly zones, jamming equipment, or other deterrent technologies around the prison estate.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Aviation and airspace remains a reserved matter for the UK government, however I am aware that Officials in Scottish Government are enga…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of drone incursions into prison grounds have been recorded in each of the past five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:There has been a total of 168 confirmed drone incidents within the SPS estate from 1 January 2021 - 31 March 2025.The following table pr…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to enhance drone detection and interception capabilities across the prison estate.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer to the question S6O-04558 on 23 April 2025. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available o…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with (a) the UK Government, (b) Police Scotland and (c) aviation authorities to develop a joint strategy for addressing drone threats to prison security.

Answer · Angela Constance: Aviation and airspace are reserved matters.The Scottish Government is currently engaging with the Ministry for Justice on no fly-zone regulations across prisons. Considerations about extending regulations in place in England and Wales to Scotland are ongoing.…

14 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measurable progress has been made towards a"reset" of the public sector, as referenced by the Deputy FirstMinister on 31 May 2022.

Answer · Shona Robison: Improving public services and delivering a more efficient, effective and appropriately sized public sector workforce is a key priority for this government.We published a detailed update to Finance and Public Administration Committee on 19 December 2023 settin…

14 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of its civil servants are currently working remotely on a full-time basis.

Answer · Shona Robison: The latest published workforce statistics show 9,349 Staff within SG Core as at December 2024 Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot. 85 staff of the total 9,349 have a home working contract.However, in a number of cases this may be because of a…