Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the total number of its civil servants in pay grades C1, C2 and C3 has reportedly increased by 152% since 2016.
Answer · Shona Robison: Historically, a range of factors, including newly devolved responsibilities such as establishing Social Security, EU Exit, and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, are behind the growth in the workforce.UK Civil Service grew its directly employed FTE by 7.4…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of any increase in the total cost of itscivil service since 2016 is accounted for by increases in (a) headcount and (b)salary levels.
Answer · Shona Robison: The cost of the Scottish Governments Directly employed workforce rose from £239M in 2015-16 to £623M in 2023-24 - An increase of 161%.Scottish Government Directly employed Workforce Costs (£K) 2015-162023-24Grand Total238,680622,581Sour…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants it currently employs, broken down by directorate, and how this compares with staffing levels in 2016.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish government publish official workforce statistics on a quarterly basis.The latest available data, which is for December 2024 and includes a times series back to March 2012 is available here Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot.The …
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the annual cost of its civil service has reportedly risen to almost £470 million, and what steps it is taking to address this.
Answer · Shona Robison: This response relates to Scottish Government Core workforce.Historically, a range of factors, including newly devolved responsibilities such as establishing Social Security, EU Exit, and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, are behind the growth in the work…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many secondary schools are currently rated as posing a (a) moderate and (b) high risk to life safety in the event of a fire.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, therefore, the Scottish Government does not hold this information.Schools do not generally fall into high-risk to persons from fire, due to their numbers of access and egre…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the productivity of civil servants working remotelyhas been formally evaluated.
Answer · Shona Robison: All Civil Servants working for Scottish Government follow annual performance management procedures, including regular evaluation of performance and feedback wherever they work.As part of a recent review of hybrid working, officials noted that there are few in…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any steps it is taking, including in relation to legislation, to prevent registered sex offenders from changing their name, and for what reason it has not already taken any such action, in light of the legislative changes being pursued by the UK Gover…
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government takes the safety of the public very seriously. Sex offender notification requirements apply to an individual, irrespective of what name they use, and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements documentation includes the recording of a…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether schools that have been assessed as having “inadequate” means of escape and “intolerable” housekeeping standards should remain open to pupils.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Although, it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, we expect them to provide safe learning environments for all school users.If there were concerns raised to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) regarding perce…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a breakdown of the £785 million committed to investment by the Scottish National Investment Bank, including the nature and scale of the returns delivered so far.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Full details of the Bank’s investment portfolio can be found on its website, including the level of investment committed by the Bank.Our investment portfolio supports businesses, projects and communities that align with our missions | Scottish National …
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) airlines and (b) industry stakeholders about retaining routes at Glasgow International Airport after the expansion of high-speed rail services.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We have had no such discussions with airlines or industry stakeholders.It is a commercial matter for airlines to determine which routes to operate.
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will rule out any strategy that leads to the downgrading or closure of Glasgow International Airport as part of its future transport planning.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Glasgow Airport is a commercial business owned and operated by AGS Airports. I welcome the announcement that, following AGS’ acquisition by AviAlliance, £350 million is to be invested in AGS Airports over the next five years. This investment shows…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the structure of the Scottish National Investment Bank, in which it is wholly owned by ministers but operating independently, to be optimal for transparency and accountability.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish National Investment Bank Act 2020 and the Shareholder Relationship Framework Document outline the relationship between the Bank and Scottish Ministers as the Shareholder, including measures to ensure appropriate controls and accountability, and t…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on ensuring parity of strategic support for Edinburgh and Glasgow Internatonal airports, in the context of international connectivity and aviation resilience.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We recognise the importance of international connectivity and want to see it grow at all Scotland’s main airports.The Scottish Government’s Aviation Statement commits to working with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help grow connectivity…
14 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to secure the long-term future of Glasgow International Airport as a critical part of the (a) national and (b) regional transport infrastructure.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36926 on 7 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-committ…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current projected total cost for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme is, and how much of that total it has committed to date.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The total expected cost put forward by Falkirk Council in 2015 for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme in 2015 was £108 million. The scheme as put forward includes a range of components providing protection to both residential and industrial areas.F…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any transgender prisoners with convictions for sex offences have been provided with gender-affirming items at public cost since 2021, and if so, how many.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The SPS seeks to be as open and transparent as possible, while also upholding our statutory obligation to protect the personal informati…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full breakdown of its financial contributions to the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme to date, including any direct payment to Falkirk Council and partners.
Answer · Gillian Martin: To date almost £23 million has been provided by Scottish Government to Falkirk Council to support the development of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any economic disruption modelling in the event of an extreme flood in the Grangemouth petrochemical complex; if so, what level of economic disruption is projected, and how this has informed prioritisation of funding decisions.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The development and delivery of flood protection schemes is a local authority responsibility. As such, the business case for Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS) was prepared by Falkirk Council. This included an economic assessment of the costs and bene…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether wigs and other gender-affirming items should be provided at public cost to prisoners who have violated prison rules or engaged in threating or abusive behaviour while in custody, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service agree that those living in custody with protected characteristics, such as gender reassignment, should be su…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the risk of any project delay or reduction in scope for the Grangemouth Flood Prevention Scheme arising from financial uncertainty over future years' allocations.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS) as proposed by the council, is exceptional in terms of scale and financial cost and requires careful consideration to ensure that it delivers for the local community.The Scottish Government must weigh up any inve…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of the delaying of downgrading elements of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme, particularly for (a) the Port of Grangemouth and (b) other key national infrastructure.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The next steps in the process for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme are to be undertaken by the local authority.Should Falkirk Council confirm the scheme in its current form and wish to access further Scottish Government funding, it will be necessary to…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what policy is in place for vetting and approving access to gender-affirming items by prisoners convicted of violent or sexual offences.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The Management of Transgender People in Custody Policy 2023 is in place for managing transgender people in prisons who may need access t…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what costs have been incurred by the Scottish Prison Service since 2021 in sourcing any wigs, underwear and other gender-affirming items for transgender inmates.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Each establishment has a stock of clothing for all individuals in our care. This is included within the annual clothing budget and is no…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has undertaken with prison officers and women's advocacy groups on the reported proposal to make wigs and underwear available to transgender prisoners through a centralised repository.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:No consultation has been taken forward in response to the suggestion made in His Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons’ Full Inspec…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a potential £2.1 billion welfare budget shortfall, how it plans to address any such shortfall without imposing further pressure on public services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will continue to provide vital assistance to enable older people to heat their homes, to help disabled people live independent lives and will keep thousands of children out of poverty. The Scottish Government is committed to doing all …
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Fiscal Commission's projection that the number of people aged over 85 in Scotland will almost double in the next 25 years, and what implications this may have for public finances.
Answer · Shona Robison: We welcome the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s analysis and recognise the impact that changes in Scotland’s population health and demographics could have on fiscal sustainability, and we are taking steps to mitigate this.The Ministerial Population Ta…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any representations to the UK Government regarding any potential consequences for the education sector in Scotland of removing bursaries and scholarships from independent school pupils.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Bursaries for independent schools are a matter for the proprietors of each institution, as each independent school is a private company. It is for the school itself to administer and provide bursaries for pupils to attend their establishment.We continue to en…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its civil servants work remotely from outside the UK; if so, how many currently do so on a (a) permanent and (b) temporary basis; what its position is on whether it is appropriate that they do so, and what assessment it has made of any tax and residency implications for an…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government’s position is that we are unable to support long-term working outside of the UK unless there is a genuine requirement to do so in the role, i.e. working from one of our overseas Scottish Government offices. However, we do not con…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for its policy allowing its civil servants to attend the office for only one day a week, in light of reported concerns about public sector productivity.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has been reviewing the hybrid working policy for civil servants it employs and decisions on future arrangements will be announced shortly. Working from home can be more productive than working from an office. Hybrid meetings can be muc…
12 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) other partners to secure additional investment in the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The UK Government has an important role to play in all aspects of the future of the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster and the Scottish Government will engage with them and others as required.As we do this, we will also work with all businesses and investors, to …