Questions · Stephen Kerr

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate steps it is taking to address the reported alleged breach of exam marking security procedures at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 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…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that no pupil is disadvantaged as a result of the recently reported administrative failure at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 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…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any repeated failures by the Scottish Qualifications Authority erode trust in the national qualifications system, and what reforms it plans to implement in this regard.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 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…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish in full the reported internal review undertaken by the Scottish Qualifications Authority in relation to secure assessment materials being compromised, and what lessons will be learnt from this incident.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 May 2025.Responsibility for any decisions on whether to publish the results of their investigation conducted in relation to the sharing of annotated materials is a matter for the Scottish Qualificati…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to restore confidence in the integrity of the 2025 National 5 History examination, in light of reports that secure assessment materials were compromised.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37086 on 6 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…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria were applied in the appointment of Angela Leitch to lead the independent review of Creative Scotland, and whether the role was publicly advertised.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Angela Leitch CBE, was appointed as the Chair of the independent review of Creative Scotland based on merit and the criteria set out for public appointments under section 7 of the Scottish Ministerial Code. The role was not publicly advertised due to the timi…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate steps it is taking to respond to SEPA's warning of early signs of water scarcity in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan sets out how water resources will be managed during periods of prolonged dry weather. As part of that plan, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Water have establ…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of agricultural land is classified as at risk from water scarcity, and how this is being monitored.

Answer · Gillian Martin: On 25 April the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) started publishing weekly water scarcity reports. These use a range of hydrological and meteorological data to describe water scarcity levels across the country. The latest report can be found on S…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care packages for vulnerable people have been reduced or cancelled as a result of reported Integration Joint Board budget shortfalls.

Answer · Maree Todd: It is the primary duty of Integration Joint Boards (IJB’s) to strategically plan the delivery of integrated adult health and social care provision in a local authority area. This duty will include the gathering of information regarding the impact of loc…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific support is being provided to farmers and food producers in areas affected by below-average rainfall and dwindling groundwater levels.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan sets out how water resources will be managed prior to and during periods of prolonged dry weather ensuring the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing resource for human and econ…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported calls for a cap or oversight mechanism on senior salaries in publicly funded bodies, including local authorities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The salary and pay range of a Chief Executive should be within the pay bands in the Scottish Chief Executive Framework (as detailed in the Chief Executive Pay Policy). This is to ensure consistency and fairness between the remuneration of Chief Executives in …

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the 2025-26 social care budget will be used to support essential frontline services, as opposed to administrative overheads or bureaucracy.

Answer · Neil Gray: The 2025-26 Scottish Budget includes almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration – exceeding our commitment to increase funding by 25% by almost £350 million.However, While the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for healt…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether mobile phone use by pupils during the school day is compatible with the principles of responsible citizenship promoted by the curriculum for excellence.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Our national guidance on mobile phones in Scotland’s schools sets out the considerations schools and education authorities should give to respectful and responsible use of mobile phone policies. While the guidance is clear that headteachers can ban mobi…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that a number of its senior civil servants pay income tax rates applicable to the rest of the UK rather than Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We are providing this information as at 31 December 2024 using data from the most recent official publication of the Scottish Government's workforce statistics. As at that date, the total number of staff employed within SG Core was 9,349. Of these staff, 8 we…

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its civil servants earning above £50,000 are registered as taxpayers elsewhere in the UK.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We are providing this information as at 31 December 2024 using data from the most recent official publication of the Scottish Government's workforce statistics. As at that date, the total number of staff employed within SG Core was 9,349.As at that date, 115 …

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a recent UK-wide survey suggesting that 17% of NHS staff did not consider their building to be safe, whether it will commission a similar survey of NHS Scotland staff.

Answer · Neil Gray: The iMatter Continuous Improvement Programme, which was developed by NHSScotland staff, enables the measurements of staff experience and employee engagement across all 22 Health Boards as well as participating Health and Social Care Partnerships.This enables …

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address any (a) pest infestations and (b) basic hygiene failures in NHS buildings.

Answer · Neil Gray: Dealing with pest infestations and basic hygiene failures in NHS buildings is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards.

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents involving (a) patient and (b) staff exposure to sewage leaks in NHS hospitals have been reported in each of the last three years.

Answer · Neil Gray: Patient and staff exposure to sewage leaks within NHS Scotland is an issue that is managed locally by NHS Boards, and the Scottish Government does not collect centralised data on this.

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS hospital sites have been reported for vermin infestations in each of the last five years, and what action was taken.

Answer · Neil Gray: Vermin infestation in hospital sites is a matter for local NHS Boards to deal with. The Scottish Government is not aware of any hospital site in Scotland being reported to a regulatory or statutory body for vermin infestation within the last five years.

9 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of housing stock it expects to be retrofitted with low-carbon heating systems by 2030, under its revised proposals.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: On 3 April I announced the intention to bring forward a revised Heat in Buildings Bill to set a new target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045 alongside continuing work to reduce fuel poverty.Further information will be published when the Bill is introd…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the teacher vacancy rate has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b)(i) primary, (ii) secondary and (iii) special schools and (c) subject for secondary education.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Information on teacher vacancies is not held centrally.

7 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of university spin-out companies formed in Scotland have (a) remained in the country and (b) relocated to (i) the rest of the UK and (ii) overseas.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The information requested is not held centrally. However, data are available that show of the university spin-out companies formed in Scotland less than 5% have registered trading addresses out with Scotland.

7 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve access to early-stage funding for startups, particularly those based outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Numerous Scottish public bodies deliver support and tailored strategic investment into Scottish businesses including Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish National Investment Bank, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Business Gateway a…

7 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many limited companies are registered in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Data are available on the number of businesses operating in Scotland, that are registered for VAT and/or PAYE, broken down by business legal status. These estimates, sourced from the Businesses in Scotland 2024 publication, are shown in the following table.Ta…

7 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that registered social landlords do not grant social housing tenancies to individuals subject to immigration control.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Registered Social Landlords are not subject to the exclusion on granting tenancies to persons subject to immigration control. Section 118 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which applies in Scotland applies only to local authorities. Registered Social La…

7 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Children's Parliament's initiative, Scottish Government Executive Team Takeover, had on the (a) productivity or effectiveness of its ministerial offices and (b) wider operation of government.