Stephen Kerr

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a breakdown of funding (a) allocated and (b) spent each year by the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scheme allocations are not routinely published, however, Ms. Martin wrote to the convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on the 28th of February 2025 detailing the 25-26 budget allocation across the Heat in Buildings Schemes, including an all…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential financial burden on (a) housing associations and (b) social landlords in meeting their decarbonisation requirements.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Our consultation last year on a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS) asked for views on proposals to require social landlords to improve fabric efficiency and install clean heating where it is technically feasible and cost-effective to do so. Feedback…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the level of funding for the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund to be adequate to meet its stated targets.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund has supported over 13,000 social homes since its launch, investing approximately £70 million in energy efficiency and clean heat projects.While public funding and support will continue to play a big part in the clea…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an impact assessment on rent affordability, in light of any additional costs associated with greener heating compliance.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Our consultation last year on a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS) asked for views on proposals to require social landlords to improve fabric efficiency and install clean heating where it is technically feasible and cost-effective to do so.We contin…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost will be of meeting its net zero target for social housing, and how it will finance this.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Our consultation on proposals for a Social Housing Net Zero Standard estimated total upfront clean heat and energy efficiency costs of around £6 billion for social housing. The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund supports public and private investment by …

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations’ reported claim of a £10 billion funding shortfall for decarbonising social housing.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Our consultation on proposals for a Social Housing Net Zero Standard estimated the total upfront costs of installing clean heating systems and improving energy efficiency in social housing would be around £6 billion by 2045, with an average cost per hom…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support social housing providers in complying with greener heat regulations that they find unaffordable.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The social housing sector has been outperforming the housing stock overall in terms of EPC ratings in recent years. The Scottish House Condition Survey found 65% of Scotland’s social housing stock rated EPC band C or better. Scottish Government provides…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what hardware costs it has paid in each of the last five years for the provision of virtual meetings for its staff.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Hardware purchased to support virtual meetings is often multi-functional and may have a primary use other than supporting virtual meetings. This makes categorising purchases directly related to the provision of virtual meetings difficult. Furthermore, hardwar…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) subscription and (b) other associated costs it has paid in each of the last five years for the provision of (i) Microsoft Teams, (ii) Zoom and (iii) other videoconferencing software.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Government uses the Microsoft 365 product suite to support shared services across 21,000 users in 55 government sector organisations. Within that suite, Microsoft Teams is the component used for videoconferencing, but also supports an array of uses s…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its consideration of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, what its position is on reported concerns that, should the Bill proceed without a section 30 order, it may risk undermining the devolution settlement.

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the Memorandum submitted to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 30 September 2024, the Scottish Government’s view is that the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, in its current form, is outside the legislat…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its consideration of any potential assisted dying legislation, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possible need for a section 30 order to advance any such legislation in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is a Member’s Bill, not a Scottish Government Bill.The UK Government will be aware of the Scottish Government’s view, as set out in the Memorandum submitted to the Health, Social Care an…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with legal experts regarding any (a) constitutional and (b) ethical implications of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government decisions are informed by appropriate analysis of any legal considerations. All legal advice is confidential. It is a long-established convention that legal advice provided to the Scottish Government is not disclosed, and that the Scottish…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any consideration of assisted dying legislation does not erode protections for life-affirming palliative care services.

Answer · Neil Gray: As stated in response to S6W-36570 on 17 April 2025, it is for the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to scrutinise the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill and it will be for the Scottish Parliament to dec…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to (a) promote and (b) invest in alternatives to assisted dying, including hospice and end-of-life care.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is a Member's Bill, introduced to the Scottish Parliament by Liam McArthur MSP, not a Scottish Government Bill. It is the role of the Scottish Parliament Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to s…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS (a) boards, (b) frontline staff and (c) patients regarding the latest satisfaction survey.

Answer · Neil Gray: Through our work on NHS renewal we are continuing to collect views through a series of engagements with a wide range of stakeholders. This builds on the feedback and understanding gained through the Health and Care Experience Survey and other channels. We are…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is reportedly low public satisfaction with NHS dental services, and what action it is taking to address this.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The question does not reference the actual public satisfaction survey. The most recent survey, the British Social Attitudes survey report is for the whole of the UK. It does not have a particular locus for dental services in Scotland.The Member is instead ref…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what accountability mechanisms are in place for ministers when NHS performance targets are missed.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Boards are separate entities with their own local governance and performance management arrangements in place, in line with national guidance, such as the ‘NHS Scotland Blueprint for Good Governance.’ This can be accessed at: www.gov.scot/publ…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any fiscal risks posed by expanding the cost of devolved benefits.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that finances remain on a sustainable trajectory and that we continue to reach a balanced position each year. The upcoming Medium Term Financial Strategy and Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plans will set out ho…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will fund the projected increase in social security expenditure without raising taxes or making reductions to other public services.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: 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 Fiscal Commission’s December 20…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported suggestion by the Fraser of Allander Institute that a more stringent approach to benefit payments is necessary to protect public finances.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Fraser of Allander Institute said in an article, published on 26 March, that “we'll have to wait until the OBR has been able to look at the whole policy package in aggregate before we understand the full scale of the impact both on the UK and Scotla…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued regarding the use of AI in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Decisions about the use of AI are currently determined by Local Authorities and schools. Guidance for teachers regarding the use of AI is available through Education Scotland: Teaching and Learning with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Resources | Education Sco…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the use of AI in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is actively considering the role of AI in schools. Discussions have been ongoing with key partners including the SQA, Education Scotland, local authorities, the Scottish AI Alliance and academics, to ensure that AI can be used effectiv…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given to Food and Drink Scotland in each of the last five years, and for what purpose.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the Food and Drink Sector and that is why we fund the delivery of the Industry led Food and Drink strategy – Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World, and before that the Food & Drink Sector Recover…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on developing and piloting the NHS Scotland digital front door app.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35981 on 31 March 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…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any financial and patient impacts as a result of long waits for treatment on the economy and workforce productivity.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government routinely analyses data related to the labour market. The link between waiting times and the economy is most frequently viewed through economic inactivity due to ill-health. A 2024 Scottish Parliament Information Centre briefing, for e…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a detailed assessment of the delivery outcomes from the four previous NHS recovery plans launched since 2016.

Answer · Neil Gray: The NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 was published in August 2021 with a commitment to provide annual reports on progress through the delivery outcomes set out in the plan. These reports are published online and can be found at:NHS Recovery Plan: annual progress u…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency measures are in place in the event that the NHS seven-day diagnostic model and digital outpatient system is again not delivered within the timetable.

Answer · Neil Gray: Some Health Boards are already delivering additional activity 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, to help people get diagnostic tests they need. Since 2021, we have provided three permanent CT scanners to support core diagnostic imaging capacity within Boards, inc…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients it estimates have waited over a year for outpatient treatment or surgery in each of the last five years.

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…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a quarterly update on progress against each objective in the new NHS operational improvement plan.

Answer · Neil Gray: As noted within the Operational Improvement Plan, the Government will report against it publicly and to Parliament within 2025-26. Statistics relating to a number of its commitments will also continue to be published meantime.

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any forecasts or economic modelling regarding the projected impact of the proposed US tariffs on jobs and business turnover in Scotland.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government reviews studies on the economic modelling of the impact of proposed US tariffs for Scotland, including from the Office for Budget Responsibility and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.These studies suggest that UK …