Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency planning or business support measures it is considering to mitigate any economic impact on businesses in Scotland of any new US trade barriers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor and assess the direct and indirect impacts of new US goods tariffs, and is working closely with our enterprise agencies, the UK Government, and the business community, to assess the implications and consequ…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the development of the North Sea as a long-term strategic energy asset.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Offshore oil and gas licensing, consenting and the associated fiscal regime are all matters that are currently reserved to the UK Government.The Scottish Government is taking the appropriate time to carefully consider the UK Government’s current consult…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the (a) North Sea Transition Authority and (b) UK Government regarding the future of oil and gas extraction in Scottish waters.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36532 on 29 April 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-…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the calls to designate the North Sea energy transition a “national mission”, and what contribution it plans to make to that effort.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36532 on 29 April 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-…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the potential fiscal impact on Scotland’s economy of exploration and drilling in the North Sea being curtailed prematurely.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Offshore oil and gas licensing, consenting and the associated fiscal regime are all matters that are currently reserved to the UK Government. As such, estimates of future production from North Sea oil and gas fields are a matter for the relevant UK regulator …
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with international firms operating in Scotland regarding expanding domestic supply chains.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government along with Scottish Development International and Enterprise Agencies are actively engaged with business and international firms operating in Scotland to expand the domestic supply chains. For instance, Scottish Enterprise works with m…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is to attract a share of the reported $650 billion in nearshoring investment expected across the UK over the next three years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As highlighted in the Programme for Government, growing the economy is a key strategic priority for the Scottish Government and this includes continuing to focus on attracting both foreign direct and large scale capital investment and why the Deputy First Min…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned any economic modelling on the impact of reshoring manufacturing to Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government routinely works with partners to support the manufacturing sector in Scotland. In addition, our investment strategies are designed with the goal of maximising the impact of our interventions, allowing us to maintain our position as the…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what infrastructure improvements it is prioritising to support increased manufacturing in Scotland.
Answer · Kate Forbes: In recent years the Scottish Government has invested significantly in manufacturing support infrastructure. The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) represents a £75 million investment by the Scottish Government and its agencies and has a mi…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent data it has on what proportion of people who register with an employment agency, on average, are in sustained employment six months after a placement.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not collect or hold statistics specifically on sustained employment for people who register with an employment agency.The Scottish Government collects and publishes statistics related to Scottish Government funded employability su…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s reported assessment that benefits spending is being driven by increased eligibility rather than population need.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We welcome the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s report which provides an independent assessment of how much the Scottish Government’s policies are likely to raise and cost. The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s forecasts are used to set the Scottish …
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new public sector bodies have been established since 2013, and what their core functions are.
Answer · Ivan McKee: There have been 35 public bodies established since 2013 which are included below. Further information on their core functions is publicly available on the National Public Bodies Directory: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-public-bodies-directory/.Ch…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the Scottish Budget is currently allocated to civil service pay and administration, and how this compares with 2013.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Total Operating Cost (TOC) budget for 2025-26 is set at £801.7 million, accounting for 1.3 percent of the overall Scottish Budget, as measured by Total Managed Expenditure.In 2019-20, a change in approach to operating costs was implemented, which me…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the justification is for the reported 70% increase in civil service employment since 2013.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government expanded its workforce to deliver on the new powers devolved from the 2012 and 2016 Scotland Acts, including establishing the Social Security Agency, and to respond to EU Exit and the COVID-19 pandemic.Since 2022, enhanced recruitment …
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position on whether underlying economic and housing pressures might contribute to Scotland’s reported low birthrate.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36274 on 17 April 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…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report in The Scotsman on 29 March 2025, SNP ministers examine measures to help Scots have more children amid "fertility gap", how much it would cost to implement Nordic-style family policies, and how these would be funded.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36274 on 17 April 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…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report in The Scotsman on 29 March 2025, SNP ministers examine measures to help Scots have more children amid "fertility gap", what its position is on whether the adoption of Nordic-style family policies would have a measurable impact on Scotland’s birth rate.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36274 on 17 April 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…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported claims that schools are being discouraged from excluding violent pupils, and whether this reflects official policy.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This does not reflect Scottish Government policy, which is set out in our national guidance on exclusion ‘Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2: a positive approach to preventing and managing school exclusions.’
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported demand from teachers for self-defence training in response to pupil violence.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In line with our commitment to creating safe and nurturing school environments, the Scottish Government prioritises approaches that address behaviour through understanding and positive intervention.Our approach to relationships and behaviour in schools is foc…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have requested funding for teacher self-defence training in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has not received any requests from local authorities for funding for teacher self-defence training in each of the last five years.
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on whether there is a link between the reported fall in pupil suspensions and the rise in the number of teachers being assaulted.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Information on assaults on teachers is not held centrally as, under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, education is the responsibility of local authorities.The biennial Attendance, Absence and Exclusions data collection gathers data on the number and reasons …
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to higher education institutions regarding the right to freedom of expression and concerns regarding reported censorship by protest or disruption.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government expects institutions to comply with relevant legal requirements already in place, and carefully consider existing Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on freedom of expression for higher education providers in Scotland. In 202…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the right of academics and students to express gender-critical views without facing discrimination or censure.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government fully supports individuals’ rights to freedom of expression, and believes universities to be places where freedom of expression should always be promoted and fostered, but this should be done in a courteous and respectful manner.…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with representatives of Scottish universities to discuss ensuring the protection of lawful speech and debate on issues of sex and gender.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Universities are autonomous institutions, responsible for their own governance. However the Scottish Government expects all organisations in Scotland to comply with the law around protected beliefs and freedom of expression.
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on whether there is a link between 16- to 24-year-olds who are unemployed due to long-term sickness and their levels of mental ill health.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Official labour market statistics do not include data on reasons why individuals are unemployed. However, there is data available on reasons why individuals are economically inactive and not participating in the labour market.The latest ONS Annual Population …
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the number of young people in Scotland who are classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET), in light of reports suggesting that almost one in eight 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK are classified as being in this category.
Answer · Tom Arthur: No One Left Behind is the Scottish Government’s shared approach with Local Government and wider partners to delivering an all-age, place-based, person-centred model of employability support in Scotland. Services are delivered locally, ensuring individua…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to promoting disciplined and purpose-driven career routes to young people who are at risk of long-term benefit dependency, and whether it considers military service to be such a career route.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government remains committed to an all-age careers information and guidance offer that supports all people, including young people who are at risk of long-term benefit dependency to progress rewarding careers.Skills Development Scotland (SDS) pro…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding what proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds are currently out of work due to long-term sickness.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has information on the proportion of 16-24 year olds who are economically inactive due to being long-term sick or disabled from the National Records of Scotland Census 2022 results and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Po…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether having access to skilled training pathways should form part of its wider welfare-to-work strategy for under-25s, and whether it considers military service to be such a training pathway.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Access to skilled training pathways, including apprenticeships is vital for developing the young workforce. Apprenticeships play an essential role in giving young people a pathway into rewarding careers as well as enabling employers to invest in their staff.T…
31 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an assessment of how full fiscal autonomy could impact on (a) household incomes, (b) taxation levels and (c) welfare provision in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government believes that independence would deliver the best deal for Scotland – providing control over all public spending decisions, as well as the suite of fiscal powers necessary to unlock Scotland’s full economic potential.Howeve…