Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether free bus passes make active travel less likely.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Use of public transport and active travel both support reductions in car use. The impact of free bus travel on sustainable travel behaviours is complex, and is affected by demographics, geography and trip purpose. Evidence from the existing National Bus Trave…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the reported £1.8 billion in outstanding council tax it considers is realistically recoverable, and what projections it has made for the recovery of this debt.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35803 on 2 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/…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA and local authorities regarding strategies to recover outstanding council tax debt.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35803 on 2 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/…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported £1.8 billion in uncollected council tax, and what action it is taking to address this issue.
Answer · Shona Robison: The collection and administration of Council Tax is the responsibility of individual local authorities. Relative to other taxes, Council Tax collection rates remain consistently high, with 96% of charges collected successfully each year. Scottish Ministers ar…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the University of Stirling project, Football and Alcohol Scoping Study, and what its position is on what impact controlled, responsible alcohol sales inside football grounds could have on (a) levels of so-called binge drinking before matches, (b) m…
Answer · Maree Todd: The University of Stirling research was commissioned by the Scottish FA and SPFL. The Scottish Government has not undertaken any detailed analysis of the report to date. Our position remains that we have no plans at the current time to amend the legislation g…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with football (a) clubs and (b) supporter groups regarding the potential impact of allowing alcohol sales inside grounds, and whether it will publish any feedback it has received on this.
Answer · Maree Todd: I have discussed this issue a number of times with the SPFL and directly with some football clubs. More recently, the round table on enhancing Scottish football which has representatives from the footballing governing bodies and supporter groups, has discusse…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a pilot scheme allowing controlled alcohol sales at selected football grounds to assess its feasibility and potential impact, and what its response is to similar trials in other countries.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government would be willing to look at proposals from either the Scottish FA or SPFL. To date, we have not received any proposals.
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to claims that the current restrictions on alcohol sales at football matches, while allowing sales at rugby matches, concerts and other major sporting events, unfairly targets football supporters.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is aware of a range of views from football supporters when it comes to the availability of alcohol in football stadiums, and recognises there is an argument for football supporters to be afforded the same opportunities as fans at other…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Funding Council is sufficiently funded to maintain financial stability across the country's universities.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Ministers listened closely to the sector in the development of this year’s budget, and we are investing over £1.1 billion in university teaching and research. In addition, the Scottish Government has made a further £25m of funding available …
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to prevent future financial distress at universities, and whether it is considering a review of the higher education funding model.
Answer · Graeme Dey: We have a world-leading higher education sector to be proud of, and I value greatly the contribution that universities make to our economy and society. Ministers have been clear that the Scottish Government’s position on tuition fees will not change. Th…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support universities facing financial distress, and whether it will introduce additional emergency funding to protect staff and students at the University of Dundee.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has made £25m of funding available to the Scottish Funding Council to support the sector. The Scottish Funding Council has allocated £22m of this to the University of Dundee to support the university in addressing its immed…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of any financial agreements and pay arrangements involving Ferguson Marine’s (a) recent interim chief executive, (b) most recent permanent chief executive and (c) current senior personnel.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Details of the remuneration and pension benefits of Board members of Ferguson Marine are published annually in the Remuneration and Staff Report section of the Annual Report and Financial Statements of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Holdings Ltd, which is ava…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any informal pay arrangements at Ferguson Marine and, if so, what action it has taken in response to these.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The current The Chief Financial Officer David Dishon has confirmed to the Scottish Government that there are no informal pay arrangements at Ferguson Marine.Should any pay settlements be required, Ferguson Marine have to go through the Remuneration Committee,…
13 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in overseeing financial agreements at Ferguson Marine; what its response is to reports that there was a “verbal agreement” with a subcontractor that led to the shipyard facing a bill for almost £48,000 in unpaid tax, and whether it was aware of any such…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Framework Agreement that exists between Ferguson Marine and the Scottish Government, dated September 2024, outlines the role of the Scottish Government regarding the financial arrangements of the business. The agreement is available from the website of Fe…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many people seeking asylum are living in hotels in Scotland, and how many hotels are being used (a) partially and (b) wholly to accommodate asylum seekers.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Under current constitutional arrangements in the UK, asylum is reserved to the UK.Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes the provision of accommodation for people seeking asylum if they would otherwise be destitute while waiting for a decisi…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the legal status of first-cousin marriages.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not have any plans to review the legal status of first-cousin marriages in Scotland.
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of skin cancer have been diagnosed in each year since records began.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The member may find it useful to consult the Public Health Scotland ‘Cancer incidence in Scotland’ publication. This had its most recent release in November 2024 and is accessible a…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of ministerial time was spent on matters relating to the Scottish Youth Parliament in 2024, and what its position is whether this was an effective use of ministers' time.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Scottish Youth Parliament initiative, Cabinet Takeover Day, had on the (a) productivity or effectiveness of its ministerial offices and (b) wider operation of government.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase young people's engagement with the Scottish Youth Parliament, and how much this is costing.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the funding that it provides to the Scottish Youth Parliament to support its mission to provide a national platform for young people to discuss the issues that are important to them, whether it is aware of any complaints or concerns raised about the conduct of any MSYPs in t…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the funding that it provides to the Scottish Youth Parliament to support its mission to provide a national platform for young people to discuss the issues that are important to them, whether it considers that the electoral process of the Scottish Youth Parliament encourages …
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the funding that it provides to the Scottish Youth Parliament to support its mission to provide a national platform for young people to discuss the issues that are important to them, what information it has on how many young people were eligible to vote in the most recent Sc…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the funding that it provides to the Scottish Youth Parliament to support its mission to provide a national platform for young people to discuss the issues that are important to them, what assessment it has made regarding whether the Scottish Youth Parliament is the most effe…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which decisions or recommendations by the Scottish Youth Parliament have influenced its policy since May 2007, also broken down by policy and in what way it was influenced, and what information it has for the period prior to this.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the funding that it provides to the Scottish Youth Parliament to support its mission to provide a national platform for young people to discuss the issues that are important to them, whether it considers MYSPs to be representative of Scotland's young people, and what the rea…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), along with other children's and youth organisations, supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and you…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that the Scottish Youth Parliament is accountable for the public funds that it receives.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to the Scottish Youth Parliament in each of the last five years, and what its position is on whether this has delivered value for money.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) supports the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to fulfil their legal obligations to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people. The SYP is the democratic voice of Scotland…
10 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mandatory reporting mechanisms are in place to ensure that all incidents of sexual assault and rape in hospitals are properly logged and investigated.
Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Boards have reporting systems to capture data on violence and aggression - including sexual assault. I strongly encourage staff to report any and all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour.Health Improvement Scotland are working with all NHS boards…
10 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the reporting and recording of sexual assaults in hospital wards, in light of reports of more than 250 assaults in five years.
Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Boards have reporting systems to capture data on violence and aggression - including sexual assault. I strongly encourage staff to report any and all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour.Health Improvement Scotland are working with all NHS boards…