Stephen Kerr

9 Sep 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Grenfell report, what plans it has to ensure that the reported 107 buildings identified in its cladding remediation programme are fixed, including how many will be remediated this year.

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of productivity in the Scottish public sector.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The latest labour productivity statistics for Scotland are available at Labour productivity statistics: 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). This reports estimates of gross value added (GVA) per hour worked and per job filled for the whole economy and for industry…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what review it has undertaken of its funding of LGBT Youth Scotland, in light of reported allegations regarding safeguarding and the protection of children.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government have engaged with LGBT Youth Scotland to determine the facts around the recent media reports. We have determined no further action is needed at this stage.The Scottish Government are continuing to fund all organisations who have receiv…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to reduce the number of assaults against public sector staff, in light of recent reported figures by Falkirk Council that show a 520% increase in violent incidents.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Any violence – including that against public sector staff - is a concern and should not be tolerated. The Violence Prevention Framework for Scotland, with over £4 million of funding over the last two years, supports partner organisations, includin…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what promotional efforts it will make inconjunction with the UK Government to encourage any pensioners impacted by theloss of the Winter Heating Payment to apply for pension credit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask her to do more to increase take…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the impact on eligibility for the WinterHeating Payment in Scotland, what representations it has made to the UKGovernment regarding simplifying the application process for pension credit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of DWP. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask her to do more to increase take up rates.The Scottish Government is k…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it had with the hospitality sector before making its announcement of the reintroduction of peak fare train tickets.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail Trains Ltd. regularly engages with a range of business groups to understand their views. All weekend, later evening and between-peak tickets remain available at off peak rates and many products are available which offer further discounts to passenger…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many shoplifters have been issued a fixed penalty notice in each year since 2019.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government’s Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistics primarily focus on prosecutions and convictions in criminal courts. However,­­ they also include some non-court disposals, including police-issued Antisocial Behaviour Fixed P…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many shoplifting offences have been recorded by the police in each year since 2019.

Answer · Angela Constance: The number of police recorded crimes of shoplifting are published in Table 1 of the Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletins. The latest data is shown in the following table.year endingJune 2019year endingJune 2020year endingJune 2021year endingJune 2022year endi…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what studies it has conducted into the consequences for individuals and wider society of long-term absence from school.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government’s Education Analytical Services division conducts analysis on issues related to school attendance, including absence and attendance statistics. These statistics are collected and published annually. Additionally, our team regular…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve classroom attendance, in light of reports that almost 20,000 pupils in Scotland missed more than half of their lessons last year.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to improving attendance in Scottish schools. Last year, we requested that Education Scotland undertake a “deep dive” to support greater understanding of the issue and the reasons for it.Within the resulting rep…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that three in 10parents in Scotland believe that the COVID-19 pandemic showed that it is not necessaryfor their children to attend school every day, and how it plans to addressthis.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government wants all children and young people to get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential and to do so it is important that pupils not only attend school but that they engage in their learning.The Scottish Government…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has concluded from its economic impact assessment of the potential closure of the Grangemouth Refinery, which is yet to be published.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Economic Impact Assessment has been shared with the Economy and Fair Work Committee.

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis people in receipt of a state pension in Scotland will be able to receive a Winter Heating Payment in 2024-25.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing of Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales in 2024-25 significantly reduces the annual funding available to the Scottish Government, by an estimated £140 million to £160 million. It i…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ongoing talks with Petroineos and the UK Government on extending the life of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government and Petroineos. Most recently the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Net Zero convened a trilateral discussion with the UK Government and Petroineos on 2 September. The Scottish Government has use…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Grangemouth Future Industry Board.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Grangemouth Future Industry Board continues to meet regularly with the last meeting of the programme board taking place on 19 August. At the invitation of the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Net Zero, the leadership forum will now be co-chaired by the UK…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any funding reductions thathave been made as a result of the reallocation of funds to local authority payawards.    

Answer · Shona Robison: Public sector pay continues to be a significant driver of in-year pressures and, under the current devolution settlement, any substantive in-year pressures can only be funded by reductions elsewhere. If the UK Government does not fully fund public sector pay …

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its strategy to tackle drug-related deaths.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to doing all it can to reduce harm and deaths caused by drugs through our National Mission and addressing the twin public health challenges on alcohol and drugs.Long-term thinking has been embedded into the…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its current strategy to tackle drug-related deaths is failing.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to doing all it can to reduce harm and deaths caused by drugs through our National Mission.Whilst drug misuse deaths in Scotland have generally been increasing over the last two decades, the latest figures …

30 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21297 by Emma Roddick on 25 September 2023, which of the recommendations that were made by the expert group to "measure, track and evaluate progress made in eradicating racism in Scotland' it has followed.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is determined to play our part in eradicating racism, inequality and injustice – and in building a better, fairer world.On the recommendation of the Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group to Develop National Anti-Racism Infrastruct…

27 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28909 by Natalie Don on 27 August 2024, what analysis has been conducted to examine whether the £400,000 spent has helped to reduce mobile phone addiction among young people.

Answer · Maree Todd: There has been no specific analysis completed on the impact of our expenditure in relation to mobile phone addiction. However the funding has been used to create a suite of online resources, information and advice to support the emotional health and wellbeing…

27 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28906 by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2024, whether it will publish the research that it used to justify the continued use of FAST, rather than BE FAST, in full.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government provided funding in 2023-24 to carry out a piece of quantitative research to establish a baseline measure of public awareness and understanding of the symptoms and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including awareness of FAST (F…

27 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28981 by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2024, what objectives were given to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland before receiving taxpayer money.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government provided the following objectives to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland covering financial years 2020-21 to 2024-25:2024-25Thrombectomy educationContinued delivery of Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) Assessment Training (STAT+)…

27 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when passenger ferries will run from Rosyth to mainland Europe.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to the development of our ports, and the potential for new direct freight and passenger ferry services linking Scotland to Europe.I have personally engaged with parties interested in introducing new ferry servic…

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been issued on flag policy to (a) local authorities, (b) government agencies and (c) other governmental departments in the last six months.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government publishes detailed flag flying guidance annually on the Scottish Government website Guidance - Flag flying on government buildings: 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and a link to the guidance is also available on the Scottish Government&…

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that individual artists can still apply for and have access to public funding, in light of Creative Scotland's recent change to its guidance on applications from individual artists.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government provides significant funding to Creative Scotland each year and will continue doing so. It is disappointing that Creative Scotland took the decision about the Open Fund before the Scottish Government could complete due diligence to rel…

22 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted on the screening of non-FAST (face, arms, speech, time) stroke symptoms, since the publication of the 2023 National Clinical Guideline for Stroke.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not conducted research on the screening of non-FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) stroke symptoms since the publication of the 2023 National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke.

20 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Minimum Income Guarantee Steering Group, what process was put in place to recruit and identify the members of the Expert by Experience panel.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The independent Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group commissioned a public participation charity to appoint an Experts by Experience Panel to ensure the policy is developed with the voices and experiences of financial insecurity at its core. Panel members we…

20 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what feedback it has received from the expert group on the minimum income guarantee in relation to the social security elements of the minimum income guarantee.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The work to define a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland, including the role of social security, continues to be led by an independent Expert Group. the Expert Group’s Interim report which published in March 2024, contained recommendations for actions…

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the full economic impact assessment of the potential closure of the Grangemouth Refinery.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As confirmed by the then Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy in December 2023, the Scottish Government will share with the Economy and Fair Work Committee its assessment of the economic contribution of the Grangemouth refinery. This …