Stephen Kerr

24 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding it provided to the Scottish Union of Supported Employment in 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: The objectives of the grant funding provided to SUSE throughout 2022 were to: 1. Provide the governance and project management function for the PSP. 2. Progress Apt through the PSP stages, which include:Designing and developing pilot projects for delivery t…

24 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding it provided to the Children’s Parliament in 2022.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Children’s Parliament delivers objectives from two Scottish Government funding streams: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Implementation Programme; and the Children Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning a…

24 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding it provided to Who Cares? Scotland in 2022.

Answer · Natalie Don: Who Cares? Scotland was established in 1978. It provides independent advocacy for children and young people in care across Scotland, and campaign on behalf of and with children and young people with care experience. The organisation’s vision is ‘a lifetime of…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether historic peak times will in future determine when discounts are available on ScotRail trains with a 16-25 railcard.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The terms and conditions of GB Railcards are set out by National Rail (part of the Rail Delivery Group). Neither Transport Scotland nor ScotRail regulate the rules for the use of national railcards. As such, future decisions on when discounts would be availa…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to the Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project in 2022.

Answer · Maree Todd: Kingdom Survivors Abuse Project (KASP) currently receives £40,152 per annum, over four years (2020-2024), through the Scottish Government’s Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) Fund for their voluntary befriending service. Objectives were set for KAS…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Fair Deal in 2022.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Fair Deal was awarded £35,270 from the Scottish Government’s Wellbeing Fund in 2021-22. The £50m Wellbeing Fund was part of a £350m package of emergency community support announced in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wellbeing Fund was ma…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Relationships Scotland - Family Mediation Highland in 2022.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government did not provide any funding directly to Relationships Scotland Family Mediation Highland in 2022. Relationships Scotland operate a network of 21 Member Services across Scotland, including Relationships Scotland Family Mediation Highla…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Clydebank Women’s Aid in 2022.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has not provided direct funding to Clydebank Women’s Aid. However, in 2021 the Scottish Government awarded £2,250,000 of funding, over a three year period, to Scottish Women’s Aid through the 100 Days (Covid emergency) funding. The fun…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Avenue Confidential in 2022.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government did not provide any funding directly to Avenue Confidential in 2022. Relationships Scotland operate a network of 21 Member Services across Scotland, including Avenue Confidential (known as Avenue). In 2022, the Scottish Government pr…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Alcohol Focus Scotland in 2022.

Answer · Elena Whitham: Alcohol Focus Scotland’s objectives as set out in their grant letter for 2022-23 were:Advocate for the continuation and optimisation of minimum unit pricing in ScotlandBuild community capacity to engage in the licensing processImprove the accessibility and ef…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Relationships Scotland - Tayside and Fife in 2022.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government did not provide any direct funding to Relationships Scotland Tayside & Fife in 2022. Relationships Scotland operate a network of 21 Member Services across Scotland, including Relationships Scotland Tayside & Fife. In 2022, the Scotti…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to One Parent Families Scotland in 2022.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: One Parent Families Scotland is a national organisation which works with and on behalf of one parent families, with the aim and purpose to improve the lives of single parents and their families, enabling them to benefit from life’s opportunities and fulfil th…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to the Cairngorms Trust in 2022.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government allocated £281,606 to the Cairngorms Trust from the 20220-23 Rural Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund. The objectives of the funding were; Rural communities will have the opportunity to try out different approaches to lo…

10 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for the funding that it provided to Kindred Advocacy in 2022.

Answer · Natalie Don: Kindred Advocacy provide independent advocacy, advice, one-to-one support and support groups for families raising children with complex needs. Kindred Advocacy currently supports 800 – 900 families a year. Most of these families are from Edinburgh, the Lothia…

23 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been issued regarding the removal of any outdated signage relating to COVID-19 restrictions that have since been removed.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government guidance is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that information for the public and organisations/businesses aligns to current policy. The Scottish Government Marketing Resource Centre is the central repository for stakeholder reso…

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being listed as the current site owner on its Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey – site register publication, what plans it has to develop the site of the former Carnbroe Mains Farm in Bellshill.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I confirm that the Scottish Government is not the owners of the site of the former Carnbroe Mains Farm in Bellshill.

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to redevelop the site of HMP Shotts.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government remains committed to modernising and improving the prison estate, to ensure it is fit for purpose for those that live and work in prisons and supports the rehabilitation of people living there. Our current infrastructure priorities a…

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being listed as the current site owner on its Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey – site register publication, what plans it has to develop the site of the former remand centre car park at Avonhead Road, Upperton.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS sold the former remand institution site at Longriggend and its landholdings on 2 October 2003. The sale included the former remand…

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being listed as the current site owner on its Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey – site register publication, what plans it has to develop the site of the former Braehead Brickworks in Bargeddie.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I can confirm that the site of the former Braehead Brickworks is within the operational land of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project and is maintained by the project contractor, Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP).

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being listed as the current site owner on its Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey – site register publication, what plans it has to develop the site of the former social club at The Crescent, Upperton, Airdrie.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21592 on 4 December 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are availabl…

18 Sep 2023 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to introducing drop-down microphones in the Chamber.

Answer · Maggie Chapman: There are a number of overhead microphones in place in the Chamber. These microphones allow the inclusion of ambient noise in broadcast outputs so that coverage can provide a sense of the atmosphere of the Chamber during proceedings. The overhead microphones …

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessment has been conducted in relation to any risk of the presence of beavers for rail infrastructure.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Strategic Environmental Assessments, carried out by NatureScot for beaver translocations in new catchments, have identified where potential beaver habitat overlaps with important infrastructure including railway lines. Network Rail, who are responsible for r…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what frameworks are in place to ascertain any (a) benefits and (b) consequences of having beavers throughout Scotland's landscape.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Scotland' Beaver Strategy , published in September 2022, aims to assess the biological, environmental, economic and social implications of beavers. This includes the benefits that beavers can bring alongside mitigating any impacts on other species, habitats…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government from which part of its education budget funds will be reallocated to fund the pay deal for teachers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In line with normal processes, transfers of budget are communicated to Parliament through the Autumn and Spring Budget Revisions. The Autumn Budget Revision supporting document was published on 28 September 2023. The Spring Budget Revision will provide furthe…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government from which part of its Budget funds will be reallocated to fund the reported 7% increase in police officer pay.

Answer · Angela Constance: In line with normal processes, transfers of budget, including those to the Scottish Police Authority, will be communicated to Parliament through the Autumn and Spring Budget Revisions.

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Programme for Government 2023-24 commitment to "Invest in a new Anti-Racism Observatory which will provide oversight and support for the Scottish Government and the public sector to develop anti-racism approaches" so that it can "continue to eradicate racism in Scotland"…

Answer · Emma Roddick: We are currently developing detailed proposals for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). A formal remit will be drawn up (and published) in due course. A key part of the work being done is to develop governance and oversight of the work being done…

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Anti-Racism Observatory will investigate any anti-English rhetoric within Scottish society.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of racism, hatred or prejudice. We must all play our part in challenging such behaviour and attitudes. We are currently developing detailed proposals for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS).…

5 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that whistleblowing procedures are clear to all members of staff in the public sector.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21068 on 14 September 2023. 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-commi…

5 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that any lessons learned regarding whistleblowing are shared across the public sector.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21068 on 14 September 2023. 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-commi…

5 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding the publication of the names of individuals attending the Hate Crime Strategic Partnership Group, and whether it will amend the minutes with the names of those who attended.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Hate Crime Strategic Partnership Group was established to ensure a multi-agency, strategic approach towards the development and delivery of Scotland’s Hate Crime Strategy . Members are drawn from the following organisations:Age ScotlandBEMISCEMVOCOPFSC…