Parliamentary questions
Stephen Kerr
2,595 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific steps it is taking to address the reported long-term decline in the number of local authority-employed planners, in light of such planners having a significant role in delivering the ambitions of the new National Planning Framework.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In April 2022 increased planning fees came into effect providing much needed additional resource to Planning Authorities. Whilst the use of this additional resource is a matter for individual authorities, some authorities have reported that the fee increase h…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to address any delays in the planning process that are holding up major renewables and other projects that are necessary to help meet net zero goals.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), adopted on 13 February 2023, signals a turning point for planning, placing climate and nature at the centre of planning and supporting all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies, including transmiss…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that there are larger, fewer and more flexible challenge fund streams for net zero-related projects at a local level that are better configured to support a holistic and place-based response to climate change.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has recognised the challenge with navigating the net zero funding landscape and we are working to simplify and streamline it through a funding alignment programme that commenced in 2022. We also published a directory of climate change…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a local government-facing climate intelligence unit to provide specialist help to local authorities in areas where there may be a lack of in-depth specialist knowledge, and, if so, when such a unit will be established.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As referred to at the debate held on 14 March on the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee's Inquiry Report on ‘The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland’, we are pleased to confirm that we…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a comprehensive roadmap for the delivery of net zero in key areas, as set out in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report, The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is planning to bring forward a draft of the next Climate Change Plan before the end of 2023 to set clear asks and responsibilities for all of the main actors on delivering climate policy in support of our climate change targets. We wil…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support third sector organisations to enable them to financially benefit from social prescribing, in order to recoup any additional costs of supporting these programmes such as increased volunteer training and management.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognise that social prescribing can be an effective method of improving an individual’s physical, mental and social health. There is growing interest in social prescribing approaches in Scotland and we are currently looking at how we…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Zero Tolerance since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Of…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Young Women's Movement since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Emma Roddick: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Of…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Women's Rights Centre since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Angela Constance: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Sc…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Women's Convention since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Emma Roddick: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Of…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Women's Aid since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Of…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Trades Union Congress since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Neil Gray: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met with, as well as the subject discussed…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Refugee Council since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government meets regularly with the Scottish Refugee Council to discuss a range of issues as part of our commitment to work in partnership. This includes meetings in relation to the New Scots refugee integration strategy for which Scottish Refuge…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Rape Crisis Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Of…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Scottish Government officials and Ministers meet with NUS on a regular basis to discuss ongoing policy development and issues impacting Scotland’s student population. Meetings are typically scheduled as part of an ongoing series of engagements, however ad hoc…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with JustRight Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Ministers meet representatives of civil society organisations from time to time to discuss matters of common interest. Meetings with JustRight Scotland have been held on a number of occasions since May 2021. Information about ministerial engagements is proa…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Human Rights Consortium Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Ministers meet representatives of civil society organisations from time to time to discuss matters of common interest. Meetings with the Human Rights Consortium Scotland have been held on a number of occasions since May 2021. Information about ministerial e…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Close the Gap since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Emma Roddick: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. Of…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Amnesty International since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Ministers meet representatives of civil society organisations from time to time to discuss matters of common interest. Meetings with Amnesty International have been held on a number of occasions since May 2021. Information about ministerial engagements is p…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Ricardo-AEA Ltd since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has had a number of meetings with Ricardo AEA Ltd since May 2021:Meetings to discuss research and analysis that Ricardo AEA Ltd has been commissioned to deliver for Scottish Government: this has involved around 20 research commissions,…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Research Data Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since the establishment of Research Data Scotland (RDS) at the end of 2021 my officials have had ongoing engagement with RDS. Regarding formal meetings, my officials hold quarterly review meetings with the CEO and senior management of RDS. The more recent on…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with The Promise Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government has regular meetings with The Promise Scotland both at ministerial and official levels. For example, the First Minister met with Fiona Duncan, Chair of The Promise Scotland on 7 April 2023, at which meeting the First Minister committed…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Ballet since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Scottish Ballet is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Companies and has met with Scottish Ministers on two occasions since May 2021. On 22 February 2022 Scottish Ballet held an introductory meeting with Neil Gray following his appointment as Minister…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with One Parent Families Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Natalie Don: Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed. I…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Lanarkshire Enterprise Services Ltd since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the period since this commitment was made in 2021 we have invested £38 million directly into Scottish businesses and associated digital support for them to access. This does not include the value of the programmes that our enterprise agencies deliver on ou…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Inspiring Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government engages regularly with Inspiring Scotland across multiple policy areas including, but not limited to, the Young Person’s Guarantee, the Promise, children and families, mental health, autism and learning disabilities, rural and island c…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Harper Macleod LLP since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Harper MacLeod are a provider of external legal services to The Scottish Government via call-off contracts under the Legal Services Framework 2019 to 2023 . The Scottish Government Legal Directorate hold quarterly review meetings with Harper MacLeod to dis…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with MG Alba, the Gaelic Media Service, since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Officials from the Scottish Government are in touch with MG ALBA every week on detailed items of business. In addition, the Scottish Government has had more formal meetings with MG ALBA on 22 June 2022 and 15 March 2023. These meetings covered a wide range o…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Ferguson Marine since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government meets with Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow on a regular basis in regards to the delivery of vessels 801 and 802 and the business itself. Scottish Government Ministers have also visited the yard. These engagements are published on the Scot…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Energy Saving Trust since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, due to the significant number of meetings which take place between Energy Saving Trust and the Scottish Government. Energy officials alone meet with EST a number of times a week, both …