Parliamentary questions
Katy Clark
746 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist advisers are directly employed to provide advice and support through Cooperative Development Scotland.
17 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it plans for Cooperative Development Scotland in delivering the provisions of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill.
17 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Cooperative Development Scotland will receive under the 2026-27 Budget.
17 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses and people have been supported by Cooperative Development Scotland in each year since 2021-22.
17 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Fair Work Agenda, whether Cooperative Development Scotland support is dependent on businesses and people adhering to fair work principles.
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex will appoint its panel of experts.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01438 on 20 July 2026. 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/…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the terms of reference for the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex have been finalised and, if so, when they will be published.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to S7W-01438 on 20 July 2026. 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/written-q…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what direction, if any, Scottish Ministers have provided to the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex regarding the inclusion of women who have exited prostitution on the Commission’s panel of experts.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Commission will ensure that the value and importance of lived experience is respected and reflected in its approach to gathering and considering evidence to inform its recommendations.This will include meaningful participation and engagement with people w…
1 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex to hold its first meeting.
Answer · Neil Gray: Early work on the Commission has begun, with its Chair Fiona Taylor QPM appointed in March 2026.In terms of next-steps, Ministers will work with Ms Taylor to finalise the Commission’s terms of reference, and a panel of experts will be appointed to suppo…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of its Budget 2026-27 that was allocated to grants for piers and harbours will be spent on Ardrossan Harbour.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: CMAL, in collaboration with CalMac and Transport Scotland as part of the project working group, are currently reviewing the design and scope of the upgrades required to support the continuation of ferry services to Arran. Based on the current stage of the pro…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the accountable bodies for the (a) Forth and (b) Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeports regarding compliance by employers in designated tax and customs sites with Fair Work Charter conditions.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government meets with the Green Freeports and their respective accountable bodies on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of aspects of the programme, including fair work. In addition, the Green Freeports report on fair work as part of the bi-…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is planning to take in 2026 to engage with (a) CalMac, (b) CMAL, (c) island stakeholders and (d) trade unions on proposals to reform the governance of public ferry contracts.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Scottish Ministers are committed to reforming our public sector to ensure the delivery of excellent public services in a fiscally sustainable manner. Delivering such services is core to the government’s mission. The role of Public Service Reform is to d…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the routes in the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract (CHFS3) for which a Community Needs Assessment has been completed.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Community Needs Assessments (CNAs) for the Cowal and Rosneath were published on 11 September 2024. Further CNAs are currently in progress and are expected to be completed by the end of this year. These cover the following:1.Coll, Colonsay, Iona, Kerrera, …
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that restoring roll-on roll-off ferry connections between Scotland and France would have on (a) rail freight (i) infrastructure and (ii) capacity, and (b) jobs in Scotland.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government has not made an assessment of the impact of a ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk. The decision to introduce an international ferry service is a commercial consideration for the ferry operator and relevant port authorities.The Sco…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to review the findings from CalMac’s deck space reservation pilot on Mull, Coll and Tiree ferry services.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government continues to monitor the deck space reservation pilot, with a working group of Transport Scotland, CalMac and community representatives due to meet in July 2026 to review progress and consider next steps.
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created in designated tax and customs sites in the (a) Forth and (b) Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeports since March 2024 to date.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The tax sites in Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport were designated in April 2024 and those of Forth Green Freeport in June 2024. Since then, both Green Freeports have been working up their full business cases, which were signed off in autumn 2025, w…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether CMAL has secured a Builders Refund Guarantee in the design and build contract with Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd for two Northern Isles freight flex vessels.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The design and build fixed price contracts are covered by Builders Refund Guarantees.
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual subsidy level was for the public contract for the Northern Isles Ferry Services in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2024-25.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Information regarding the annual subsidy level for the public contract for the Northern Isles Ferry Services is available on the Transport Scotland website under ‘Transport Scotland Section 70 return – 2013-2014’ and ‘Transport Scotlan…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of (a) employees and (b) supply chain contractors that Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd will require to complete the design and build contract for two Northern Isles freight flex vessels by 2029.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: CMAL as the procuring authority, will oversee the design and build processes and have a site team at the yard. It is for the shipyard to ensure that sufficient personnel are assigned to deliver the build in line with the agreed schedule. Guangzhou Shipyard In…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the first milestone payment is due for two Northern Isles Freight flex vessels, under the terms of the design and build contract between CMAL and Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The first milestone payment was made by CMAL on enactment of the contracts in April 2026. The next milestone payment, for cutting steel for Vessel 1, is expected in December 2026.
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the recognised trade unions at NorthLink Ferries are consulted over the design of (a) seafarer and (b) trainee accommodation on the two Northern Isles Freight flex vessels that are currently being designed and built by Guangzhou Shipyard Internation…
Answer · Stephen Flynn: NorthLink engages and will continue to engage on a regular basis, with both RMT and Nautilus International on all aspects of current and future operational activity including the new Freight Flex vessels. The Freight Flex Vessels include provision for 28 seaf…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of data obtained by BBC Scotland News through a Freedom of Information request, which indicates a 55% increase in physical assaults in schools over two years, whether it plans to reverse reductions in behavioural specialists, educational psychologists and speech …
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scotland’s schools should be safe, consistent learning environments for everyone. While the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR) (2023), which surveyed almost 4000 school staff, showed the majority of school staff think children and young peop…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Recording and Monitoring in Schools Short Life Working Group's progress in developing guidance for improved reporting systems.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As part of the National Action Plan for relationships and behaviour in schools, the Recording and Monitoring Short Life Working Group are developing a set of principles to underpin recording and monitoring of behaviour in schools. The Principles will support …
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports by BBC Scotland News that five local authorities were unable to provide figures on physical attacks in school settings because they did not store data in academic year format, what assessment it has made of the extent of underreporting of physical, verbal, and sexual…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: It is the Scottish Government’s expectation that all violent and abusive incidents against school staff should be recorded. Guidance published as part of the Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan 2024-27 has provided clear messaging to scho…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to NHS boards setting clear requirements for the recording and reporting of sexual offences committed within hospital settings.
Answer · Angela Constance: There are various national policies and guidance documents currently in place which require NHS Health Boards to appropriately record and report incidents of violence and aggression, including sexual assault. This includes the Work-related Violence and Aggres…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure consistent and comprehensive data collection on the profile of perpetrators of sexual assault and rape in Scottish hospitals, including whether they are (a) patients, (b) staff or (c) visitors, in order to better inform prevention and safeguarding mea…
Answer · Neil Gray: The recording of information on the profile of sexual assault and rape perpetrators is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and any such incident should be reported to them to ensure victims can access the justice they deserve. Beyond this, Health Board…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 138 official reports received by Police Scotland of sexual assault and rape occurring in Scottish hospitals, in which over half resulted in a criminal charge, what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of current processes for investigating and progressing any such…
Answer · Neil Gray: Reports of rape and sexual assaults in hospitals are very concerning. Such incidents are abhorrent and we encourage all victims to report sexual crime to the police, including those that may have happened some time ago. Health Boards have legal duties to keep…
3 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00001 by Neil Gray on 28 May 2026, whether it will provide the names of the SFRS Retained fire stations that have had a first pumping appliance unavailable for 50% of the time or more, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Neil Gray: SFRS Retained fire stations that have had a first pumping appliance available for less than 50% of the time since 2021*Station2021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26Additional InformationAberfeldy ? Aberfoyle???? Abing…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to develop a public sector insourcing plan.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring public services deliver best value and this is at the core of the Public Service Reform strategy.Public bodies are supported to consider all delivery models, including insourcing where appropriate.…
1 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider exploring the introduction of a public interest test to assess whether a service can be delivered more effectively in-house before any decision to outsource is made.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Public bodies are required to ensure delivery models achieve best value and meet the needs of the communities they serve. Decisions on whether services are delivered in-house or outsourced are a strategic matter for Scottish public bodies, taken through estab…