Katy Clark

1 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the analysis by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) that indicates an increase of up to 40% in outsourcing by local authorities, what assessment it has made of any impact of outsourcing on (a) jobs and (b) revenue in the public sector.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government respects the independence of Local Government and the role of individual local authorities – as independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities – to manage their own budgets and workforce, including …

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many retained fire stations have had a fire appliance unavailable for 50% of the time or more in the last five years.

Answer · Neil Gray:  Number of times SFRS Retained fire stations have had a first pumping appliance unavailable for 50% of the time or more in the last five years*YearNumber of Appliances under 50% availabilityNumber of Stations2021-22312472022-23362472023-24462642024-25452…

17 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its cross-government co-ordination on island connectivity, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues on how to ensure that public transport meets the needs of island communities.  

13 Mar 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that the Scottish Information Commissioner is taking legal advice on further legal action against the Scottish Government and his comments that he “can no longer trust the Government to handle this information unsupervised".

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Transport’s statement to the Parliament on 3 March 2026 on Ferries and Ports, on what date it expects CMAL to sign the legal agreement with Peel Ports for the public purchase of Ardrossan Harbour.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The deal to complete the purchase of Ardrossan was finalised on 17 March 2026 by CMAL and Ardrossan Harbour Company Ltd (part of Peel Ports Group). We can now focus on the redevelopment of the harbour, with CMAL considering short term works to enable to port …

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43888 by Gillian Martin on 2 March 2026, whether it has sought clarification from SSEN that its definition of “specialist” jobs covers all seafarer grades.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44369 on 25 March 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…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43887 by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2026, what financial support it is currently providing to SSE plc and its subsidiaries, including (a) SSEN Transmission and (b) SSEN Distribution.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not routinely provide financial support to SSE plc or its subsidiaries. Electricity networks are a regulated industry, with Ofgem, the GB energy regulator, responsible for regulation.

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43888 by Gillian Martin on 2 March 2026, whether it will provide details of the 450 specialist jobs that SSEN estimates will be supported in each year of the five years of the contract, broken down by seafarer grade.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government understands that SSEN has now put in place its frameworks with contract partners. These frameworks will enable partners to bid for specific projects. This process will define the precise nature and the grade of roles created.Given the …

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43887 by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2026, what steps it is taking to work with trade unions to promote Fair Work principles in private contracts for domestic (a) production, (b) transmission and (c) distribution of offshore renewable energy.

Answer · Gillian Martin: While the Scottish Government strongly encourages all employers in Scotland to follow Fair Work principles as part of its wider Fair Work agenda, it does not have the levers to enforce fair work conditions on private contracts. Employment law is reserved to t…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43887 by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2026, what action it is taking to promote the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund for the supply of skilled workers to SSEN Distribution’s five contract partners.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund (TTF), currently in its 2025-26 pilot phase and delivered by Skills Development Scotland, supports eligible oil and gas workers with careers advice and funding for training to access roles across a range of sustainable…

11 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its Budget 2026-27 adequately funds health and social care partnerships to deliver services, including social care.

2 Mar 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day being equal rights and equal justice, what action the Scottish Government is taking to improve the legal rights of women and girls. 

23 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with CalMac regarding any anticipated increase in commercial shipping activity in the west of Scotland over the next five years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government meets regularly with CalMac to discuss a wide variety of matters related to the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services.For example, SSEN Transmission’s Lewis Hub will lead to an increase in demand for commercial vehicle movements to…

23 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake an urgent assessment of the five contracted partners in SSEN Distribution’s £950 million framework for improving subsea grid connections for Scotland’s island communities, in relation to upholding the aims of the Fair Work Convention, which was…

Answer · Gillian Martin: SSEN’s £950 million framework does not include any public funding, and the Scottish Government does not have the levers to enforce Fair Work conditions on private investments.Employment law is reserved to the UK Government.The Scottish Government …

23 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of seafarer jobs that will be created in Scotland by SSEN Distribution’s five-year contract for improving subsea grid connections for island communities in the west of Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland’s strengths and areas of competitive advantages positions us well to seize the opportunities of net zero.The Scottish Government welcomes the investment by SSEN Distribution, which will help upgrade the subsea network serving Scotland’s i…

17 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities receive fair and sustainable funding settlements.

16 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial assessment it has made of any impact on the fiscal sustainability of Ferguson Marine of its decision to reduce the annual subsidy provided to the shipyard by almost half.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Ferguson Marine does not currently attract any level of subsidy; the contractual payment amounts have reduced due to MV Glen Rosa reaching its final stages of the build project.

3 Feb 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the greater use of private bodies to deliver public services, what its position is on whether freedom of information law should be reformed to close loopholes, strengthen the powers of the Scottish Information Commissioner and enable the speedier extension of the coverage of…

26 Jan 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Information Commissioner taking legal action against it in relation to it missing deadlines to produce documents regarding James Hamilton’s investigation into alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code.

19 Jan 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will comply with the Scottish Information Commissioner’s ruling that files relating to James Hamilton's investigation into whether the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, broke the ministerial code must be published by 22 January 2026.

6 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the development of municipally owned energy sources.

5 Jan 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to address CalMac’s ferry repair and maintenance costs, in light of reports that these costs have doubled over the past two years.

22 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms it has in place to monitor the Scottish Inherited Metabolic Disease Service’s adherence to the European Society for Phenylketonuria and Allied Disorders Treated as Phenylketonuria (ESPKU) clinical guidelines.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland delivers high-quality, safe and effective, person-centred care. The Phenylketonuria (PKU) service in Scotland is part of the Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) service commission…

22 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many adults diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU) have been assessed for responsiveness to sapropterin treatment in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) who is the lead provider for Phenylketonuria (PKU) services as part of a nationally designated Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) Service.

22 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Inherited Metabolic Disease Service is delivering clinical care for people with phenylketonuria (PKU) in accordance with the European Society for Phenylketonuria and Allied Disorders Treated as Phenylketonuria (ESPKU) clinical guidelines.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland delivers high-quality, safe and effective, person-centred care. The Phenylketonuria (PKU) service in Scotland is part of the Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) service commission…

22 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) who are identified as responsive to sapropterin are able to access the medicine through the NHS.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) service in Scotland produced a statement on the use of sapropterin in individuals of all ages with phenylketonuria (PKU), including details of the clinical pathway to be followe…

16 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve pay in the college sector.

11 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the cost will be of the proposed role expansion for firefighters in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: There is an in-principle agreement between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union on role expansion for Scottish firefighters. However, the actual uplift in pay would be subject to detailed negotiation. The cost would therefore be de…

11 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42154 by Siobhian Brown on 5 December 2025, whether it plans to publish the analysis of the economic benefits of a potential role expansion for firefighters.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: There are no plans to publish any analysis of the economic benefits of a potential role expansion for firefighters.

9 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it anticipates for MSPs to debate on the outcomes of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Service Delivery Review.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Decisions on the location of fire stations and appliances and the most appropriate crewing system to provide fire and rescue cover are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). The Scottish Parliament can choose to scrutinise SFRS i…