Katy Clark

9 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it anticipates the Scottish Parliament will play in holding the Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to account regarding any decisions that may come from the Service Delivery Review of the SFRS.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: How the Scottish Parliament chooses to hold the Scottish Government or public bodies to account is solely a matter for Parliament to decide.

9 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what parliamentary scrutiny of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Service Delivery Review it anticipates.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Parliamentary scrutiny of any topic is solely a matter for the Scottish Parliament to determine and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to dictate how Parliament takes forward its scrutiny.

3 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value was of its contract with Stantec for the Community Needs Assessment Methodology, which was published by Transport Scotland on 24 September 2025.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The development of the Community Needs Assessment methodology was undertaken by Stantec as part of a wider commission, the total value of which was £12,465.

3 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41867 by Jim Fairlie on 27 November 2025, what departmental (a) resources and (b) budgets it has allocated for the Community Needs Assessment on all Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services routes.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: For work on Community Needs Assessments (CNA) for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services routes, people and other internal resources are allocated as part of Transport Scotland's planned work programme. Budget allocations for this work are as follows:Consultan…

3 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41867 by Jim Fairlie on 27 November 2025, whether it will list the contractors carrying out each Community Needs Assessment (CNA) of lifeline ferry routes on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (third generation) (CHFS3) contract, and on what date…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The contractors carrying out Community Needs Assessment (CNA) work for Transport Scotland are appointed via procurement from a framework of pre-qualified organisations.1.The CNAs for Cowal and Rosneath were undertaken by Stantec. The call-off contract was awa…

2 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect and improve ferry services to Scotland’s island communities.

25 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the "in principle" agreement on role expansion for firefighters between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS),  what its position is on any projected economic benefits that could be realised if it was implemented.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: A broadened role for firefighters has the potential to deliver economic benefits in terms of reduced hospital visits from a broader preventative home safety visit and to deliver better health outcomes through co-responding to emergency medical incidents with …

25 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions it has taken to advance the "in principle" agreement on role expansion for firefighters between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Expanding the role of firefighters so that they can do more to keep communities safe is a priority in the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland. The Scottish Government has been in close contact with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service over these proposals,…

25 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what cost-benefit analysis it has carried out of a potential role expansion for firefighters.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has carried out analysis of the potential costs and economic benefits of a potential role expansion for firefighters. Analysis of the potentially expanded role for firefighters could deliver net economic benefits but these would be unl…

25 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there been no progress on the "in principle" agreement on role expansion for firefighters reached in 2022 between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The substantial additional cost in terms of a significant uplift on salary for all firefighters in Scotland has been unaffordable over the last 2 financial years due to the difficult decisions needed on the allocation of resources within the Justice portfolio…

25 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the "in principle" agreement on role expansion for firefighters between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS),  what its position is on any projected societal benefits that could be realised if it was implemented.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: A broadened preventative role for firefighters has the potential to keep vulnerable people safe by avoiding hazards in homes and communities and in signposting help from other public bodies where that is identified as being helpful. Working in partnership wit…

18 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Auditor General into the financial sustainability of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which found that the board is facing a deficit of £33.1 million in the current year.

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Islands Connectivity Plan’s project to replace the Gourock-Dunoon-Kilcreggan passenger vessels by December 2026, and what the budget is for this project.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Programme Working Group has been considering interlinked vessel replacement and port infrastructure matters to develop the options for investment in ferry services to Dunoon and Kilcreggan. The review of services reported following the completion of the C…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Islands Connectivity Plan’s proposed development of Gourock Ferry Terminal by December 2026, and what the budget is for this project.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41869 on 27 November 2025. 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-committ…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish a timetable for the Community Needs Assessment of the (a) Ardrossan- (i) Brodick and (ii) Campbeltown route and (b) all other routes in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (third generation) (CHFS3) contract, as required by the Islands Connectivity Pl…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Community Needs Assessments (CNAs) for Arran (including the Ardrossan-Brodick route) and Campbeltown are part of a wider programme of assessments for Clyde and Kintyre routes plus Islay, Jura and Gigha, and are scheduled to be carried out during 2026.CNAs…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding Transport Scotland has provided to Dunoon Community Development Trust in each year since 2016-17.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland has no direct funding relationship with Dunoon Community Development Trust (DCDT), but since its creation in 2021(with support including £15,000 from the Scottish Government’s ‘Scotland Loves Local Fund’), DCDT has b…

10 Nov 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by Professor Catriona Matheson, former chair of the Drug Deaths Taskforce, that the national mission on drug deaths has failed to deliver robust, evidence-based clinical care for people affected by drug use, due to clinical and practitioner exper…

7 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider mandating uniform reporting of restrictive practices in adult psychiatric care units.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government will revise the Code of Practice under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to add guidance on the use of restrictive practices in inpatient mental health wards against children, young people and adults. This will…

7 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to improve workplace training inpsychiatric care settings, including on de-escalation techniques andtrust-building.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is clear that Health Boards are expected to follow best practice, ensure that all staff are adequately trained and report all restraint incidents through robust systems.While Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for …

7 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timescale for the designation ofthe Mental Welfare Commission as the appropriate monitoring body of the use ofrestraint and seclusion in children’s psychiatric care facilities. 

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has already designated the Mental Welfare Commission to undertake national monitoring and reporting on the use of restrictive practices in inpatient mental health units. NHS Boards were notified of this on 30 October 2025.

29 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to COSLA’s recently published manifesto, which calls for an additional £750 million of funding for social care.

Answer · Neil Gray: Local government is a crucial partner in helping to deliver better outcomes for the people of Scotland. That is why we have provided councils with a record £15.1 billion this year, a real terms increase of 5.5%, and have delivered a wide range of powers…

21 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect access to banking services in North Ayrshire.

20 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to conclude the purchase of Ardrossan harbour from Peel Ports, and whether it will take steps to ensure that the planned upgrade of Ardrossan harbour includes repair of the Irish Berth.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05083 on 30 October 2025 regarding the conclusion of the purchase.The redevelopment of Ardrossan and the current focus on potential purchase remains a priority for this Government. I will of course update membe…

20 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent analysis Transport Scotland has undertaken of trends in wave height on subsidised ferry routes.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The ICP Vessels and Port Plan notes that vessel and infrastructure project design development should consider issues such as wind and wave/swell modelling data to ensure and provide an optimum solution for ferry services to island communities. We will continu…

20 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected cost is of CalMac Ferries time charter of MV Arrow for additional freight capacity on the Ullapool-Stornoway route between October and November 2025.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac have advised that the estimated cost of the charter will be in the region of £500,000.

20 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish the specifications in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service 3 contract.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40730 on 1 October 2025 and confirm the specification is not a stand-alone document, it is embedded within the grant agreement which was published on 1st October 2025 on the Transport Scotland website, alongsid…

15 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns raised by the Scottish Police Federation that public safety might be at risk should there not be a significant increase in Police Scotland’s financial settlement in 2026-27.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government’s Vision for Justice clearly sets out the priorities we have for the whole of the justice system, ensuring it serves everyone fairly and effectively, with a focus on creating safer communities.Police Scotland remain focused on ke…

15 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve outpatient waiting times in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in light of reports that the NHS board is failing to meet the target of 95% of new outpatients being seen within 12 weeks.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are investing more than £135.5 million this year to cut waits, and we expect to see the full impact of our targeted funding in the coming months. As detailed in my response to question S6W-37797 on 30 May 2025, NHS Ayrshire & Arran was initially …

15 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect public sector workers, in light of figures released by Unison suggesting that there were more than 75,000 assaults on these workers in the last year.

Answer · Angela Constance: Violence and abuse against public sector workers are completely unacceptable. Everyone deserves to feel safe at work, especially when serving the public.A range of criminal laws protect public sector staff. The Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 allows for…

1 Oct 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the decision by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to progress with proposals for bus franchising.