Katy Clark

29 Sep 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report from the Scottish Funding Council stating that universities and colleges are in unsustainable financial situations, with some at risk of insolvency in the current financial year.

23 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase funding for the No Knives, Better Lives campaign, in light of the campaign having a reported 12% real-terms reduction in its funding since 2022-23.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Against a background of increased funding pressures, we have committed over £6 million to support delivery of a range of prevention and early intervention activities through the Violence Prevention Framework, since its publication in 2023. This investme…

11 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it having a proposed capacity of 1,344 places, what the expected size of cells in the new HMP Glasgow will be. .

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:HMP Glasgow’s design is built on lessons learned from previous builds and other jurisdictions. The design utilises a formation of …

10 Sep 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a direct award to the Ferguson Marine shipyard for the replacement of MV Lord of the Isles.

2 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published report by National Records of Scotland, Healthy Life Expectancy 2021-2023.

6 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the fourth supplementary to question S6O-02531 by Siobhian Brown on 20 September 2023, in light of the minister’s comment that Scotland is “maintaining frontline services by having a higher number of firefighters than there is in other parts of the U…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: In answering Parliamentary Questions in relation to firefighter numbers, the Scottish Government uses nationally available Official Statistics from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and for comparative numbers, the Welsh and UK Governments.Current O…

19 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed its reported decision to pause the implementation of provisions in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 regarding (a) the implementation of a licensing system for those wishing to use fireworks and (b) restricting the days on which fireworks …

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Four out of six key measures provided for within the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022, have been implemented and two have been paused, as outlined to the Criminal Justice Committee. The decisions to pause the implementation of a licensin…

19 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding fireworks regulations.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I most recently met with Minister Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets alongside the Deputy First Minister of Wales, on 26 February 2025 to discuss what more can be done on firework regulations as part of our on-going discussions t…

17 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it plans to do to ensure that children in care are not excluded from school, as set out in The Promise.

12 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of the five-month extension to the time charter of the MV Alfred for CalMac ferry services to Arran.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The actual cost of the five-month extension will depend on where the vessel is deployed and the level of service provided. This will be known at the end of the charter period.

27 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to address violence in schools.

14 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what impact the National Strategy for Economic Transformation is having on the economy of the West Scotland region.

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made of any impact that fire contaminants may have on the health of an unborn child.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold copies of any assessments that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made in this area. It is SFRS policy to remove pregnant firefighters from front-line operational duties to avoid any potential risks to the mother or…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its public sector pay policies and its commitment to fair work, what its position is on whether statutory maternity pay is adequate for a family to live on.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Powers over maternity leave and pay are reserved to the UK Government and we know that in comparison to OECD countries, maternity payment rates in the UK are amongst the lowest, with less than one-third of gross average earnings replaced by the maternity bene…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether increasing maternity pay for firefighters to 52 weeks would attract more women to join the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Attraction, recruitment and retention are a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). The Scottish Government Fire and Rescue Framework 2022 asks SFRS to actively strive to be an organisation that is more representative of the people and communi…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is any increased risk to a mother's mental health as a result of returning to work 26 weeks after having a baby.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The health, safety and wellbeing of staff is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) as the employer. Within SFRS, employees all have access to a wide range of support services, including to support mental health which can be accessed during …

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made of any impact of ingested fire contaminants being passed on to babies via their mother's breastmilk.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Health and Safety of firefighters is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). In recognition of the potential risks which could be caused by contaminants, it is SFRS policy for firefighters who are breastfeeding to not undertake any opera…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's period of paternity leave should be increased to support women after having a baby.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Paternity leave is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and is negotiated through the National Joint Council for firefighters or through Staff representative bodies for non-uniformed staff. There are a number of policies available for empl…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Fire Brigades Union’s campaign calling for all women firefighters to be able to access 52 weeks of paid maternity leave.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The terms and conditions of firefighters are negotiated on a UK wide basis through the National Joint Council. The Fire Brigades Union is the largest staff representative body at those negotiations and that is the appropriate avenue to change pay and conditio…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many firefighters have accessed maternity leave in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's maternity policy, what its position is on whether 26 weeks of full pay restricts the numbers of women firefighters who want to breastfeed their child.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: In recognition of the potential risks which could be caused by contaminants, it is Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) policy for firefighters who are breastfeeding to not undertake operational activity. In addition, employees who wish to continue to brea…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported 26 weeks of maternity pay is an obstacle to the recruitment and retention of women in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Recruitment and retention of firefighters is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that maternity pay for firefighters in Scotland is £16,400 less than other regions of the UK, whether this is compatible with its commitment to fair work.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The pay and conditions of firefighters are negotiated through well-established collective bargaining arrangements at a UK wide level. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Maternity Policy provides maternity leave for 26 weeks at full pay and 13 weeks a…

6 May 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of new rape cases being reported to police has increased by more than a third since 2020-21.

30 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further action it can take to increase the stock of accessible housing.

31 Mar 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on whether the reported increased annual cost of Scotland's prisons to over £77,000 per prisoner represents good value for public money.

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since the publication of the Manchester Arena Inquiry reports to review and strengthen the regulatory framework for private first aid and ambulance providers, including in relation to preparations for major events such as the Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government continues to work closely with the UK Government on the development of Statutory Guidance that will support the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, which received royal assent on 3 April 2025. We continue to encourage and signpost stak…

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18113 by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023, whether it has conducted any further engagement with (a) Healthcare Improvement Scotland and (b) other stakeholders regarding concerns in relation to the regulation of private first aid companies, including in th…

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36412 on 29 April 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-…

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific issues it plans to address during the stakeholder engagement process on the regulation of independent ambulances and private first aid providers, and how these align with the concerns raised in the Manchester Arena Inquiry reports.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act received royal assent on Thursday 3rd April 2025 and has a 24 month commencement period before it will come into force.The Scottish Government continues to work in collabor…

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a timeline for consulting (a) first aid providers, (b) independent ambulance organisations, (c) the Scottish Ambulance Service, (d) representatives of the hospitality and events sector and (e) other relevant stakeholders on the regulation of private first aid and indep…

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36412 on 29 April 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-…