Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed any impacts on bereaved families of prolonged fatal accident inquiry processes.
Answer · Angela Constance: The experience of families will inform the forthcoming focused review of FAIs in relation to deaths in custody.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects feedback from families involved in fatal accident inquiries regarding their experiences of the inquiry process, and how it uses any such information.
Answer · Angela Constance: The operation of FAIs is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service rather than for the Scottish Government. The experience of families will inform the forthcoming focused review of FAIs in relation to deaths in custody.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks regarding the safety standards, including minimum clearance heights, proposed for the Tealing to Kintore upgrade project, and what the outcomes of those discussions were.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 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-committees…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on agricultural productivity and safety of the minimum pylon heights proposed by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks for the Tealing to Kintore upgrade project.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 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-committees…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the potential for some of them to become AI investment zones.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government, in collaboration with the enterprise network and UK Government, held exploratory discussions with local authorities last year to establish their interest in submitting an Expression of Interest to the AI Growth Zones opportunity. We s…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any consultations conducted by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks or its contractors with farmers regarding machinery heights routinely used along the route of the Tealing to Kintore upgrade project, and how any such information obtained has informed the pr…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 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-committees…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries have been delayed as a result of outstanding investigations or reports from external agencies in each of the last five years, broken down by agency.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS does not hold this information.There are a number of agencies who may be involved in carrying out inquiries into the circumstances surrounding a death. It is important that the results of those inquiries – which may be specifically instructed by C…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently it reviews the implementation status of fatal accident inquiry recommendations with relevant organisations or bodies.
Answer · Angela Constance: The determination of an FAI will set out the Sheriff's recommendations, which will be aimed at the relevant public body. The Scottish Government would expect any public body to take cognisance of any recommendations.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the Tealing to Kintore upgrade project fully complies with the Construction (Design Management) Regulations 2015, specifically with regard to assessing and mitigating any safety risks to farmers and agricultural workers arising from overhead power lines.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 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-committees…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of fatal accident inquiries have resulted in criminal proceedings or disciplinary action in each of the last five years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS does not hold this information. However, any decision to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry is ordinarily not taken until other proceedings, including criminal proceedings, have been completed or ruled out.COPFS would not expect to be made aware of any disci…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic impact on the north east of Scotland of not extending funding for the Net Zero Technology Centre beyond the 2026 Aberdeen City Region Deal timeframe, and whether it has conducted any economic analysis of the potential implications of …
Answer · Kate Forbes: Net Zero Technology Centre will continue to be in receipt of funding from both Scottish and UK Governments through the Aberdeen City Region Deal until 2026-27. Discussions continue between Governments and the centre around its operations once Deal funding con…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any representations to the UK Government regarding reserved matters that may impact on the timeliness and effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries in Scotland, such as delays in obtaining evidence or expert testimony.
Answer · Angela Constance: No.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent estimate it has made of any impact on tax revenue of alcohol purchases made by Scotland residents (a) online from businesses registered in England and Wales and (b) in person when travelling to England, in cases where such purchases are not subject to minimum unit pricing.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Alcohol sales are subject to VAT, whilst any profits made by businesses selling alcohol are subject to Corporation Tax. Both of these taxes remain fully reserved to the UK Government. Scotland receives a share of UK-wide VAT and corporation tax, regardless of…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses when deciding whether to hold discretionary fatal accident inquiries.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: In terms of Section 4 of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016, an Inquiry is to be held if the Lord Advocate considers that the death was sudden, suspicious or unexplained, or occurred in circumstances giving rise to s…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently employed in the nuclear industry in Scotland, and what the value of the industry has been to the economy in each of the last five years.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Latest data from the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) survey shows that, in 2022, Scotland’s nuclear power sector directly employed 2,700 (full-time equivalent) and had an estimated turnover of £763 million.A five-year time series &…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries have involved delays to the publication of the final inquiry report in each of the last five years, and what the reasons were for any such delays.
Answer · Angela Constance: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been required to supply the MV Glen Sannox in each month since December 2024, and what its position is on the long-term fuel supply strategy for the vessel.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table provides the amount of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) consumed by the MV Glen Sannox for the period covering December 2024 until March 2025. December 2024January 2025February 2025March 2025TotalLNG consumption by the MV Glen Sannox (MWh)…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries have not yet commenced more than (a) one year and (b) two years after being mandated, in each of the last three years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: At the end of the reporting year 2024-25, there were 246 mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiries where a First Notice had not been lodged with the Sheriff Clerk. Of those 246 cases, 92 were less than one year old (from the date the death was reported to COPFS), 75…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of fatal accident inquiries have involved public bodies in each of the last three years, broken down by type of organisation.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: In relation to concluded Fatal Accident Inquiries where the Determination was published in 2024-25, 74% featured public bodies as interested parties. The public bodies were as follows: Scottish Prison Service (53% of all FAIs), NHS boards (50%), Prison Office…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the effectiveness of current processes for (a) monitoring and (b) ensuring the implementation of recommendations made following fatal accident inquiries.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recently announced a review into how fatal accident inquiries operate. That review follows the publication of Sheriff Collins' determination of the fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Katie Allen and William Brown in Polmont YOI …
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors any trends or common factors identified across fatal accident inquiries, and how it uses any such data in its policy development.
Answer · Angela Constance: FAIs cover a number of areas of policy interest. It would be for each Scottish Government policy area to consider if a particular determination or response gave rise to further consideration or action. We would expect any public body to take cognisance of any…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures (a) transparency and (b) public accountability regarding the outcomes and recommendations of fatal accident inquiries.
Answer · Angela Constance: The statutory framework for FAIs is the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016. The legislation introduced a requirement for the Sheriff conducting the FAI to make a determination setting out their conclusions and recommendat…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the resources allocated to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to manage fatal accident inquiries, and, if so, what its findings were.
Answer · Shona Robison: I engaged with the Lord Advocate, Solicitor General and the Crown Agent during the 2025-26 budget process which informed the allocation to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The portfolio received a resource budget of £225.2 million for 202…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it tracks any repeated recommendations arising from multiple fatal accident inquiries, and what action it has taken in response to any such recurring recommendations.
Answer · Angela Constance: The recommendations in FAI determinations cover a wide variety of policy areas. Each area will consider what action to take in relation to each recommendation that is relevant to its own area of responsibility.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to revise the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in response to reported plans in England to ease the process of building nuclear power plants, and what assessment it has made of any potential implications of this for its energy policy.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: There are no plans to review our nuclear policy or to revise the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). The Scottish Government’s position on traditional fission nuclear energy is clear: we do not support the building of any new nuclear power statio…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic analysis it has conducted of the potential impact of (a) new oil and gas licences being issued and (b) the North East Scotland Offshore’s Beyond 2030 plans on the (i) Scottish economy, (ii) economy of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and (iii) economy of Angus.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has introduced to reduce any delays to the commencement of fatal accident inquiries following the conclusion of investigations.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS regularly liaises with the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service (SCTS) in relation to upcoming Fatal Accident Inquiries. In particular, the Head of the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU) of COPFS writes to all Sheriffs Principal on a quart…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of training provided to sheriffs who preside over fatal accident inquiries.
Answer · Angela Constance: Training of the judiciary, including the training provided to sheriffs who hear fatal accident inquiries, is not a matter for the Scottish Government but rather for the Lord President.
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to families (a) during and (b) after a fatal accident inquiry.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Family Liaison Charter sets out the Crown’s obligations in relation to liaising with and providing information to bereaved relatives.In relation to every death where a Fatal Accident Inquiry is to be held, a dedicated COPFS Victim Information and Ad…
19 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths subject to mandatory fatal accident inquiries are currently awaiting an inquiry, and what the longest period is that an inquiry has been outstanding.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: As at 3 April 2025, there are 246 mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiries where no First Notice has been lodged with the Sheriff Clerk. The oldest of those cases was reported to COPFS on 19 August 2018.