Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce an equivalent to the UK Government's Places of Worship Renewal Fund for England.
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01102 by Ben Macpherson on 13 July 2026, what oversight it has of colleges' compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive.
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43897 by Angus Robertson on 4 March 2026, how it is progressing work to ensure that listed places of worship in Scotland are not disproportionately affected by the end of the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
20 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to increase the level of school clothing grant for primary and secondary pupils.
20 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential cumulative impact of hyperscale data centres on water supply in Scotland.
20 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to requiring data centres to run closed loop water systems or to require the reuse of treated wastewater.
20 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it maintains, or plans to create, a list of the number, location and size of all current and proposed data centres in Scotland, and whether this is available to the public.
20 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has, if any, to introduce guidance for schools to minimise requirements for branded items as part of school uniforms.
20 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the current school clothing grant is sufficient to cover the cost of school uniforms for primary and secondary school pupils.
6 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the terms of reference of the Anti-Racism Coalition to be agreed.
Answer · Simita Kumar: A range of different stakeholder organisations are reflecting shared concerns about the nature and extent of protest activity, disorder and incidents of hate, prejudice and intimidation and their impact on faith communities, adversely racialised communities, …
6 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information regarding who represented the Anti-Racism Coalition at the meeting attended by the First Minister and the Scottish Refugee Council in June 2026, following disorder in Glasgow and other parts of Scotland.
Answer · Simita Kumar: On 18 June 2026, the First Minister met with the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS), Article 12 in Scotland, Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS), the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER), the Council of Ethnic Minorit…
6 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who has been involved in the establishment of the Anti-Racism Coalition and determining its terms of reference.
Answer · Simita Kumar: Since February 2026, the Scottish Government has had Roundtable meetings with the following funded organisations who support delivery of the Anti-Racism Delivery Plan, published in March 2026:Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS)Article 12 in ScotlandBl…
6 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland's African and black communities and citizens are represented on the Anti-Racism Coalition.
Answer · Simita Kumar: A range of different stakeholder organisations are reflecting shared concerns about the nature and extent of protest activity, disorder and incidents of hate, prejudice and intimidation and their impact on faith communities, adversely racialised communities, …
6 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the strategic stakeholders, which it funds and works closely with on key anti-racism priorities, that it anticipates will form the Anti-Racism Coalition.
Answer · Simita Kumar: The Scottish Government funds the following organisations who support the delivery of the Anti-Racism Delivery Plan published in March 2026. This is independent of government and there is not a formal or constituted body as such called the Anti-Racism Coaliti…
6 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the arrangements for ministerial oversight of the work of the Anti-Racism Coalition.
Answer · Simita Kumar: A range of different stakeholder organisations are reflecting shared concerns about the nature and extent of protest activity, disorder and incidents of hate, prejudice and intimidation and their impact on faith communities, adversely racialised communities, …
2 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include proposals to improve the welfare of farmed animals, including through measures relating to the use of farrowing crates, in its forthcoming Programme for Government.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Ministers confirmed a commitment to consulting on phasing out farrowing crates in a previous Programme for Government. Our new Programme for Government will be published later this year and in the meantime the Scottish Government will continue to wor…
2 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include proposals to review the regulation of the keeping and sale of exotic animals as pets in its forthcoming Programme for Government.
2 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of existing animal welfare legislation and regulation, and whether it has identified any areas where it considers that reform may be required.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: In April 2025 the Scottish Government published a review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, considering the provisions of the 2020 Act and any requirements for additional animal welfare, animal health and wild…
29 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its legal duties to protect and restore seabed habitats under the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and how it is delivering on these duties.
29 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to each of the five recommendations in the Environmental Standards Scotland report, Protecting Scotland’s seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010.
29 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Environmental Standards Scotland's recent report, Protecting Scotland’s seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, what steps it is taking to address the data gaps which currently prevent …
29 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the contribution that Scottish measures are expected to make towards the agreed Scottish share of UK-wide seafloor integrity targets.
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the City of Glasgow College and the Scottish Funding Council regarding the reported findings of the unannounced inspection of the welding and fabrication department at the college in December 2025.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Operational matters, including health and safety, remain the responsibility of individual institutions, with regulation and enforcement undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Scottish Government engages regularly with the Scottish Funding Co…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council regarding oversight of health and safety standards in colleges.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Ministers and officials engage regularly with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) on oversight of the college sector, including governance and institutional performance.Operational matters, including health and safety, remain the responsibility of individual c…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects information regarding health and safety enforcement action issued to colleges in Scotland, and, if so, whether it will provide details of any such action taken in each of the last five years.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Responsibility for health and safety in colleges rests with individual institutions, with enforcement of legislation undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).As the statutory regulator, the HS…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that any health and safety concerns raised by staff and students in colleges are appropriately investigated and acted upon.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01099 on 13 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/…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, any review of health and safety arrangements in Scotland's colleges.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Responsibility for health and safety arrangements rests with individual colleges, which are required to meet their legal obligations and maintain safe environments for staff and learners.Whilst health and safety regulation and enforcement is a matter for the …
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the reported findings of the unannounced inspection of the welding and fabrication department at City of Glasgow College in December 2025.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Individual colleges in Scotland are responsible for their own operational decisions, such as ensuring systems are in place to assess and manage health and safety risks, and working with the relevant bodies to ensure they meet their legal responsibilities. The…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to colleges regarding the management of health and safety risks associated with welding fumes and other hazardous substances.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government expects colleges to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and to follow relevant guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), including in relation to the management of risks from welding fumes and other h…
16 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, what assessment it has made of whether staff in Scotland's colleges have sufficient protections and confidence to raise any workplace health and safety concerns without fear of detriment.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government has been consistently clear we expect colleges to embed Fair Work principles, which includes ensuring there are effective mechanisms for staff and students to raise concerns, and for these to be considered and acted upon, without fear …