Ash Regan

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on implementing a ban on surrogacy in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The law on surrogacy is reserved to Westminster. As such any changes to legislation would need to take place in the UK Parliament.

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it estimates it would need to provide to local authorities to cover the cost of implementing a national council tax freeze in 2026-27.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government makes decisions in relation to local government funding as part of the annual Scottish Budget process. For 2024-25, Ministers provided £147 million to fund the Council Tax freeze - equivalent to the income from a 5% increase - an…

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, and in light of its series of papers, Building a New Scotland, which aimed to form a prospectus for an independent Scotland, what its policy is for what the weekly state pension entitlement would be in an independent Sco…

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government believes that full powers over social security and state pensions would enable Scotland to build on the existing approach for those benefits that are under devolved control, based on dignity and respect, and with access to social secur…

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in relation to issuing bonds to finance key infrastructure in Scotland since it announced its intention to do so in October 2023.

Answer · Shona Robison: On the 4 December as part of the Budget, The Scottish Government published a borrowing memorandum (Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026: Scottish Government borrowing - gov.scot), which included the outcome of the initial phase of Due Diligence on the work towards an…

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, when it last met with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to discuss what potential tariffs there could be between an independent Scotland and WTO members.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Tariffs for any new member of the World Trade Organization are a matter for negotiation with existing WTO member countries. The Scottish Government has held no discussions of this kind.

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, and, if so, whether it will consider the creation of such a reserve.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is unable to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. As a devolved government we must operate within rules laid down by the UK Government and as set out in HM Treasury’s financial framework. These rules preclude speculating on curren…

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, whether it will consider holding an independence convention during summer 2025.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government is focused on delivering for people across the country and making the case for taking decisions in Scotland for Scotland with independence.The Scottish Government will publish further material on independence to give the people of Scot…

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its policies and guidance for public bodies, what its definition of "woman" is.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government accepts the UK Supreme Court judgment in the appeal brought forward by For Women Scotland against Scottish Ministers, which has confirmed the meaning of woman under the Equality Act 2010. As the Equality and Human Rights Commission are…

21 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it undertook that resulted in it determining that CalMac should be directly awarded the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract without an open tender process, in light of it stating that directly awarding the contract for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme to Ferg…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Direct award of public contracts is only possible in strictly limited circumstances under public procurement rules.The CHFS3 decision was subject to a due diligence process which concluded there was no financial, operational or legal impediment to implementin…

20 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Crown Estate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland being granted borrowing powers so that it can, for example, invest in energy infrastructure, what its position is on similar powers being granted to Crown Estate Scotland.

24 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its policy position in relation to an independent Scotland seeking to rejoin the EU includes rejoining the Common Fisheries Policy.

24 Mar 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of reports of an escalation in gang-related violence in Edinburgh, with recent shootings in Niddrie and West Pilton, what immediate action can be taken to support the emergency services in ensuring the safety and reassurance of communities in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency.

11 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out in 2024-25 to further the case for Scottish independence.

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policy on gender self-identification not being law in Scotland, what measures it has taken to ensure that all policies implemented by public bodies and third-party organisations receiving public funds are legally sound and compliant with existing legislation such as the …

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government expects all organisations to comply with all relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.As part of their funding agreements, organisations funded by the Scottis…

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is responsible for ensuring that clear, legally robust definitions are consistently applied across all public bodies and publicly funded organisations, particularly in relation to the fundamental definitions of “woman” and “child&rdquo…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Public bodies and organisations operating in Scotland can be affected by a wide range of law in both devolved and reserved areas, with differing statutory mechanisms for enforcement. The Scottish Ministers may, in some cases, be subject to statutory duties to…

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what each NHS boards’ policy is regarding compliance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which mandate that employers provide adequate and appropriate welfare facilities for staff, including suitable changing rooms where employees are required to chang…

Answer · Neil Gray: Through the national Managing Health at Work PIN policy set by the Scottish Government, and agreed with Trade Unions and Employers, each NHSScotland Board is responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant legislative requirements, including the Workpla…

5 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how it can improve financial literacy levels among children, in light of reports that it is a key driver of inequality, which affects attainment and perpetuates the cycle of generational poverty.

4 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to find out what the reasons were for its national care service proposal not going ahead, and what lessons have been learned from this.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward a National Care Service and will deliver vital reform through legislative and non-legislative means, and those with lived experience at the heart of our work.We have reflected on feedback from people wi…

29 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Ineos proceeding with the closure of Scotland's only refinery at Grangemouth, in light of the UK Government's reported £600 million loan to the company for a project in Belgium.

8 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what strategy it plans to implement to grow the Scottish economy at a level that is in line with countries with similarly sized populations, such as Norway.

10 Dec 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to rolling out universal entitlement to free school meals for all primary school children within the current parliamentary session.

3 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a policy of a presumption against new oil and gas licences.

19 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that critical rural food production economic activity is viable, sustainable and attractive to the next generation of farmers, crofters and fishers.

19 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the additional cost will be to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the UK Government’s Budget decision to increase employer national insurance contributions.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government has estimated that for the directly employed public sector workforce in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, additional costs to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service from the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions may be &po…

19 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the additional cost will be to Police Scotland as a result of the UK Government’s Budget decision to increase employer national insurance contributions.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government has estimated that for the directly employed public sector workforce in Police Scotland, additional costs to Police Scotland from the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions may be £25 million in the financial year 2025-…

19 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the additional cost will be to each NHS board in Scotland as a result of the UK Government’s Budget decision to increase employer national insurance contributions.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government has estimated that for the directly employed public sector workforce in NHS boards, additional costs to NHS boards from the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions may be £191 million in the financial year 2025-26. The i…

19 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the additional cost will be to local authorities in Scotland as a result of the UK Government’s Budget decision to increase employer national insurance contributions.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has estimated that for the directly employed public sector local authority workforce, additional costs to local authorities from the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions may be £265 mi…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, Prostitution and violence against women and girls - Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, whether it will commit to supporting the Nordic Model in the current parliamentary session, i…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I met with the UN Special Rapporteur earlier this year and we welcome publication of the Report’s findings.Our Strategic Approach to challenge and deter demand for prostitution and improve support for those with experience was published in February 2024…

2 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its position that prostitution is a form of violence against women and girls, as stated in its Equally Safe strategy, what work it is doing to eradicate violence against women and girls in every sector of society.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is progressing Equally Safe, Scotland's strategy to prevent and address all forms of violence against women and girls, specifically violence, abuse, and exploitation directed at them because of their gender.The Equally Safe Delivery Pl…

26 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statutory duty on local authorities to implement deer management plans, and the reported increased importance of recording deer numbers to meet the target of an additional 50,000 culled deer annually, for what reason data is available for only five out of 32 local author…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: NatureScot only receives cull return data from the five local authorities that manage deer on their land. The remaining local authorities do not undertake deer culls, and therefore do not provide cull returns.Naturescot has funded local authorities approximat…