Parliamentary questions
Liam Kerr
2,165 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the projected cost of HMP Glasgow was revised to £998.4 million; when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs was advised of this figure, and whether it expects this to be the final cost.
Answer · Angela Constance: Following a period of negotiation with the contractor Kier on the construction contract price, the total project cost of £998.4 million was confirmed in November 2024.I received regular updates on the pricing and commercial process of the HMP Glasgow co…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether police officer numbers will return to at least their level at the beginning of the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown of 17,431, which was set on 31 March 2020, and, if it anticipates that they will, by when.
Answer · Angela Constance: The recruitment and deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable. In 2023, Police Scotland restructuring led to a new establishment figure of around 16,500 to 16,600 officers. The Scottish Government’s record investment of £1.…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that retailers should be encouraged to report all instances of shoplifting to Police Scotland.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: We encourage all businesses to report any instances of criminality to Police Scotland. As well as enabling the perpetrators to be caught and being prevented from committing further crimes, such reports also ensure Police Scotland has the best possible intelli…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that shoplifting cases increased by 18% between December 2023 and December 2024, and what reasons it attributes to this.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The SG recognises the harm to retail businesses caused by shoplifting and are fully behind the action Police Scotland and its partners are taking action to prevent it. There are complex reasons behind the increase and Police Scotland have been clear that they…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has held with the (a) Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, (b) Commissioner for Victims of Crime Northern Ireland and (c) Victims’ Commissioner London since 29 March 2023, and what subjects were disc…
Answer · Angela Constance: I have not met with the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, the Commissioner for Victims of Crime Northern Ireland or the Victims Commissioner, London since 29 March 2023.
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that domestic abuse incidents increased by 23% between December 2023 and December 2024, and what reasons it attributes to this.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: These statistics remain a stark reminder of the unacceptable levels of domestic abuse that occur in Scotland, and the devastating impact on victims and survivors. It is vital that perpetrators are held to account, and that women and children have access to fr…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has had with the (a) Law Society of Scotland, (b) chief constable of Police Scotland and (c) Scottish Retail Consortium since 29 March 2023, and what subjects were discussed.
Answer · Angela Constance: Meetings with the Law Society of Scotland1. I have had the following meetings with the Law Society of Scotland since 29 March 2023:DateMeetingSubjects Discussed1 June 2023Victims Taskforce (Law Society of Scotland attended)Criminal Justice - Victims26 July 20…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the evidence that led the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to change the previously held position to reduce jury numbers to 12 in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Policy Memorandum for the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill set out the reasons the Scottish Government proposed to reduce jury size to 12. This included evidence from the independent Scottish Jury Research - gov.scot.In its Stage 1 r…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases it estimates the Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland will deal with in the postholder's first year in office.
Answer · Angela Constance: We do not hold an estimate on the number of cases that the Commissioner will deal with in their first year in post.The Commissioner’s functions and powers are set out in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. The Commissioner will be…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of "other activity" were carried out by people with community payback orders who were subject to unpaid work requirements in 2023-24.
Answer · Angela Constance: The total number of hours of other activity carried out in 2023-24 is not held, but relevant information in relation to orders successfully completed is available.In the financial year 2023-24, 6,742 unpaid work or other activity requirements imposed as part …
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to roll out alcohol monitoring technology for offenders.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to expanding electronic monitoring use across a broader range of licences and court orders, including exploring the use of new technology, such as remote alcohol monitoring, which is provided for by the Management of Offen…
18 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the average journey time reduction between Aberdeen and (a) Edinburgh of 20 minutes and (b) Glasgow of nine minutes, as set out by the Aberdeen to central belt 2026 enhancement project, will be delivered by December 2026.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32369 on 8 January 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…
18 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what parts of the line it projects that the journey time will be reduced to achieve the average reduction between Aberdeen and (a) Edinburgh of 20 minutes and (b) Glasgow of nine minutes, as set out by the Aberdeen to central belt 2026 enhancement project.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The journey time reductions will be delivered cumulatively via a number of interventions throughout the length of the line. These include passing loops, signalling works and interventions to the track layout at Aberdeen, Montrose, Arbroath and Dundee stations…
18 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the increase in freight capacity will be on the Aberdeen-Edinburgh/Glasgow railway lines under the Aberdeen to central belt 2026 enhancement project.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Aberdeen – Central Belt 2026 Enhancement Project is now known as the Aberdeen – Central Belt Service Improvement Project.The Aberdeen – Central Belt Service Improvement Project seeks to deliver an hourly freight path, in each direction, …
18 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Aberdeen to central belt 2026 enhancement project will be completed by December 2026.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Aberdeen – Central Belt 2026 Enhancement Project is now known as the Aberdeen – Central Belt Service Improvement Project.I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32369 on 8 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questio…
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to deliver a fairer, long-term replacement for non-domestic rates that will more equitably support the licensed hospitality sector, and whether it plans to consult on the implementation of any such replacement ahead of planned revaluations in 2026.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates, a range of key reforms to the NDR system have been implemented to support growth, improve administration and increase fairness.Following the implementation of the final recommendations of the Barclay…
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic impact analysis it has undertaken regarding the licensed hospitality sector in relation to the limited non-domestic rates relief provided for in the draft Budget 2025-26, and when any such analysis will be published.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Budget 2025-26 freezes the Basic Property Rate for properties with a rateable value up to and including £51,000, delivering the lowest such rate in the UK for the seventh year in a row. It also provides a package of non-domestic rates reliefs worth …
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what formal representations it has made to the UK Government regarding which sectors in Scotland could be exempted from the planned increase in the rate of employer national insurance contributions, and, if it has made any such representations, which sectors it has specifically raised wi…
Answer · Shona Robison: We have consistently called on the UK Government to reverse in full its decision to increase employer national insurance contributions from April 2025.The First Minister wrote jointly with COSLA President Shona Morrison to the Chancellor in January, supported…
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it plans to undertake with the licensed hospitality sector ahead of planned non-domestic rates revaluations in 2026.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is committed to ongoing engagement and dialogue with representatives of the hospitality sector including through the New Deal for Business consultative sub-group on Non-Domestic Rates and regular roundtable meetings with Ministers.The …
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33261 by Gillian Martin on 12 February 2025, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what (a) discussions and (b) meetings it has had with (i) expert organisations and (ii) the UK Government regarding the potential consequences f…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33261 on 12 February 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…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33259 by Gillian Martin on 11 February 2025, in light of the question focussing on the Scottish Government's policies and strategy, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what assessment it has made of investment and activity le…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33259 on 11 February 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-committe…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many police stations are currently the subject of review for potential closure in Police Scotland’s Estate Strategy, and whether it will specify each potential location.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.The management of the Police Scotland Estate is an operational matter, and is the responsibility of the Chief Constable under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority.In line with its Estates Masterp…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many operational police stations there were in each division of Police Scotland in each year from 2014 to date.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.The management of the Police Scotland Estate is an operational matter, and is the responsibility of the Chief Constable under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority.It is for Police Scotland to det…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the operational base level is for each division of Police Scotland, and how often Police Scotland has been unable to meet that level in each division in the last five years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not collect or hold information on the operational base levels for officers. Officer deployment nationally and locally is quite rightly a matter for the Chief Constable.
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many operational frontline officers there were in each division of Police Scotland in each year from 2014 to date.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not collect information on how many operational frontline officers are deployed in divisions. Police workforce data collection are a matter for the Chief Constable.Police Scotland publish officer number data each quarter which inc…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to trial the “Right Care, Right Person” scheme that has reportedly seen officer capacity increase in Merseyside police, and, if it will not trial this scheme, for what reason.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has no plans to implement the ‘Right Care, Right Place’ model. Instead we are working with our partners, including Police Scotland, through the Mental Health Unscheduled Care Network to ensure that anyone in need of mental …
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Police Scotland officers or staff were unavailable for deployment in each month of (a) 2023 and (b) 2024 due to sickness or other physical or mental ill health.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not collect information on officer and police staff absences due to sickness or other physical or mental ill health reasons. The recording of staffing absences are a matter for the Chief Constable under the oversight of the Scotti…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average net pay was, after deductions for tax, national insurance and pension, for each grade of frontline officer in Police Scotland for the financial year 2023-24, and what information it has on how this compared with the equivalent grades in forces in England.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.Our police officers are the best paid in the UK, at the minimum and maximum of each rank, and I welcome the outcome of the police pay arbitration process, which means that police officers in Scot…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on replacing single-year funding settlements for Police Scotland with multi-year settlements.
Answer · Angela Constance: We recognise that financial certainty into the medium term would help the Scottish Police Authority, Police Scotland and other public bodies to develop plans and make better-informed decisions across a longer time-frame, rather than being limited by the singl…
4 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners it anticipates will be released between 1 March and 31 December 2025 as a result of new GPS ankle tags.
Answer · Angela Constance: Individual decisions on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) release are a matter for the Scottish Prison Service. GPS monitoring will initially be available for eligible individuals who have been deemed suitable for release on HDC after the completion of an individua…