Liam Kerr

28 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the introduction of zonal pricing in the electricity market, and what specific evidence it has relied upon in forming its position.

Answer · Stephen Gethins: As you may be aware, the UK Government decided to rule out zonal pricing in July last year. However, the Scottish Government has been clear that the current wholesale electricity market is unfit for purpose, and leaves Scottish consumers exposed to high energ…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the price per MWh of electricity generated (a) for Hunterston B prior to its closure and (b) is for Torness nuclear power station.

Answer · Stephen Gethins: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the price of electricity currently generated by Torness nuclear power station or by Hunterston B prior to its closure. Both stations sell or sold electricity into the wholesale market and the specific price…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the current Contracts for Difference strike price per MWh for (a) onshore, (b) fixed-bottom offshore and (c) floating offshore wind.

Answer · Stephen Gethins: The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is an important mechanism to support new low-carbon electricity generation. Administrative strike prices are determined by the UK Government through the competitive CfD auction round process. Information regarding the…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on energy affordability for consumers in Scotland of the anticipated closure of Torness nuclear power station, in light of its policy position on new nuclear generation.

Answer · Stephen Gethins: Energy pricing is fully reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government must deliver its promised £300 energy bill reduction and it must devolve power over Scotland’s energy to Holyrood so that we can ensure that Scotland’s energy wealth wo…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since January 2025 to make Stracathro Hospital near Brechin and the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline into “centres of excellence” in certain procedures, such as cataracts or orthopaedics, including by providing transport support to patients.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government wants all patients, regardless of location to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. The Centre for Sustainable Delivery supports clinical improvements across Scotland, including for cataracts and orthopaedics t…

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will finalise and publish its Energy Strategy, which has been delayed since 2023, and, if so, by what date. 

Answer · Stephen Gethins: New government ministers have just been appointed, and will now begin work to deliver on their manifesto commitments.We will continue to work closely with NESO, Ofgem and the UK and Welsh Governments on the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) as it develops …

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin allocating the £40 million that was committed in the Scottish National Party manifesto to “match funding from the Wood Foundation to support opportunities and the transition [to a low-carbon economy] in the North East”; how organisations can apply for…

Answer · Tom Arthur: Scottish Government Ministers are focused on delivering manifesto commitments. Further updates on this commitment will be provided once discussions with ETZ and ONE have progressed.

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it proposes to reform the energy consents process, as committed to in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is committed to reforming the energy consenting process to ensure it delivers timely results and takes a pragmatic approach. We continue to maintain a robust consenting regime, working to existing commitments for faster decision-making…

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to establish the ScotWind Wealth Fund.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We will establish a ScotWind Wealth Fund by the end of this Parliament to ensure that Scotland’s future generations can benefit from our wealth of renewables.The failure of successive UK governments to establish a dedicated Oil and Gas wealth fund means…

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a full list of the policy areas for which the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs has responsibility.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The portfolio responsibilities of all Scottish Ministers are published on the Scottish Government website at: Cabinet and Ministers - gov.scot

25 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the £9 million it has allocated to the Mossmorran industrial site over the next three years, when will all payments be made, what outcomes are expected from the payments, what undertakings have been given by the recipients in order to receive the payments and how it has…

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government has allocated £9 million over three years to the Mossmorran industrial site, with £3 million planned for each of 2026–27, 2027–28 and 2028–29. Funding in later years remains subject to the outcomes of the …

18 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, whether the research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases will specifically examine whether the abolition of the not proven verdict and the…

Answer · Neil Gray: As required by section 111 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, Scottish Ministers will undertake a review of the operation of the Act, which will include reviewing the operation of the provisions that abolished the not proven ve…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the First Minister last met the co-leaders of Aberdeen City Council.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Details of all external engagements undertaken by Scottish Ministers, including the First Minister, are published on the Scottish Government website and can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.These record…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, what methodology will be used for the research commissioned thatwill explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases, includingwhether jurors will be interviewed, surveyed, obser…

Answer · Neil Gray: The research design and approach will only be finalised if approval from the Lord Justice General is provided.Ensuring the research is undertaken in an ethically appropriate manner will of course be a key priority. Juror confidentiality, complainer anonymity,…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, whether it expects that the findings of the jury deliberation research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases will inform future proposals on (a) …

Answer · Neil Gray: Section 67 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 amended the Contempt of Court Act 1981 to allow for more detailed research into jury deliberations, where research has been approved by the Lord Justice General. During Stage 3, the …

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, by what date it will publish the findings of the research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases, and whether it will commit to publishing (a) the…

Answer · Neil Gray: Should approval be received from the Lord Justice General, Scottish Ministers will publish a report on the findings as soon as reasonably practicable after the research is carried out, as required by section 68(2) of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, whether the Lord Justice General has granted leave for the research commissioned thatwill explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases and, if so,whether it will list any cond…

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has submitted a research access request to the Lord Justice General and awaits a decision.

15 Mar 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on Police Scotland of the Budget 2026-27 allocation being £50 million less than the amount requested by the Chief Constable.

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of the Scottish Civil Justice Council's investigation into the introduction of an opt-out system for group proceedings.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The development of rules for group proceedings, including any proposals to introduce opt-out procedures, is the responsibility of the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC).The SCJC is an independent body established by the Scottish Civil Justice Council and C…

12 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-44120 by Angela Constance on 10 March 2026, in light of paragraph 12.1 of the paper, Report on the Roles and Functions of the Scottish Law Officers, which states that the “research is intended to inform the preparation of a future consultation…

Answer · Angela Constance: The Report on the Roles and Functions of the Scottish Law Officers sets out the findings of the research commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by Malcolm McMillan, former Chief Executive of the Scottish Law Commission. As specified in the te…

10 Mar 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it expects NHS Grampian to address a projected deficit of £76 million for 2026-27, in light of it having already made £62 million of savings in 2025-26 and requiring a further £40 million of budget reductions in 2026-27.

5 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-04705 by John Swinney on 26 February 2026, in which he confirmed that Malcolm McMillan's report on the dual role of the Lord Advocate "will be published before the end of the parliamentary session", on what date it plans to publish the report.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-44120 on 10 March 2026.A copy of the report can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806439737All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facilit…

3 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the long-term sustainability of Scottish Opera.

23 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of reported renewed calls over the weekend to end the Lord Advocate’s dual role, when the Scottish Government will publish its proposals and begin a consultation on separating the prosecution function from the role of providing legal advice to the Scottish Ministers. 

14 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the second supplementary question to question S6O-05504 by Kate Forbes on 12 February 2026, when she stated that "at least 230 jobs being created and safeguarded" through the Just Transition Fund, what date the fund was first initiated and approximately how many…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray’s initial year of funding began in May 2022.The Scottish Government does not hold statistics on job losses by year in any given sector of the economy. We do, however, monitor a range of sources of ev…

11 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Foundation Apprenticeships have been funded at any level by Skills Development Scotland in (a) hospitality, (b) automotive, (c) construction and (d) undisclosed subject areas, in each year from 2023 to 2026 to date.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government recognises the value and positive impact of Foundation Apprenticeships for our young people.A report on the number of Foundation Apprenticeships funded by Skills Development (SDS) can be accessed here:https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotl…

9 Feb 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the upcoming non-domestic rates revaluation in Aberdeen.

3 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on properties impacted by RAAC in Aberdeen.

29 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39235 by Angela Constance on 30 July 2025, whether Malcolm McMillan has concluded his consideration of the conclusions of the peer review; if so, when; if not, and in light of it being six months later, what efforts it has made to assist him in his …

Answer · Angela Constance: Consideration of the peer review undertaken on the research paper from Malcolm McMillan on the roles and functions of the Scottish Law Officers has taken slightly longer than anticipated and is now concluded. The paper has been updated accordingly and has now…

29 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been recalled to prison in each month since January 2024, also broken down by how many (a) had originally been released under any early, accelerated or emergency release arrangements and (b) were recalled due to (i) a breach or non-compliance with licence conditions …

Answer · Angela Constance: There are different types of licences which, where relevant, set specific conditions for individuals when they are released from custody into the community.The type of licence depends on the type of sentence and includes parole licence, non-parole licence and…