Liam Kerr

8 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, what work has been undertaken to date in relation to the statutory review of qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS), including any (a) analysis, (b) internal correspondence and (c) scoping exercises si…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42458 on 6 January 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-committee…

8 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Civil Litigation (Expenses and GroupProceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, which Minister or directorate hasresponsibility for progressing the statutory review of qualified one-way costsshifting (QOCS), and what oversight arrangements are in place to ensure that itis completed.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The statutory review of qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS), as provided for under the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, falls under the portfolio of the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, who has responsibilit…

8 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, for what reason the statutory review of the qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS), which the Scottish Government is required to complete “as soon as practicable” after 5 June 2023, has not…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42458 on 6 January 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-committee…

8 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, when it will publish the statutory review of qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS), which it is required to undertake “as soon as practicable after the end of the 5-year period", which was 5 Jun…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Under section 23 of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, Scottish Ministers must review the operation of Parts 1 to 3 and report to the Scottish Parliament as soon as practicable after the end of the five-year period foll…

25 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published Independent Review of Creative Scotland.

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what English language proficiency requirements are in place for operational staff at the Scottish Prison Service, and how these are assessed during the recruitment process.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Whilst SPS do not require prison officer applicants to complete a specific English language proficiency test as part of its recruitment …

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to strengthen the Scottish Prison Service's recruitment vetting procedures to prevent infiltration by organised crime groups.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS hold our serving staff and prospective staff to the highest of standards.In accordance with relevant legislation, including UK GDPR …

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people recruited or staff at the Scottish Prison Service have been removed, dismissed or prevented from taking up post due to security concerns, including links to organised crime, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS hold our serving staff and prospective staff to the highest of standards. While the vast majority of our staff adhere to the highest…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applicants to jobs at the Scottish Prison Service have failed pre-employment vetting checks, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS hold our serving staff and prospective staff to the highest of standards. While the vast majority of our staff adhere to the highest…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding reports that Professor Alexis Jay's comments on grooming gang inquiries were misrepresented during a debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on 16 September 2025, when it first received correspondence from Professor Alexis Jay or her represent…

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding reports that Professor Alexis Jay's comments on grooming gang inquiries were misrepresented during a debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on 16 September 2025, whether it will set out the timeline of actions taken after it became aware that…

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding reports that Professor Alexis Jay's comments on grooming gang inquiries were misrepresented during a debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on 16 September 2025, on what date it decided whether or not to correct the Official Report following notif…

Answer · Angela Constance: In Stage 3 of the Victims Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill in closing remarks to the member’s amendment that the post of Victims Commissioner, when it is established, should carry out research into child sexual abuse, I raised awareness of the work led…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding reports that Professor Alexis Jay's comments on grooming gang inquiries were misrepresented during a debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on 16 September 2025, on what date Ministers or officials first reviewed concerns raised about the accuracy…

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding reports that Professor Alexis Jay's comments on grooming gang inquiries were misrepresented during a debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on 16 September 2025, on what date it was first informed that comments made about her views were inacc…

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42117 on 11 December 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…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what internal thresholds or triggers the Scottish PrisonService uses to determine when a restricted regime status for a prison must beimplemented.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42112 on 8 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available …

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times each prison has had a restricted regime status implemented because of (a) safety matters, (b) security issues, (c) staff shortages and (d) other incidents, broken down by type of incident, and for how many days each had this status, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42112 on 8 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available …

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of prisons with restricted regime status on prisoners’ access to (a) education, (b) work opportunities and (c) family contact.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS recognise the impact that any restriction of regime can have on those in our care, and that is why all restrictions are applied to s…

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been held under restricted regime status for more than 22 hours per day in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42112 on 8 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available …

21 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring system the Scottish Prison Service uses totrack the use of restricted regime status across the prison estate.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS recognise the impact that any restriction of regime can have on those in our care, and that is why all restrictions are applied to s…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Victims and Community Safety last attended a meeting of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41873 on 27 November 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…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise last attended a meeting of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Ministers are not members of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group and therefore do not attend meetings. However, Ministers are regularly informed on the Group’s discussions and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety an…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs last attended a meeting of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41873 on 27 November 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 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of court cases that fail or are discontinued because witnesses do not appear for rescheduled hearings due to delays.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government publishes statistics on people prosecuted and convicted in Scottish courts as Criminal Proceedings in Scotland. Although this includes instances of “Plea not guilty accepted” and “Deserted simpliciter” it does n…

12 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of single-year budgets on court backlog recovery.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has considered the impact of single-year budgets on court backlog recovery and does not consider them to have constrained progress. Despite the challenges of annual settlements, the criminal court recovery programme has delivered subst…

12 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a multi-year funding model for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS), in light of SCTS stating in its 2025-26 business plan that its current budget is insufficient to increase court capacity to meet demand.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of sustainable funding for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and is committed to supporting its work. While budgets are currently set annually through the Scottish Budget process, Scottish Minis…

12 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent cases collapsing as a result of witness disengagement caused by repeated adjournments.

Answer · Angela Constance: The progress of criminal cases through the courts is an independent matter for those involved in the cases directly including those who administer the running of the courts; namely Crown Office and Prosecutor Fiscal Service, the judiciary and Scottish Courts …

6 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to referrals to Prevent in Scotland increasing by 42% in the last year.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41745 on 18 November 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…

6 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a 42% increase in referrals to Prevent in Scotland in the last year, what it is doing to tackle each of the recorded types of concern.

Answer · Angela Constance: National security and counter-terrorism, including Prevent, is reserved to the UK Government but is delivered in Scotland by devolved partners such as Education, Police, Local Authorities, Prisons and Health. The Scottish Government works closely with the Hom…

4 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been distributed by Creative Scotland in the previous 12 months.

30 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Plans to update the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 will be informed by the responses to our planned Family Law consultation. The draft consultation is currently being finalised and we expect to be in a position to launch the consultation by the end of this year.