Parliamentary questions

Liam Kerr

2,165 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

4 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what characteristics it (a) collates and (b) publishes regarding those convicted of committing child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government’s Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistics reports data on people convicted in Scottish courts. This data is drawn from a subset of Police Scotland’s Criminal History System, with only the minimum information required fo…

18 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38293 by Angela Constance on 18 June 2025, how (a) much has been spent on compensation payments to prisoners and (b) many such payments have been made, 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:Since 2020 SPS has paid 753 compensation payments to prisoners, resulting in a total expenditure of £1,443,627, broken down as fol…

9 Jun 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the consultation results of the A96 corridor review will be published.

8 Jun 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on whether the home leave for prisoners system is operating appropriately and as intended.

5 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that prisoners in England and Wales have been banned from watching 18-certificated films since 2013, whether it will adopt a similar policy in Scotland. 

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 the question S6W-38480 on 23 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available…

5 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Prison Service allows prisoners to watch 18-certificated films that contain graphic violence, and that the Prison Officers’ Association is calling for a review of the films available to prisoners. 

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS are committed to prepare those in our care for a return to their communities and, for some, this includes access to personal items a…

3 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to prepare for the publication of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland statistics for 2024-25.

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit has had its funding reduced by £35,500 in the 2025-26 financial year, compared with the previous financial year.

Answer · Angela Constance: Funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit for 2025-26 has not been reduced.The Scottish Government grant to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit has been increased from £1.17 million in 2024-25 to just over £1.2 million for 2025-26. This re…

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any compensation payments have been made to prisoners in the last five years, and, if so, what the reason was for each payment.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS recognises that where the Court supports a claim, the appropriate compensation should be paid. This may include incidents where the …

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

Answer · Angela Constance: Details are as follows:2021-20222022-20232023-20242024-20252025-2026£££££1,029,5001,170,5001,170,5001,170,5001,217,000

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has met with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to discuss funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, and, if so, what the outcome of any such discussions was.

Answer · Angela Constance: As part of the usual budget process within government, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs met with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government on a bilateral basis on 6 November 2024 and 20 March 2025. The specific issue of funding …

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any extraditions to Scottish prisons being blocked or held up by international courts in the last five years, and, if so, what the reasons were for any such cases.

Answer · Angela Constance: Foreign authorities sometimes request assurances from Scotland in response to an extradition request because they must be satisfied that requested persons will not be subject to treatment that breaches their human rights. Assurances, by their nature, require …

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any payments have been made to prisoners to settle cases related to "slopping out" practices in prisons in the last five years, and, if so, what the total cost was of any such payments.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:In the last five years, the SPS has made payments to prisoners to settle cases related to “slopping out”. In the last five f…

25 May 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that violence against teachers in schools in Aberdeen has risen by 25% in the last year.

21 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Grampian is ranked the worst of all mainland NHS boards for ambulance delays.

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many recommendations of the report, Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing, have been implemented to date.   

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of transparency and is committed to continuing to share information on progress with the implementation of recommendations made in the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct I…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch its consultation on whether the dual functions of the Law Officers, as head of the independent prosecution service and principal legal advisers to the Scottish Government should be separated, in light of the commitment on page 36 of the Scottish National Party 202…

Answer · Angela Constance: A decision on the consultation will be made in due course and after the peer review of the research paper on the role and functions of the Law Officers has concluded. The peer review is expected to conclude next month.

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many local authorities currently provide restorative justice services.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.Restorative Justice services can be offered by a wide range of organisations - not only by local authorities - including by third sector or faith-based organisations.We continue to work in partnership wit…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a judicial register of interests by the end of the current parliamentary session. 

Answer · Angela Constance: Consideration of introducing a judicial register of interests began during this parliamentary session. However, following the introduction of a revised statement on judicial ethics last year, which included more detailed declaration requirements for judicial …

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many local authority areas the Caledonian System currently operates within.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Caledonian System is currently delivered in 21 of the 32 local authority areas, covering over 70% of the population. The Scottish Government is committed to rolling the Caledonian System out further and by the end of this year, two more areas, Shetland an…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish a strategy on ending intimate and sexual violence against men and boys.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government’s 2021-22 Programme for Government included a commitment to progress work to tackle violence against men and boys, investing in services which support male survivors of rape and domestic abuse.In line with our PfG commitment we h…

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Food Standards Scotland currently receives enough funding to carry out all of its responsibilities. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government and the whole of the public sector faces a very challenging situation as we continue to manage our finances through the current financial year, in 2025-26 and beyond.Operating within a fixed budget, we have had to manage Scottish publi…

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many food crime cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by Food Standards Scotland in each financial year, from 2020-21 to date.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In 2020 3 cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by Food Standards Scotland and one in each year for 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. In four of the cases the principal charge was reported as culpable and reckless conduct, a serious crime at common law in expo…

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual employee count for Food Standards Scotland was in each financial year, from 2020-21 to date. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Full time equivalent (FTE) annual employee count was:2020-21 - 2622021-22 - 3142022-23 - 2952023-24 - 2812024-25 - 277The increase to 314 FTE is associated with increased funding to deal with the consequence of EU Exit.

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total budget for Food Standards Scotland was in each financial year, from 2020-21 to date. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The following table represents the total budget allocated to Food Standards Scotland (FSS) for each financial year from 2020-21.Financial year FSS baseline Total Fiscal Resource budget £m2020-21 15.62021-22 19.02022-23 22.62023-24 22.62024-25 22.62025-2…

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many food businesses were inspected by an environmental health officer or food safety officer in each calendar year from 2020 to date. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food businesses inspected by an Environmental Health Officer or Food Safety Officer.2020 – 9,0412021 – 9,6742022 – 20,7452023 – 20,4092024 – 19,4662025* – 6,722*01-01-25 to 12-05-25

1 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many registered sex offenders have changed their given name since 2023. 

Answer · Angela Constance: Following your topical question S6T-02471 on 22 April 2025 in relation to sex offender name change. I subsequently wrote to you about sex offender name change on 30 April 2025. In that response, I set out additional background, including that - as various nam…

29 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund has been allocated to be used for businesses in Aberdeen's LEZ since its introduction, and how much of that allocation was distributed to businesses.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: £8,100,000 has been allocated to the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund in Scotland since 2020. There was no allocation per city in order to allow flexibility to respond to demand dependant on applications received each year.26 applications for this …

29 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the Low Emission Zone Support Fund for households since its introduction; what proportion of that was allocated to be used for eligible households within the relevant area in Aberdeen, and how much of that allocation was distributed to eligible househ…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Support Fund has allocated £13,775,000 to households and businesses within 20km of any LEZ in Scotland since 2020. To date £7,684,695 has been paid out to households in Scotland.There was no set allocation per city, to …

29 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00204 by Graeme Dey on 4 June 2021, which businesses and individuals it has provided funding to since 1 January 2021 to date "through the LEZ Support Fund to assist small businesses and individuals with the cost of complying with the LEZ requirement…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Due to the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the privacy policy agreed by applicants to the LEZ Support Fund, we are unable to disclose personal details of the funds recipients.However, I can advise that in the Aberdeen area 197 households received gr…