- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential risk to taxpayers from any future liability that could arise from owning or operating the Grangemouth refinery.
Answer
Further to my answer to S6W-36894 on 13 May 2025, we understand that significant financial investment would be required to retain refinery operations at Grangemouth. Given the expansive fiscal levers at its disposal, the UK Government must utilise all routes to securing a sustainable future for the Refinery site.
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-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the conduct of NHS Fife, in
relation to the ongoing employment tribunal, is consistent with the principles
of transparency and accountability in public service.
Answer
This matter is still subject to ongoing judicial proceedings, as such, it would not be appropriate for Scottish Government officials or Ministers to comment.
We expect all NHS Scotland Boards to operate with the highest standards of transparency, accountability and compliance with employment and equalities legislation.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34000 by Angela Constance on 7 February 2025, and in light of the recent judgment by the Supreme Court on the legal definition of "woman”, whether it plans to publish a bill to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Misogyny in the current parliamentary session, and, if so, when.
Answer
As set out in answer to question S6W-37425, which was answered on 2 May 2025, due to the short amount of time left in this parliamentary session, there is insufficient time for a Misogyny Bill to be finalised and introduced. Therefore, the Scottish Government has decided not to proceed with this Bill in this parliamentary session.
However, in order to allow for the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ to be added to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 so that women and girls have the same protections as other groups protected by that Act, we will lay before the Scottish Parliament in September a proposed draft of an SSI under the powers within the Act. This will allow for views to be offered on the approach taken before a finalised SSI is then subsequently laid which will, if agreed, result in new protections for women and girls being introduced.
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-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is appropriate for an NHS board to seek to restrict public scrutiny of a tribunal involving matters of significant public interest.
Answer
Employment tribunal matters are independent and administered by HM Courts and Tribunal Service. It is for the Employment Tribunal to determine whether it is appropriate to restrict public scrutiny of a tribunal involving matters of significant public interest. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full breakdown of its financial contributions to the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme to date, including any direct payment to Falkirk Council and partners.
Answer
To date almost £23 million has been provided by Scottish Government to Falkirk Council to support the development of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the current projected total cost for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme is, and how much of that total it has committed to date.
Answer
The total expected cost put forward by Falkirk Council in 2015 for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme in 2015 was £108 million. The scheme as put forward includes a range of components providing protection to both residential and industrial areas.
Falkirk Council currently estimate the cost to complete the entire Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme as originally proposed is between £450 million and £672 million. This has increased significantly from the estimate of £108million provided in 2015.
The Scottish Government has provided almost £23 million to date to Falkirk Council to support them in development of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether poor parental attitudes contribute to rising pupil indiscipline in schools, in light of reports that NASUWT members expressed such views at its recent annual conference.
Answer
The Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research, published in 2023, identified a range of factors that staff identified as contributing to the rise in challenging pupil behaviour, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these factors included “wider societal changes such as a general lack of respect in society, the ubiquity of social media and changing approaches to parenting”. Staff suggested that greater engagement with parents could help to support staff’s efforts to promote positive relationships and behaviour.
We recognise the importance of schools and families working together to promote positive relationships and behaviour in schools. A strong partnership between home and school helps create a consistent, supportive environment where children feel safe, respected, and are better able to learn and thrive.
The relationships and behaviour in schools action plan 2024-27 emphasises the vital role of parents and carers in supporting positive behaviour. As part of the action plan, we are currently developing guidance on responding to behaviour in schools. The guidance will be available in the coming weeks and will include advice for schools on working with parents to support positive relationships and behaviour.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether any transgender prisoners with convictions for sex offences have been provided with gender-affirming items at public cost since 2021, and if so, how many.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The SPS seeks to be as open and transparent as possible, while also upholding our statutory obligation to protect the personal information of those in our care.
This information requested is not information held by the Scottish Prison Service.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all leases that are currently held by the Scottish public sector, broken down by (a) cost and (b) department or agency.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold information on all public sector leases centrally. The following table shows all current Scottish Government leased properties and the cost of each lease.
Property | Total lease cost | Department |
10 Commerce Street (Fraserburgh Fishery Office) | £14,674.00 | Scottish Government |
28 Cunzie Street (Anstruther Fishery Office) | £12,223.00 | Scottish Government |
40 Hall Street (Campbeltown Fishery Office) | £8,839.00 | Scottish Government |
5 Atlantic Quay | £543,546.00 | Scottish Government |
7 Ferry Terminal Building (Kirkwall Fishery Office) | £2,500.00 | Scottish Government |
AB1 Building | £49,607.00 | Scottish Government |
Alexander Fleming House | £48,559.00 | Scottish Government |
Alexandra Buildings (Lerwick Fishery Office) | £26,392.00 | Scottish Government |
Bothwell House (Ground and First Floors) | £23,165.00 | Scottish Government |
Brooms Road - Dumfries | £259,827.00 | Scottish Government |
Bute House | £87,500.00 | Scottish Government |
Bute House Car Park | £8,250.00 | Scottish Government |
Caley Building (Peterhead Fishery Office) | £24,688.00 | Scottish Government |
Charlotte House | £83,645.00 | Scottish Government |
Compass House | £45,634.00 | Scottish Government |
Culag Pier (Lochinver Fishery Office) | £7,502.00 | Scottish Government |
Custom House (Stornoway Fishery Office) | £18,817.00 | Scottish Government |
Denholm House | £107,818.00 | Scottish Government |
Fishmarket Building (Eyemouth Fishery Office) | £10,688.00 | Scottish Government |
Garage No.2 Lockup, North St, Fraserburgh | £15,260.00 | Scottish Government |
Hadrian House | £96,061.00 | Scottish Government |
Harbour Buildings (Mallaig Fishery Office) | £4,037.00 | Scottish Government |
Inchbraoch House | £5,983.00 | Scottish Government |
James Street | £503.00 | Scottish Government |
Kinlochbervie Fishery Office - Number 7 | £2,609.00 | Scottish Government |
Ocean Trade Centre | £141,572.00 | Scottish Government |
Office at Tarbert Fish Market | £788.00 | Scottish Government |
Russell House | £285,238.00 | Scottish Government |
Kinlochbervie Fishery Office - Number 5 | £1,400.00 | Scottish Government |
Saughton House - land | £160,000.00 | Scottish Government |
Scotland House - Brussels | £373,930.00 | Scottish Government |
Scotland House - London | £439,230.00 | Scottish Government |
St Ola House (Scrabster Fishery Office) | £20,000.00 | Scottish Government |
Strathearn House | £393,722.00 | Scottish Government |
The Douglas Centre (Buckie Fishery Office) | £5,767.00 | Scottish Government |
The Island Centre, Crossapol | £6,300.00 | Scottish Government |
The Links, Golspie | £16,845.00 | Scottish Government |
The Zoology Building | £162,441.00 | Scottish Government |
Unit 4, Seagate, Peterhead | £5,946.00 | Scottish Government |
Unit 4B Kinlochleven Business Park | £5,416.00 | Scottish Government |
Unit 5, Old Quay - Campbeltown | £1,000.00 | Scottish Government |
West Shore Street (Ullapool Fishery Office) | £6,750.00 | Scottish Government |
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with the UK Government to explore joint ownership of Grangemouth refinery, and whether it has received any indication of support for such a proposal.
Answer
Scottish Ministers, including the First Minister, have urged UK Ministers on numerous occasions to take tangible and decisive action to secure the site’s long term and sustainable future. We have continued to assert that the Scottish Government stands ready to play its part but that we require the weight of the UK Government’s vast resources to be deployed.
The UK Government’s commitment of £200 million from the National Wealth Fund to support Grangemouth’s transition is welcome but it must be available now. I hope the member will join me in calling on UK Ministers to provide clarity as to how businesses at Grangemouth can access this money to ensure new employment opportunities are made available in the near future and not much further down the line.
