- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what new evidence it has considered in reaffirming its reported opposition to nuclear energy generation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39145 on 29 July 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-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, 31 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it recently consulted businesses or trade unions before reiterating its reported opposition to nuclear energy.
Answer
The Scottish Government has met with trade unions regarding its policy position on nuclear energy.
We regularly meet representatives from the nuclear industry.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 14 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39106 by Ivan McKee on 8 July 2025, for what reason it chose to develop its own mobile app rather than co-opt the UK Government's mobile app for devolved public services.
Answer
The UK Government App is available for all UK residents including those in Scotland providing access to information on GOV.UK. The Scottish Government App will focus on offering services provided by Scottish Government and Scottish public sector organisations to the residents of Scotland.
A collaborative relationship has been established with the UK Government App team to support mutual learning and the reuse of knowledge where this is beneficial in terms of functionality, efficiency, and speed of delivery.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39106 by Ivan McKee on 8 July 2025, what the projected cost is of the development of the Scottish Government mobile app.
Answer
The development of a Scottish Government Mobile App is a commitment under the Digital Public Services strand of the Government’s Public Service Reform Strategy, published in June 2025.
The App is intended to serve as a single, secure gateway to personalised public services, enhancing accessibility and user experience across government platforms. It is scheduled for initial release within the current financial year.
Work is underway to develop a business case including expected expenditure, related financial and budgetary considerations. This is expected to be completed in Autumn 2025. Once approved, further details will be made available to Parliament and stakeholders.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39106 by Ivan McKee on 8 July 2025, on what date the proposed Scottish Government mobile app will be available.
Answer
The development of a Scottish Government Mobile App is a Digital Public Services commitment within the Government's Public Service Reform Strategy published in June 2025.
One or two services will be available via the proposed App as an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) before 1 April 2026.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 11 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding whether its current trajectory on social security spending is fiscally sustainable, in light of the findings of the recent Scottish Fiscal Commission Fiscal Sustainability Report.
Answer
We are proud of the investment that we are making in benefit expenditure. Based on the latest Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts, the Scottish Government anticipates to spend around £8.8 billion on Social Security Assistance by 2029-30.
The additional investment in social security compared to England and Wales represents just over 3 per cent of the Scottish Government’s resource budget by 2029-30. This investment results from conscious policy choices made by Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. Social Security is an investment in the people of Scotland and provides value for money for the public purse. It prioritises eradicating child poverty, creating a fairer Scotland and delivering services and support that tackle the roots of inequality.
The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s June 2025 forecasts do not include the impact of the UK Government’s recent welfare announcements, which are expected to increase the Social Security Block Grant Adjustment funding provided and therefore reduce the additional investment that the Scottish Government needs to make. The amount of additional funding will not be confirmed until the Office for Budget Responsibility produce its next set of forecasts for the UK Autumn Statement.
The Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan and Medium-Term Financial Strategy were published in June 2025 and set out the actions we’re taking to improve the sustainability of the public finances over the medium-term.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 11 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many drug-related deaths have occurred in public places in the last year, broken down by local authority.
Answer
Information on drug-related deaths in public places is not held centrally.
Accredited statistics on drug-related deaths in Scotland are published annually by National Records of Scotland (NRS). The next publication on 2 September 2025, will cover deaths registered in 2024, disaggregated by local authority. The most recent official figures, relating to deaths registered in 2023, are available via the NRS website: Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2023 - National Records of Scotland (NRS).
At present, Police Scotland reports quarterly management information that indicates current trends in suspected drug deaths in Scotland that is available disaggregated by Police Division. This is operational data used for short-term monitoring and is not subject to the same level of validation or quality assurance as official statistics. This information is accessible here: Suspected drug deaths in Scotland - gov.scot
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 8 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers with second jobs also claim benefits, including in-work benefits.
Answer
This information is not held by the Scottish Government as in-work benefits such as Universal Credit are reserved to the UK Government. Additionally, the recording of personal data relating to police officers with additional jobs or business interests are matters for the Chief Constable.
The Scottish Government values the dedication shown by police officers in Scotland. That’s why our police officers remain the best paid in the UK recognising the hard work and valuable contribution they make daily as well as our commitment to investing in policing.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39297 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 July 2025, how many new cars registered in Scotland through the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme in 2024 were electric, and what this figure is as a proportion of all new electric cars registered in Scotland in 2024.
Answer
As of year-end 2024 there were 4,648 new Electric Vehicles (EVs) registered in Scotland through the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme. This represents 16.9% of EVs registered in Scotland in 2024, although this figure may not include cars purchased through brokerages based outside of Scotland.
We are proud that the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme is delivering much-needed support for disabled people and contributing towards a Just Transition in Scotland.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its detailed forecasts are for social security spending beyond 2029-30.
Answer
The Scottish Fiscal Commission published its most recent independent forecasts on 25 June 2025, which sets out its latest five-year economic and fiscal forecasts, and includes forecasts of Social Security benefits expenditure to 2030-31.
The publication can be found on the SFC’s website: Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts Update – June 2025 | Scottish Fiscal Commission
Based on the latest SFC’s forecasts, the Scottish Government anticipates to spend £9.3 billion on Social Security Assistance in 2030-31.
The SFC will publish its next set of five-year economic and fiscal forecasts alongside the 2026-27 Scottish Budget later this year.
