Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-36856

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what oversight mechanisms exist to monitor the use of personal data held within the ScotAccount system, and whether an independent regulator is (a) currently and (b) planned to be involved in this.

ScotAccount meets the Scottish Government’s legal obligations and requirements under data protection law. Throughout the development of ScotAccount, we have engaged with the Scottish Government’s Data Protection Officer, who is responsible for data protection assurance and compliance. We have used Data Protection Impact Assessments as part of ScotAccount product development, which are reviewed regularly to monitor the use of data held within the system to ensure individuals’ rights are protected. We have also engaged with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), directly and as part of the Scottish Government’s Digital Identity Expert Group, which includes an ICO representative member.

Question reference: S6W-36742

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that registered social landlords do not grant social housing tenancies to individuals subject to immigration control.

Registered Social Landlords are not subject to the exclusion on granting tenancies to persons subject to immigration control. Section 118 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which applies in Scotland applies only to local authorities. Registered Social Landlords do not need to consider nationality or immigration status and can allocate homes to any person. Our Social housing allocations in Scotland: practice guide published in 2019 offers practical assistance to social landlord staff with responsibility for reviewing, monitoring and updating allocation policies and procedures to ensure they comply with current legislation.

Question reference: S6W-36388

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35432 by Kaukab Stewart on 19 March 2025, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the "Refugee Support Service".

Question reference: S6W-36367

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35432 by Kaukab Stewart on 19 March 2025, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the "Connected Communities Budget Funding – Engagement with Afghan women 2022".

Question reference: S6W-36226

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many businesses in Scotland have relocated (a) to the rest of the UK and (b) overseas since 2021.

The information requested is not held centrally. However, data are available on the number of businesses operating in Scotland that are rest of the UK owned and Abroad owned. These estimates, sourced from the Businesses in Scotland 2024 publication, are shown in the following table.

Table 1: Registered businesses operating in Scotland, Rest of the UK and Abroad owned, 2010 to 2024

Year	Rest of the UK owned	Abroad owned
2010	2,715	1,980
2011	2,675	2,005
2012	2,665	2,130
2013	2,720	2,165
2014	2,715	2,230
2015	2,715	2,310
2016	2,790	2,305
2017	2,785	2,350
2018	2,775	2,610
2019	2,800	2,870
2020	2,935	3,010
2021	2,730	3,090
2022	2,645	3,155
2023	2,550	3,315
2024	2,555	3,530

Source: Businesses in Scotland 2024

Notes:

1.These data are available from Table 3 of the Scottish Government Businesses in Scotland 2024 publication: Businesses in Scotland: 2024 - gov.scot

2.Estimates are rounded to the nearest five.

The latest report on the 2024 EY Scotland Attractiveness survey (https://www.gov.scot/news/record-inward-investment-secured/) showed that Scotland's market share of UK investments has been growing over the past few years, hitting record levels in 2024 - Scotland’s share of UK foreign direct investment (FDI) projects increased for a fifth year in a row to 14.4%.

According to Scottish Development International (SDI) results, inward investment into Scotland from international FDI projects accounted for substantially more than UK projects. International projects into Scotland accounted for 69% (2021-22), 73% (2022-23) and 72% (2023-24) of total projects.

Question reference: S6W-36222

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any United States tariffs on the Scotch whisky industry.

There can be no doubt that the tariffs that have been imposed by the United States will cause damage to the global, UK and Scottish economies. The USA is the most valuable export market by far for Scotch Whisky, worth £971m in 2024 (18% of total Scotch Whisky exports by value). The USA imported nearly $12 billion worth of distilled spirits in 2024, with Mexico ($5.4 bn), France ($2.1 bn) and the UK ($1.8 bn) being the largest trading partners by value. Scotch Whisky is subject to the 10% baseline tariff which may be passed through to higher prices for US consumers and weaken demand. Additionally, the uncertainty in future global trading arrangements more broadly is widely expected to lead to weaker growth, higher inflation, financial market instability and increased borrowing costs which could impact consumer confidence generally and impact demand for Scotch Whisky. We will continue to closely monitor and assess the impact of US tariff policy on Scotland’s exports across key sectors, including Scotch Whisky.

Question reference: S6W-36204

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reasons for any disparities between local authorities in the proportion of children that they identify as having additional support needs.

Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for delivering education and for ensuring that those pupils identified with an additional support need, are fully supported to learn. Work is underway through the Additional Support for Learning Action Plan to improve the consistency of all communications regarding additional support for learning. This includes the data that is recorded and published.

Question reference: S6W-36572

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its consideration of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, what its position is on reported concerns that, should the Bill proceed without a section 30 order, it may risk undermining the devolution settlement.

Question reference: S6W-36571

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its consideration of any potential assisted dying legislation, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possible need for a section 30 order to advance any such legislation in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37167

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish comparative data on senior pay levels across all publicly funded Scottish universities annually.

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