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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-35411

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money has been spent to date on defending legal challenges related to its policies on gender self-identification.

There have been a number of court cases in recent years relating to gender. Some of them did not relate to gender self-identification. In one of them, the Scottish Government was the pursuer rather than the defender. I list the position in relation to four cases below.

The cost of defending the judicial review of the original definition of “woman” for the purposes of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 was £216,063.60.

The For Women Scotland Ltd v the Scottish Ministers case determined earlier this year by the UK Supreme Court concerned the statutory guidance issued by the Scottish Government under the 2018 Act. This guidance referred to the legal sex of persons with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) and the correct interpretation of “woman” in that context. The current system for obtaining a GRC is not a form of gender self-identification. Costs for this case are still being calculated and will be published in due course.

In the judicial review challenging the Section 35 Order made by the Secretary of State for Scotland which prevented the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from proceeding to Royal Assent, the Scottish Ministers were the petitioners rather than the defender. The final costs of this case will be published shortly.

In November 2021, Fair Play for Women brought a judicial review in relation to guidance issued by National Records of Scotland, a non-ministerial department of the devolved Scottish Administration, for the Scotland’s Census 2022 question ‘what is your sex?’. In February 2022, the guidance was found to be lawful. Upon appeal, this decision was upheld. Fair Play for Women were found liable to pay Scottish Ministers’ expenses to the sum of £69,500.

Question reference: S6W-39106

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 8 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the launch of the GOV.UK app, whether it has plans to develop a Scottish Government mobile app.

Question reference: S6W-38679

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns of the Scottish Police Federation that public inquiries are having a "detrimental impact" on policing.

As Public Inquiries are independent of Ministers, it is for the Chair to direct how an Inquiry carries out its duties whilst being mindful of their responsibilities under section 17(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 to avoid unnecessary costs.

The operation of Police Scotland, including decisions on the allocation of resources and the deployment of officers and staff, is for the Chief Constable, under the oversight of the Scottish Police Authority. This includes the allocation of budget and staff to support the work of Public Inquiries.

Question reference: S6W-38665

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is appropriate that the First Minister has appointed 16 special advisers, and how this compares to the number of special advisers appointed by former First Ministers.

Special Advisers are appointed by the First Minister to provide important assistance to Scottish Ministers on the development of policy and its presentation. Their appointment is designed to reinforce the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by providing Ministers with a separate channel for political advice and assistance.

In 2024-25, the number and total cost of Special Advisers reduced in comparison to the previous year.

The Scottish Government has published a list of current Special Advisers online. These details, as well as lists of former Special Advisers, can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/special-advisers/.

Question reference: S6W-38941

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which of its departments or directorates are being considered for (a) closure, (b) consolidation and (c) staffing reductions under the recently announced £1 billion annual savings plan for public services.

The Public Service Reform Strategy sets out a clear direction for modernising how we work, with workforce transformation at its core. It supports a shift in operating models, with a focus on efficiency, collaboration, and protecting frontline delivery, and will significantly increase our focus on delivering the most efficient and effective public services system, this includes the Scottish Government. We will be reviewing the service delivery landscape to make sure it is the right composition to deliver the services the people of Scotland need, this will include both public bodies and Scottish Government directorates. There are also plans in place to drive workforce reductions to meet the £1 billion target. Updates on the progress of this work will be provided to Parliament as part of regular updates on the wider PSR Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-38578

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many older people are currently on waiting lists for a social care assessment.

Question reference: S6W-38950

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason only 2% of victims were reportedly notified through the Victim Notification Scheme of the early release of prisoners in summer 2024.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The Scottish Government’s Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) in Scotland is an opt-in scheme, which affords victims the right to decide whether they choose to receive information, including but not limited to, the offender’s release date.

The SPS’ VNS Team hold the contact details for registered victims who have joined the VNS. Registered victims, where the offender was released early as part of Early Release, were notified by SPS’ VNS Team of the change to the offender’s release date, ahead of release.

In addition, temporary expediated processes were also introduced to enable victims who had not registered on the VNS but confirmed eligible to join, to find out themselves or through a named VSO, the release date of an offender.

Question reference: S6W-38174

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the budget for the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill in 2025-26 is £11 million, in light of its decision to withdraw plans for a national care service.

The Scottish Government is delivering improvement and reform of social care, social work and community health.

Financial information, including the National Care Service Programme 2025-26 budget position, has been provided to the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The Care Reform (Scotland) Bill is one element of our ambitious programme of social care reform that will be delivered through both legislative and non-legislative means, including the recent establishment of the non-statutory NCS Advisory Board.

Question reference: S6W-38939

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners released early in 2024 had convictions for (a) violent or antisocial behaviour and (b) crimes against women.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS have proactively shared the data analysis for those released early in 2024, and the full breakdown can be accessed on our website here Data, Research and Evidence | Scottish Prison Service.

The offence categories analysed were in line with the Index Offence Derivation which does not include crimes against women. Further information on recognised offence categories can be found here CellWise Data Construction - Scottish prison population statistics technical manual - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-35795

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of any financial agreements and pay arrangements involving Ferguson Marine’s (a) recent interim chief executive, (b) most recent permanent chief executive and (c) current senior personnel.