Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 2049 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-39584

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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.

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.

Question reference: S6W-39840

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are any constraints against the establishment of new data centres in Scotland; if there are, what it considers that those constraints are, and what action it is taking to mitigate any such constraints.

Question reference: S6W-39583

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2025
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.

Question reference: S6W-39582

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
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.

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.

Question reference: S6W-39762

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its justification is for reportedly paying a civil servant for 18 months despite them having no formal duties.

Question reference: S6W-39838

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to City of Sanctuary UK in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-39761

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what procedures it has in place to identify any employees without an active job description or reporting line.

Question reference: S6W-39760

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants are currently on its payroll without a recognised job title or role.

Question reference: S6W-39839

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on which public sector organisations, including colleges and universities, have received Sanctuary Awards from City of Sanctuary UK in the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-39689

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
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.

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