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 2239 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-40596

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 1 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to the Child Poverty Action Group in each of the last three years, and what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of this expenditure.

Eradicating child poverty is a national mission and this Government’s top priority, and our Programme for Government sets out how we will continue to drive forward progress on child poverty and tackle the cost of living crisis facing households in the final year of this Parliament.

Through the Children, Young People, Families, Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) third sector fund the Scottish Government has provided core funding of £139,650 to the Child Poverty Action Group in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years. The funding supports staff, utility, building and equipment costs within the organisation to support delivery of grant funding outcomes associated with the delivery of tackling child poverty in Scotland.

The Scottish Attainment Challenge programme has also provided targeted funding to the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland of £152,479 in 2023-24, £158,415 in 202425 and £160,940 in 2025-26. This support has been critical in driving the development of Cost of the School Day approaches across Scotland, enabling the team at Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland to provide strategic leadership and engage with school communities, local authority partners, policymakers and the third sector, facilitating action on school costs and supporting children and families on low incomes.

As part of the Scottish Government's grant conditions, we ask all funded organisations to monitor and report their progress towards delivery of their funding outcomes to ensure appropriate use of public funds and value for money. Through this process we are aware that the Child Poverty Action Group met their funding outcomes in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-40793

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money has been spent on emergency accommodation as a result of any breaches of homelessness laws in each of the last five financial years.

Question reference: S6W-40794

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for the Scottish economy, what its current position is in relation to seeking devolved powers over immigration and asylum; whether its position on this matter has changed since May 2025, and, if this is the case, whether its previous statements on a separate approach to immigration in Scotland remain its policy; what the reasons are for any change; whether all of its ministers were consulted prior to any change of position, and whether it has informed the Scottish Parliament of any change.

Question reference: S6W-40711

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that publicly funded trips under the Techscaler programme are not misused, in light of reported concerns of them being used as "free holidays" involving individuals who are not business founders.

Question reference: S6W-40717

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reported concerns regarding the alleged misuse of funds in the publicly funded Techscaler programme, what assessment it has made of any reputational risk to Scotland as a result of any such activity.

Question reference: S6W-40716

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that participants in any publicly funded trips under the Techscaler programme are selected through a competitive, open application process.

Question reference: S6W-40713

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish in full all promotional material, invitations and the selection process for any overseas trips that have taken place under the Techscaler programme.

Question reference: S6W-40715

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers were aware of reports that marketing officers took part, as substitutes for company founders, in international trips under the publicly funded Techscaler programme.

Question reference: S6W-40712

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how attendees for trips under the Techscaler programme to Singapore and Silicon Valley are selected, including what selection criteria are applied.

Question reference: S6W-40594

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to the Centre for Good Relations CIC in each of the last three years; how this funding was used, and what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of this expenditure.

The Centre for Good Relations has been grant funded to carry out three strands of work – civic diplomacy in relation to marches and parades; civic mediation and facilitation of dialogue in relation to protest and demonstrations; and steward and marshal training for those involved in organising and running processions and protests.

This work is funded and delivered on the submission of a business plan, a condition of which is the completion of quarterly reports with clear deliverables and an annual review. Additionally, feedback sought from stakeholders who engage with the Centre for Good Relations has continued to be positive. This ensures that the Centre for Good Relations continues to effectively address community tensions and improve the quality of stewarding for marches, parades and protests.

The breakdown of funding is set out in the following table:

Year	Total Funding	Funding Breakdown
2023-24	£123,570	Civic Diplomacy, Marches and Parades – £65,000
		Protest and Demonstrations Civic Mediation – £40,000
		Steward and Marshal Training – £18,570
2024-25	£165,000	Civic Diplomacy, Marches and Parades – £65,000
		Protest and Demonstrations Civic Mediation – £59,800
		Steward and Marshal Training – £40,200
2025-26	£168,300	Civic Diplomacy, Marches and Parades – £70,000
		Protest and Demonstrations Civic Mediation – £68,300
		Steward and Marshal Training – £30,000