-  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
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                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Kate Forbes on 10 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government what implications EY's forecast contraction in Aberdeen's mining and quarrying sector could have on local employment between 2025 and 2028.
                                Answer
                                    I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36120 on 10 April 2025, there is significant uncertainty in the economic outlook and economic forecasts can be subject to revision. 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:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Alasdair Allan on 7 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to revise the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in response to reported plans in England to ease the process of building nuclear power plants, and what assessment it has made of any potential implications of this for its energy policy.
                                Answer
                                    There are no plans to review our nuclear policy or to revise the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). The Scottish Government’s position on traditional fission nuclear energy is clear: we do not support the building of any new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered any reforms or changes to the fatal accident inquiry system, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
                                Answer
                                    The Scottish Government has acknowledged that there are concerns about the operation of the FAI system. In January of this year, following publication of the determination of the FAI into the deaths of Katie Allen and William Brown at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, the Scottish Government announced a focussed, independent review of the FAI system. This review is to look at the efficiency, effectiveness and trauma-informed nature of investigations into deaths in prison custody.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries in preventing similar fatalities.
                                Answer
                                    The Scottish Government supports the independent judiciary's careful examination of matters in FAI determinations and believes that valuable learning is offered through the process.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of training provided to sheriffs who preside over fatal accident inquiries.
                                Answer
                                    Training of the judiciary, including the training provided to sheriffs who hear fatal accident inquiries, is not a matter for the Scottish Government but rather for the Lord President.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the effectiveness of current processes for (a) monitoring and (b) ensuring the implementation of recommendations made following fatal accident inquiries.
                                Answer
                                    The Scottish Government recently announced a review into how fatal accident inquiries operate. That review follows the publication of Sheriff Collins' determination of the fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Katie Allen and William Brown in Polmont YOI in 2018. There are however no specific plans for the monitoring of recommendations made following FAIs generally. Each policy area will monitor recommendations of relevance to them.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors any trends or common factors identified across fatal accident inquiries, and how it uses any such data in its policy development.
                                Answer
                                    FAIs cover a number of areas of policy interest. It would be for each Scottish Government policy area to consider if a particular determination or response gave rise to further consideration or action. We would expect any public body to take cognisance of any such recommendations.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures (a) transparency and (b) public accountability regarding the outcomes and recommendations of fatal accident inquiries.
                                Answer
                                    The statutory framework for FAIs is the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016. The legislation introduced a requirement for the Sheriff conducting the FAI to make a determination setting out their conclusions and recommendations as soon as possible. Recommendations from a Sheriff must be responded to by the body to whom they are directed. The 2016 Act sets out that the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is required to publish the determination and subsequent response from the party to whom the recommendations are directed. The response will normally detail what action has been taken or is proposed to be taken in light of the recommendations. These are published on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website and are therefore publicly available.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
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                                            Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
                                        
 
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently it reviews the implementation status of fatal accident inquiry recommendations with relevant organisations or bodies.
                                Answer
                                    The determination of an FAI will set out the Sheriff's recommendations, which will be aimed at the relevant public body. The Scottish Government would expect any public body to take cognisance of any recommendations.
 
                         
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
 
                                        - 
                                            Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
                                        
 
                                    - 
                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angela Constance on 4 April 2025
                                    
 
                                
                            
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects feedback from families involved in fatal accident inquiries regarding their experiences of the inquiry process, and how it uses any such information.
                                Answer
                                    The operation of FAIs is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service rather than for the Scottish Government. The experience of families will inform the forthcoming focused review of FAIs in relation to deaths in custody.