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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.

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Question reference: S6W-43249

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08117 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 May 2022, whether the deliverables listed for the rail improvement project will be completed by the end of 2026; whether any are projected not to be completed, and, if so, which ones, and what the (a) original projected cost was and (b) current projected cost is of each deliverable.

Question reference: S6O-05422

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the five National Performing Companies are essential infrastructure investment and whether the funding that it provides to them is sufficient.

Question reference: S6W-42913

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether weaknesses in tackling cryptocurrency-enabled organised crime risk depriving communities of potential funding through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 that could otherwise be reinvested in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that cryptocurrency-enabled organised crime is tackled and does not consider that weaknesses in this area risk depriving communities of potential POCA funding.

Law enforcement agencies in Scotland are equipped with significant POCA powers. These powers will be further enhanced when new powers for law enforcement to search, seize and detain cryptoassets and cryptoasset-related items come into force on 31 March 2026.

The Scottish Government continues to support operational partners to use all available tools to disrupt organised crime, including in the digital and cryptoasset space.

We remain committed to reinvesting recovered proceeds of crime to benefit young people and communities across Scotland. The Cashback for Communities Programme, funded through POCA receipts, will continue to invest in projects which support activity for young people at risk of becoming involved in anti-social and criminal behaviour. Phase 7 of the Programme, running from April 2026 to March 2029, will receive up to £26 million of funding, which is an increase of £6 million from Phase 6.

Question reference: S6W-42911

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been recovered in Scotland through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 that originated from cryptocurrency or digital assets in each of the last five financial years.

Question reference: S6W-42914

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what specialist capability exists in Scotland to trace, freeze and recover cryptocurrency assets linked to organised crime.

The Government has increased police funding year on year since 2016-17. The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) budget will increase to a record £1.7 billion in 2026-27 to support Police Scotland to deliver on its priorities including frontline service delivery. This is £81.7 million more than the published 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision (ABR) SPA budget. The allocation of police resources, including specialist capability to trace, freeze and recover cryptocurrency assets, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

In addition, the Civil Recovery Unit, acting on behalf of Scottish Ministers, can recover crypto assets derived from unlawful conduct, and additional powers were created to facilitate this in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).

Question reference: S6W-42912

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that any failure to seize and recover cryptocurrency-linked criminal assets has on the level of funding available for community programmes supported through receipts from the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, including CashBack for Communities.

POCA receipts in Scotland are primarily used to fund the CashBack for Communities, which has been delivered successfully in each of its six phases so far. These funds are drawn from the overall level of POCA receipts rather than from any specific category of recovered asset.

In 2024-25, 15,077 young people at risk of becoming involved in anti-social and criminal behaviour were supported to take part in projects that promote safe spaces, trusted adults and a range of positive diversionary and support activities.

Phase 7 of CashBack for Communities will run from April 2026 to March 2029 and will be supported by a record budget of up to £26 million – an increase of £6 million from the previous phase. CashBack for Communities will continue to be funded entirely from POCA receipts.

Question reference: S6W-43177

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding to re-open Bon Accord Baths, Aberdeen, in light of its commitment to provide universal swimming lessons to primary school children.

Question reference: S6W-43146

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the finding of the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Workforce Learning and Development Subgroup in its initial deep dive report that there is “little evidence that training in Scotland adequately equips professionals with the skills needed to respond to CSAE".

Question reference: S6W-43147

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what specific changes to national Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) training standards have been implemented since September 2025, in response to the CSAE Workforce Learning and Development Subgroup's initial deep dive report.

Question reference: S6T-02850

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that grooming gangs are targeting children living in residential care homes in Scotland.