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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: S5W-25100

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will invest to upgrade facilities for child witnesses, and over what time period.

At the end of 2018, the Scottish Government committed over two million pounds of capital and associated revenue costs to enable the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to provide new and upgraded state of the art evidence suites to allow children and vulnerable witnesses to give their evidence in criminal trials in a safe, sensitive and secure environment. It is anticipated that the new facilities in Glasgow will be operational from October 2019, in Inverness by March 2020 when the new Justice Centre is due to open, and the upgraded facilities in Edinburgh and Aberdeen by March 2020.

Question reference: S5W-25107

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will introduce the Defamation and Malicious Publications (Scotland) Bill.

As the First Minister set out in Programme for Government we will introduce a Defamation and Malicious Publication Bill this parliamentary year. The Bill will take forward the recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission and will simplify and modernise the law of defamation. The reforms will ensure that a more appropriate balance is struck between protecting reputation and freedom of expression. Amongst other changes, the Bill will recognise a defence of publication on a matter of public interest and ensure that no proceedings can be brought where a defamatory statement is made only to the person who is the subject of it.

Question reference: S5W-25098

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will establish an independently-chaired group to ensure that police powers allow for the use of technology to make policing more effective and efficient, and when its terms of reference will be set.

On 13 June 2019 I announced to the Scottish Parliament Justice Sub-Committee on Policing my intention to form an independently-chaired reference group to scope the possible legal and ethical issues arising from emerging technological developments in policing. I can confirm that preparatory work is currently being undertaken including consideration of the terms of reference and membership. I will provide an update on progress to the sub-committee in due course.

Question reference: S5W-25101

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether victim support organisations will have the power to demand changes to criminal justice bodies’ annual standards of service for victims and witnesses.

We are working with all of the criminal justice bodies and the Victims Organisation Collaboration Forum Scotland (VOCFS) which is chaired by Victim Support Scotland, to facilitate engagement on the development of the annual standards of service for victims and witnesses.

This work is overseen by the Victims Taskforce and includes attendance of the justice bodies at VOCFS meetings to discuss progress against the current standards and seek suggestions directly from VOCFS members on key issues the standards should focus on in the following year.

Question reference: S5O-03587

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to initiatives in the north east that aim to tackle climate change.

Question reference: S5W-25056

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set up a restorative justice stakeholder group and, if so, what its terms of reference are.

Question reference: S5W-24882

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when the new cancer unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is scheduled to open.

The Project Team are currently reviewing the design specification, assessing logistical arrangements with their supply chain and confirming timelines for the project. That work continues and results are expected shortly.

The Scottish Government remain fully committed to the Baird Family Hospital and The ANCHOR Centre Project and looks forward to the submission of the Full Business Case to the NHS Capital Investment Group when that work is complete.

Question reference: S5W-25110

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will introduce guidance on (a) fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, (b) fire safety in specialised housing and (c) fire-risk assessments.

Question reference: S5W-25111

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will put in place more stringent fire safety provisions for external wall cladding systems.

Question reference: S5W-25109

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will develop specific fire safety guidance aimed at all residents of high-rise domestic buildings.