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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-37545

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many local authorities currently provide restorative justice services.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Restorative Justice services can be offered by a wide range of organisations - not only by local authorities - including by third sector or faith-based organisations.

We continue to work in partnership with Community Justice Scotland and the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice focussing on achieving our vision – to have restorative justice available at a time that is appropriate to the people and case involved; consistent; evidence-led, trauma informed and of a high standard.

Question reference: S6W-37546

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many recommendations of the report, Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing, have been implemented to date.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of transparency and is committed to continuing to share information on progress with the implementation of recommendations made in the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing.

Since the Review was published in November 2020 the Scottish Government has undertaken extensive work alongside policing partners to implement recommendations. To-date 59 out of 72 non-legislative recommendations have been delivered and five reports setting out progress have been published on the Scottish Government website. Additionally, the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 discharges or paves the way via regulations for the majority of the legislative recommendations to be discharged.

A further update to report on the recommendations will be provided to Parliament before the end of the parliamentary term and subsequently published on the Scottish Government website.

Question reference: S6W-37548

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many local authority areas the Caledonian System currently operates within.

The Caledonian System is currently delivered in 21 of the 32 local authority areas, covering over 70% of the population. The Scottish Government is committed to rolling the Caledonian System out further and by the end of this year, two more areas, Shetland and Angus, will begin training to deliver the Caledonian System, taking this up to 23 areas. The Scottish Government will in the next week be writing to all local authorities, detailing a change to the funding distribution. These letters will also provide details of a £1.4m increase in the Caledonian funding line. We will also be engaging with all areas to provide central support and training for those areas moving to deliver the Caledonian System.

Question reference: S6W-37549

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish a strategy on ending intimate and sexual violence against men and boys.

The Scottish Government’s 2021-22 Programme for Government included a commitment to progress work to tackle violence against men and boys, investing in services which support male survivors of rape and domestic abuse.

In line with our PfG commitment we have invested in services which support male survivors of abuse by funding the following organisations:

Men’s Advice Line, who provide emotional support and practical advice and information for male victims of domestic abuse in Scotland.
SACRO’s FearFree Project which supports male and LGBTI survivors of domestic violence.
AMIS, a charity that support men experiencing domestic abuse through their national helpline, website and training services.
The Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline to support both male and female victims and survivors.
ASSIST, who as part of their work provide advocacy support to male survivors of domestic abuse in the West of Scotland and the Lothians.
LGBT Domestic Abuse project, which works across Scotland to raise awareness and improve service responses of LGBT people's experiences of domestic abuse and other forms of gender based violence.

All legislative changes adopted to address domestic abuse and rape and sexual assault, such as the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 similarly protect both female and male victims.

Furthermore, Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls, recognises that men and boys can also be victims of violence and abuse. Its focus on the disproportionate harm women and girls face due to this type of violence is in line with United Nations and World Health Organisation approaches, and enables us to meet our obligations under international human rights legislation such as CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention.

Question reference: S6O-04717

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Grampian is ranked the worst of all mainland NHS boards for ambulance delays.

Question reference: S6W-37329

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund has been allocated to be used for businesses in Aberdeen's LEZ since its introduction, and how much of that allocation was distributed to businesses.

£8,100,000 has been allocated to the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund in Scotland since 2020. There was no allocation per city in order to allow flexibility to respond to demand dependant on applications received each year.

26 applications for this funding have been received from businesses in the Aberdeen area. The majority of applications were rejected due to applicants not meeting the eligibility requirements. 4 applicants were eligible and offered funding, however only 2 accepted these offers. The amount received by these businesses to support retrofitting of vehicles to meet LEZ standards was £14,066 in total.

Over 98% of the vehicles retrofitted through this scheme have been taxis and mostly within Edinburgh and Glasgow. Lower demand retrofit funding in Aberdeen may be attributed to a combination of local taxi licencing conditions and vehicle eligibility, combined with an LEZ exemption for taxis in the city.

Question reference: S6W-37419

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Food Standards Scotland currently receives enough funding to carry out all of its responsibilities.

The Scottish Government and the whole of the public sector faces a very challenging situation as we continue to manage our finances through the current financial year, in 2025-26 and beyond.

Operating within a fixed budget, we have had to manage Scottish public finances in the face of higher inflation and cost of living pressures, making tough decisions to protect the most vulnerable in society.

As part of the Scottish Government 25/26 budget, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) was given a flat budget. FSS have notified the Scottish Government of a pressure due to increased staffing and delivery costs and the Scottish Government will work with FSS to manage the pressure. This has included the set-up of the FSS policy forum with relevant policy teams across Scottish Government to provide a co-ordinated response to the issues FSS face and facilitates the exchange of soft intelligence and problem solving.

Scottish Government have also committed to review the allocated budget in year.

Question reference: S6W-37421

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many food crime cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by Food Standards Scotland in each financial year, from 2020-21 to date.

In 2020 3 cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by Food Standards Scotland and one in each year for 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. In four of the cases the principal charge was reported as culpable and reckless conduct, a serious crime at common law in exposing others, and the public in general, to a significant risk to life or health. Two other cases reported were reported by FSS over the relevant period, but have not been included in the statistics as they relate to animal welfare offences which do not fall within the definition of food crime.

Question reference: S6W-37420

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual employee count for Food Standards Scotland was in each financial year, from 2020-21 to date.

Question reference: S6W-37423

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many food businesses were inspected by an environmental health officer or food safety officer in each calendar year from 2020 to date.