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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: S6W-41136

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to prevent the sale of illicit cigarettes through street traders.

The Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Register is a Scotland specific register that is governed by legislation. Scottish Ministers have a commitment to keep and maintain a register of all sellers of tobacco and vapes. The register has been an asset to enforcement authorities in Scotland for over 15 years. The refreshed register, launched in January this year, has improved this important tool for enforcement as well as a more efficient vehicle for engagement with retailers on compliance.

In addition, we work closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) to support enforcement of existing legislation, including on illicit tobacco. SCOTSS manages the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP) in Scotland, which is a key component in the Scottish Government’s Tobacco and Vaping Framework.

In 2025-2026, Scottish Government provided funding of £46k to SCOTSS support a National Coordinator post and specific enforcement projects that vary year on year.

In 2024-2025 SCOTSS received an additional £75k to support the UK-wide Operation CeCe, which is a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HMRC to remove illicit tobacco product from sale. SCOTSS plays a key role in this operation, coordinating local authority activity in Scotland. From 2025-2026 Operation CeCe is being funded directly by UKG.

Scottish Government Officials also meet regularly with HMRC, who work with Border Force to take action to tackle the import of illicit tobacco and vaping products at the border.

Question reference: S6W-41146

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many sheriff courts are currently experiencing staffing issues that prevent the implementation of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders.

The resourcing and supervision of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders is a matter for individual local authorities which are best placed to ensure provision meets the needs of their local area.

While DTTOs are not currently available in all areas of Scotland, similar services can be provided via Community Payback Orders with particular requirements, helping to ensure that individuals’ support needs are met.

Question reference: S6W-41138

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any potential revenue that was lost due to the illicit cigarette trade in Scotland, over the last 12 months.

Question reference: S6W-41141

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions for illicit cigarette selling there have been since 2021.

There is a range of legislation which may be relevant when referring to prosecutions for “illicit cigarette selling”. The following information relates to charges reported to The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) under:

The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016;
The Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015.

Action taken re Subject	Action Taken Re Charge	Outcome	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25
Summary	Court	Conviction	3	3	6	0
		No conviction	1	1	21	2
		Ongoing	0	4	10	15
		No further action	6	1	48	2
	Court Total		10	9	85	19
	Not separately actioned	Not separately actioned	2	2	2	0
Summary Total			12	11	87	19
Direct measure	Warning	Warning	0	4	0	0
	Not separately actioned	Not separately actioned	0	0	0	2
Direct measure Total			0	4	0	2
No action			10	17	2	44
No decision			0	0	17	10
Grand Total			22	32	106	75

(date of extract 20 October 2025).

Not Separately Actioned

No action was taken against the charge, but action (prosecution in court or direct measure) was taken against the accused.

Some of the libel in the charge may have been incorporated into a charge that was actioned.

Question reference: S6W-41059

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address high-value car thefts.

The investigation and prevention of high-value or keyless car theft is a matter for Police Scotland. To support policing capacity and capability, the Scottish Government has provided £1.64 billion in funding for the year 2025-26. This represents an increase of £90 million compared to 2024-25.

The Scottish Government does not hold information specific to high-value or keyless car thefts. However, statistics on motor vehicle theft more generally are published in our quarterly Recorded Crime in Scotland bulletin, available here.

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded crimes of Theft of a motor vehicle fell by 7%, from 5,090 to 4,753. Compared to 2006-07, this represents a 68% reduction. The standard data supplied by Police Scotland does not identify the type or value of vehicles stolen, nor does it capture specific items taken during housebreaking or robbery incidents where a vehicle may have been among the stolen property.

Police Scotland continues to tackle organised criminal activity through the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, which coordinates multi-agency efforts to disrupt networks involved in offences including vehicle theft.

The UK Government’s Crime and Policing Bill proposes new offences related to the possession of electronic devices used in vehicle theft, such as signal jammers and CAN bus exploit tools. The Scottish Government has lodged a Legislative Consent Memorandum recommending that these measures extend to Scotland, and is proposing that the offences be added to the list of Scottish Criminal Lifestyle Offences.

Question reference: S6W-41062

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address keyless car thefts.

Question reference: S6W-41061

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Police Scotland to address high-value car thefts committed by organised gangs.

Question reference: S6W-41060

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of high-value car thefts committed and the location where they were reported, broken down by year since 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-41063

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of keyless car thefts committed and the location where they were reported, broken down by year since 2021-22.

Question reference: S6O-05101

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide financial scrutiny over NHS Grampian.