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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-36285

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the updated list of public appointments by public body, which was published on 25 March 2025, is an exhaustive list of all public appointments.

Question reference: S6W-36277

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what public sector organisations have reported cybersecurity breaches in the last three years.

Question reference: S6W-36275

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what projections it has made for the period 2025-75 for the overall (a) birth and (b) mortality rates in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-35978

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions in agriculture does not lead to increased food imports from countries with poorer environmental standards.

We firmly believe there is no contradiction between high quality food production and producing it in a way that delivers for the climate and nature and it is important that we do not offshore our emissions as we work towards net zero.

We are supporting our farmers and crofters to improve their efficiency, thereby improving their productivity and profitability and reducing their emissions. We also recognise that agriculture and food production relies on natural processes and will always cause some degree of emissions.

The Whole Farm Plan will help farmers and crofters measure their businesses’ impact and find ways to become more efficient and to cut emissions. We continue to explore new, innovative ways to help mitigate emissions from agriculture, measure and build carbon sequestration, while continuing to produce high quality food and improve biodiversity.

We are also helping to reduce emissions from farming through measures such as the reform of the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme and are looking at a potential pilot scheme on how support payments could encourage the uptake of methane suppressing feed products.

In February, the First Minister announced that around £14 million will be allocated to delivering the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS). FFIS will offer flexible support for capital items that can be used to improve efficiency or support nature and climate-friendly farming.

We will bring forward a draft Climate Change Plan in the coming year that will set out policies and proposals for how our agriculture sector will continue to play its part in meeting our ambitious net zero national target by 2045.

We must also recognise the risks to our farmers and crofters of being undercut by imported goods with lower production standards as a result of the previous UK Government’s post-Brexit trade deals. Scotland wants to trade based on its high regulatory standards to protect consumers and enable producers to champion Scottish provenance. Scotland’s Vision for Trade sets out five key principles that should underpin Scotland’s trading and investing relationships, which include Sustainability and Net Zero. In line with those principles, our asks of UK Government include committing to regulating in line with the precautionary principle, to prevent environmental harm and maintain high regulatory standards in food safety, animal welfare and climate. We continually urge the UK Government to reflect those priorities through all UK Free Trade Agreements and other trade negotiations.

Question reference: S6W-35977

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has had with (a) farmers and (b) agricultural bodies regarding the practicalities of meeting agricultural net zero targets.

We are committed to co-developing and co-designing our agricultural policies with industry and rural partners.

The Whole Farm Plan was co-developed with industry and will help farmers and crofters measure their businesses’ impact and find ways to become more efficient and to cut emissions. The Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board continues to support us to develop new proposals for sustainable farming support and we are working closely with the agricultural industry and rural partners to co-develop the Code of Practice for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture through the Agriculture Reform Programme. Our Agricultural Reform Programme has engaged with over 700 farms and crofts in the last two years through interviews and surveys.

We are focused on developing our proposals for the next Climate Change Plan, which is due to be published later this year. It will set out key policies for our farming sector to continue to contribute to our ambitious national net zero target. Stakeholder engagement is fundamental to our policy development approach.

We have already engaged with key agricultural stakeholders as part of the development of our agricultural policies for the Climate Change Plan and are planning further engagement prior to its publication. We will continue to seek expertise from a wide-ranged audience to inform the development of a credible plan.

Question reference: S6W-35976

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the feasibility of its net-zero targets for agriculture, in light of concerns raised in Scotland on Sunday on 16 March 2025 that current policies could put farms "at risk".

The Scottish Government is fully committed to delivering net zero by 2045. Our pathway to net zero must recognise that agriculture and food production relies on natural processes and will always cause some degree of emissions. We have no policy to reduce livestock numbers. Instead, we are committed to supporting the sector to enhance productivity and resilience while reducing emissions intensity

We are committed to supporting our agriculture sector to be productive and profitable while helping to address the climate and nature crises. We firmly believe there is no contradiction between high quality food production and producing it in a way that delivers for the climate and nature.

We are transforming how we support farming and food production in Scotland to deliver our Vision for Agriculture and become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

Importantly, the Whole Farm Plan will help farmers and crofters measure their businesses’ impact and find ways to become more efficient and to cut emissions. We continue to explore new, innovative ways to help mitigate emissions from agriculture, measure and build carbon sequestration, while continuing to produce high quality food and improve biodiversity.

It is important that we recognise that reaching net zero will require ambitious action from every sector and our next Climate Change Plan will set out our approach to delivering on Scotland’s net zero targets in a way which is just and fair for everyone.

Following the passage of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2024, our carbon budgets will be set through secondary legislation taking into account the latest advice from the Climate Change Committee once available. Following setting of the carbon budgets, Scottish Ministers have two months to lay a draft climate change plan before the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-35972

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS Scotland waiting times for all surgeries are in line with international best practices.

We want patients to be treated as soon as possible. However, we know many are facing unacceptable waits and we are determined to do more. That is why we are targeting an additional £200 million to reduce waits and enhance capacity. We are also looking to optimise the full force of the £21.7 billion committed through the Scottish Budget to health and social care to improve performance.

The most recement statistics show that over the 12 months to December 2024, inpatient and day-case activity was over 256,000 (256,209); 7.4% (17,644) more than previous 12 months, demonstrating our plan to improvement in inpatient / day-case waiting times performance is delivering.

Question reference: S6W-35813

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the concerns raised in the May 2020 Royal Society of Edinburgh paper, Developing Scotland’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy, how it will ensure that AI businesses are not subject to excessive regulatory complexity.

Since the publication of the 2020 report by the RSE Scotland's artificial intelligence strategy - Royal Society of Edinburgh : Royal Society of Edinburgh I have commissioned an independent review into the opportunities for AI which was published last year AI+Independent+Review+-+Call+for+Views+-+Initial+Report+-+Advancing+AI+for+Scotland+-+Reformatted+-+January+2024.pdf.

We have been continuously engaging with the UK Government to advocate that their approach to the regulation of AI considers the interests of the citizens and businesses of Scotland. We continue to provide AI support to business through our enterprise agencies and the AI Alliance, our delivery body for Scotland’s AI Strategy. They have recently relaunched the AI Playbook Guidance on AI Adoption Including Information on AI Policies — Scottish AI Playbook which is a one-stop shop for supporting businesses with AI adoption. The playbook also includes information on legal and regulatory provisions relating to the development and use of AI systems.

Question reference: S6W-35802

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the University of Stirling project, Football and Alcohol Scoping Study, and what its position is on what impact controlled, responsible alcohol sales inside football grounds could have on (a) levels of so-called binge drinking before matches, (b) matchday revenues and (c) the overall supporter experience.

The University of Stirling research was commissioned by the Scottish FA and SPFL. The Scottish Government has not undertaken any detailed analysis of the report to date. Our position remains that we have no plans at the current time to amend the legislation governing alcohol at football but we will consider any proposals put forward by the football authorities, and which we would expect to address the issues set out in the University of Stirling report.

Question reference: S6W-35801

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with football (a) clubs and (b) supporter groups regarding the potential impact of allowing alcohol sales inside grounds, and whether it will publish any feedback it has received on this.

I have discussed this issue a number of times with the SPFL and directly with some football clubs. More recently, the round table on enhancing Scottish football which has representatives from the footballing governing bodies and supporter groups, has discussed the reintroduction of alcohol in football stadia alongside other issues pertinent to Scottish football. We plan to publish the minutes of these meetings on the Scottish Government website in due course.