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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-36829

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that no pupil is disadvantaged as a result of the recently reported administrative failure at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Question reference: S6W-36846

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of declining international student enrolments on university finances, in light of reports that applications from overseas students are down by over 10%.

Question reference: S6W-36826

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any repeated failures by the Scottish Qualifications Authority erode trust in the national qualifications system, and what reforms it plans to implement in this regard.

Question reference: S6W-36828

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to restore confidence in the integrity of the 2025 National 5 History examination, in light of reports that secure assessment materials were compromised.

Question reference: S6W-36833

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether any guidance has been issued by (a) it, (b) Education Scotland and (c) the Scottish Qualifications Authority to teachers and schools on how to teach about the Holocaust.

Question reference: S6W-36849

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency planning it has undertaken in the event that any anticipated private investment for its net zero strategy does not materialise.

Question reference: S6W-36835

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the Lessons from Auschwitz (LFA) project.

Question reference: S6W-36836

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that all pupils in Scotland are taught about the Holocaust.

Question reference: S6W-36848

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a detailed breakdown of the funding sources required to deliver its net zero targets, including the proportion anticipated to come from the private sector.

Question reference: S6W-36430

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 11 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any modelling that shows how the Scottish Child Payment, in isolation, can deliver the 2030 child poverty target, or, if no such modelling exists, what its position is on whether there is a need for wider reforms to skills, jobs and enterprise policy.

The Scottish Government published economic modelling on 27 March 2025 which estimates the impact of Scottish Government policies on child poverty in Scotland. The report finds that Scottish Government policies will keep an estimated 70,000 children out of relative poverty in 2025-26, including 40,000 through investment in the Scottish Child Payment alone. The impact of Scottish Government policies is estimated to grow over time to keep 100,000 children out of poverty by 2028-29.

As set out in Best Start, Bright Futures, the Scottish Government recognises that a balanced approach is needed to effectively tackle child poverty and to meet the 2030 targets. This includes action focused across the three drivers of child poverty reduction: income from employment, the cost of living and income from social security and benefits in kind. On this basis, the Scottish Government has no current plans to publish economic modelling focused on how the Scottish Child Payment in isolation can meet the 2030 targets.

We know that employment can offer a sustainable route out of poverty for many families, and we remain committed to doing everything within the scope of our powers and budget to support parents to access employment and to increase their earnings. This includes through action focused on ensuring parents have access to the right employability and skills interventions to support them on their journey into and within work, and through action focused on strengthening the labour market and promotion of fair work practices.

The Scottish Government will publish our third child poverty delivery plan by the end of March 2026. We are in the process of consulting with a wide range of stakeholders to inform its development, building on the considerable evidence and action taken to date. We are clear on the scale of the challenge faced to meet the 2030 child poverty targets and the plan will set out action to drive further progress.