Chamber and committees

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-36735

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of ministerial time was spent on matters relating to the Children's Parliament in 2024, and what its position is whether this was an effective use of ministers' time.

Question reference: S6W-36739

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which decisions or recommendations by the Children's Parliament have influenced its policy since May 2007, also broken down by policy and in what way it was influenced, and what information it has for the period prior to this.

Question reference: S6W-36745

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of university spin-out companies formed in Scotland have (a) remained in the country and (b) relocated to (i) the rest of the UK and (ii) overseas.

Question reference: S6W-36740

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to the Children's Parliament in each of the last five years, and what its position is on whether this has delivered value for money.

Question reference: S6W-36737

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any complaints or concerns raised about the conduct of any Members of the Children's Parliament in the last three years, and, if so, what information it has regarding what these were about and how they were addressed.

Question reference: S6W-36556

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given to Food and Drink Scotland in each of the last five years, and for what purpose.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the Food and Drink Sector and that is why we fund the delivery of the Industry led Food and Drink strategy – Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World, and before that the Food & Drink Sector Recovery Plan which sought to mitigate the challenges that Brexit and the Pandemic brought on the Sector. The strategy outlines the sector’s aims and ambitions over the next 10 years, setting out a range of activities in a number of areas to move the dial on food and drink sector growth in Scotland.

The following table outlines the funding provided to Scotland Food & Drink since 2020-21 and the purpose of that funding.

Year	Amount	Purpose
2020-21	£4,612,000	Food and Drink Covid Recovery Plan
2021-22	£5,085,000	Food and Drink Covid Recovery Plan
2022-23	£5,000,000	Food and Drink Covid Recovery Plan
2023-24	£5,000,000	Year 1 Delivery of Industry Strategy - Sustaining Scotland: Supplying the World
2024-25	£5,000,000	Year 2 Delivery of Industry Strategy - Sustaining Scotland: Supplying the World

Information on Scotland Food & Drink’s structure and the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership can be found at Scotland Food & Drink. Through the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, the Scottish Government and its agencies work collaboratively with Scotland Food & Drink and other key food and drink industry organisations to help deliver growth for the sector.

Question reference: S6W-36278

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) certified ethical hacker (CEH) and (b) offensive security certified professional (OSCP) qualified members of staff it employs.

Question reference: S6W-36686

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support any older people who are having to skip meals due to financial hardship.

Question reference: S6W-36692

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Scotland-based exporters in mitigating the effects of the recently announced USA trade policy.

Question reference: S6W-36699

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on removing the immunity of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) from criminal prosecution, as called for by the SPS chief executive.