Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-32036

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is allocating to legal aid in its draft Budget 2025-26.

This information is in the public domain and can be found on the Scottish Government’s website where the Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2025-26 as presented to the Scottish Parliament. Please see the following link.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2025-2026/

Further details on the Scottish Budget, such as the split by HMT aggregate, outturn comparisons and Level 4 Budget tables, can be found in the following link.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2025-2026/documents/

Question reference: S6W-32024

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported £13.3 million reduction in the budget of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) that has been proposed in the 2025-26 draft Budget could have on the operation of SCTS, including from what areas of this operation this reduction will be met.

The prior year 2024-25 Budget comparator figures are based on the latest in-year budget numbers which were revised at the Autumn Budget Revision. The 2023-24 Scottish Budget comparator figures reflect the outturn numbers for that year.

It is not the case that the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) budget has been reduced by £13.3m. The SCTS budget is subject to revision and adjustment via the Scottish Government Autumn Budget Revision (ABR) and Spring Budget Revision (SBR) processes, as such a direct comparison with the published comparator figures does not provide a true reflection of SCTS 2025-26 budget position. Compared to the opening 2024-25 budget, an additional £11.5m Resource funding and £2m Capital funding has been provided to the SCTS.

In addition to the funding allocation in the Budget Bill, the SCTS receives income primarily from civil court fees and retained fines; in-year funding from the Scottish Government related to non-baseline areas that are still highly variable such as the recently devolved tribunals; and through the Recovery, Renewal and Transformation (RRT) budget, receives additional funding to increase criminal court capacity and take forward a range of initiatives to improve service delivery and realise longer term efficiencies.

In the 2023-24 Budget Bill, SCTS was allocated £147.6m, following the adjustments at ABR and SBR the final year outturn figure was £191.1m.

In the 2024-25 Budget Bill SCTS was allocated £165.9m, following the adjustment at ABR the revised budget was £190.3m. A further revision will take place at SBR and will be published in January 2025.

The 2025-26 allocation to SCTS is £177.0m, in addition SCTS will receive RRT funding of £20.3m and, as in previous years, additional in year funding to cover non-baseline costs.

Question reference: S6W-32026

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 13 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether its draft Budget 2024-25 will lead to funding being provided to the Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen and, if so, how much, and what (a) positive and (b) negative indirect consequences the Budget proposals might have on the cinema.

The Scottish Government recognises the huge value that the Belmont, and cultural cinema as a whole, bring to Scotland’s creative landscape. Cinemas like the Belmont are a vital source of cultural experience, community connection, learning, and wellbeing.

The Scottish Government has committed an additional £34m to culture budgets in 2025-26, and our aim is to provide a further £20m in 2026-2027, subject to usual parliamentary procedure. Amongst other activity, this will allow Creative Scotland to offer a comprehensive package of Multi-Year Funding to the largest ever number of cultural organisations across Scotland, ensuring that more people have access to cultural projects and venues, which will benefit their health and wellbeing as well as bringing enjoyment. Creative Scotland will now complete their due diligence, and will aim to notify the successful organisations in January.

While those funding decisions are for Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government is absolutely clear on the value of cultural cinema, and we will continue to engage with Screen Scotland and others to ensure that cultural cinema is protected for Scotland's audiences today and in the long term.

Since its closure in 2022, Screen Scotland has already provided £320,000 in funding to support the reopening of the Belmont cinema. This includes £60,000 to Aberdeen City Council to undertake feasibility and transition work, and £260,000 to Belmont Community Cinema Ltd. to support development of a business model, recruit key staff to support the reopening bid, and progress fundraising activity, amongst other key development work.

Question reference: S6W-31970

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the monthly average sales income for fishermen has been in each of the last three years to date.

For the years 2021 to 2023, the average monthly sales income has been calculated for fishers employed on Scottish Vessels. This is given in the following table:

Monthly average sales income for fishers on Scottish registered vessels, 2021 - 2023

	2021	2022	2023
Landed value (£) in real terms	£625,595,000	£643,529,000	£652,208,000
Number of fishers employed	4,241	4,119	3,793
Monthly average sales income (£)	£12,293	£13,020	£14,329

The information on fishers employed is collected as at 31 December in each year and reflects those employed during the year. Some of these fishers are irregular, so will not work on the vessel full-time, so will have a lower income. This means that we are unable to provide monthly averages for each month as we do not know how many fishers were employed in each month. It should also be noted that some fishing sectors will have larger incomes than others and different crew share arrangements will be in place, meaning that some fishers on the same vessel will earn more than others.

The landed value in real terms and monthly average sales income are given in pounds and have been adjusted to 2023 prices by adjusting for inflation. As this is based on landed value only, it is not a reflection of earnings as no costs have been accounted for.

Question reference: S6W-31500

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it has a role in facilitating a scheme similar to Project Pegasus in Scotland to tackle retail crime, and, if so, whether it is considering (a) setting up and (b) funding such a scheme.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role of retailers in our society and want to ensure that they are protected. We also recognise the distress caused by retail crime, particularly to staff. The investigation of criminal activity and deployment of resources is a matter for Police Scotland and they remain focused on keeping communities safe from harm, and investigating criminal activity. However, Policing itself also remains a priority for this Government. We are aware that some of the perpetrators of shoplifting offences have links to organised crime.

In our 2025-26 draft budget, the Scottish Government has proposed up to £3 million in funding to be used for the purpose of exploring the implementation of a partnership between the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and Scotland’s retail sector in an effort to combat organised retail crime. This is in line with our Programme for Government (PfG) commitment to address organised crime, which is an area of significant and growing concern to retailers.

The Scottish Government and its partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce are fully committed to tackling serious organised crime in all its guises and reducing the harm it causes to our communities.

Question reference: S6W-31498

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it would provide funding to an equivalent scheme to Project Pegasus in England and Wales to tackle retail crime.

The Scottish Government is aware of the business and policing partnership Project Pegasus, currently operating in England and Wales. We are committed to exploring any possible options to tackle organised retail crime in Scotland and are open to exploring the prospect of implementing a similar joint initiative between Police Scotland, the Scottish Government and our valued retail stakeholders in an effort to do all we can to combat the unacceptable rise in organised crime affecting retailers.

To demonstrate this commitment, the Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2025-26 includes up to £3 million in funding to be used for the purpose of exploring the implementation of a similar partnership between the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and Scotland’s retail sector in an effort to combat organised retail crime.

Question reference: S6W-31499

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken on Project Pegasus in England and Wales to tackle retail crime, and what conclusions it has drawn from this research.

Discussions regarding retail crime have taken place between the Scottish Government and retail stakeholders through the Retail Industry Leadership Group (ILG), Co-Chaired by the Minister for Employment and Investment. Additionally, there has been early engagement between Scottish Government officials and Police Scotland around potentially developing a similar system in Scotland alongside partner organisations. No research has currently been undertaken by Scottish Government officials on this matter but the early findings from Project Pegasus will be of interest in taking forward action in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-32053

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31038 by Siobhian Brown on 13 November 2024, when it will (a) commence and (b) conclude its evaluation of the legal aid trainee fund; who will be involved in the evaluation; on what basis the achievement of the fund will be evaluated; should the evaluation conclude that the fund was a success, whether similar funding will be made available, and, if so, when.

Question reference: S6W-32054

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31040 by Siobhian Brown on 13 November 2024, whether it will provide the information requested regarding for what reason there has been a reported reduction in the number of criminal legal aid solicitors, since 2007, from 1,459 to 966.

Question reference: S6W-31548

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current prison population, broken down by each institution within the Scottish Prison Service estate.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

As of Friday 22 November, the prison population was 8278, broken down by establishment as shown in the following table:

Establishment	Today's Population


Addiewell	725
Barlinnie	1364
Bella	12
Dumfries	187
Edinburgh	932
Glenochil	734
Grampian	487
Greenock	231
Inverness	109
Kilmarnock	622
Lilias	21
Low Moss	818
Castle Huntly	176
Perth	672
Polmont	562
Shotts	543
Stirling	83
TOTAL	8278

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