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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: S5F-01686

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2017

To ask the First Minister, in light of reports of crews being attacked when dealing with bonfires over the weekend, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure the safety of emergency responders.

Question reference: S5W-12112

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which types of restorative justice processes are available.

As set out in the Scottish Government's recently published Guidance for the Delivery of Restorative Justice in Scotland, restorative justice processes may take a variety of forms, including both direct and indirect communication between a victim and the person who has harmed them. The guidance stresses the need for appropriate support, facilitation, preparation and risk assessment within these processes.

Question reference: S5W-12110

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the service providers of restorative justice.

This information is not held centrally. Following on from the recent publication of Guidance for the Delivery of Restorative Justice in Scotland, we will consult on an order under section 5(2) of the Victims and Witnesses Act 2014, to prescribe who must have regard to this guidance. We will also work closely with justice and third sector partners to ensure access to existing services and to develop further provision to meet the needs of victims.

Question reference: S5W-12111

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many offenders have been offered restorative justice processes in the last year, also broken down by how many (a) took part and (b) outcome agreements were reached.

Question reference: S5W-12113

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities offer restorative justice services.

This information is not held centrally. However, we are aware that several local authorities are engaged with victim/offender support organisations to provide restorative justice services. These services are offered both to adults and young people, although currently predominately used in youth services. The availability and use of restorative justice services will be considered as we take forward work with justice and third sector partners to ensure access to existing services and to develop further provision to meet the needs of victims.

Question reference: S5W-11850

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on trialling a so-called one-sheriff system across civil and criminal proceedings with regard to domestic abuse, and what its position is on whether such a system could lead to survivors being spared unnecessary trauma.

Part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, as amended, requires that courts should have regard to domestic abuse when considering civil court orders relating to parental responsibilities and rights. The Scottish Government is reviewing part 1 of the 1995 Act and preparing a Family Justice Modernisation Strategy and will carry out a public consultation on this next year.

This consultation will cover issues in relation to domestic abuse, including, for example, options to prevent direct cross-examination of victims of domestic abuse by their alleged abusers in child contact cases before the civil courts. We will engage with the courts and others on issues arising from the consultation responses.

Question reference: S5W-11546

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many Police Scotland posts of chief inspector or above are (a) unfilled and (b) filled on an "acting" basis.

Question reference: S5W-11465

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Dundee and the surrounding areas benefit from the V&A Museum of Design.

The Scottish Government is the major funder of the V&A Museum of Design Dundee along with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Dundee City Council, the private sector and Creative Scotland by award of National Lottery funding.

Our investment in V&A Dundee is premised on the significant economic benefit that the Museum will bring to the city, the wider region and Scotland, alongside a range of other positive outcomes outlined in the business case. Plans for the Museum which are being developed by project partners, Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise, V&A London, Dundee University and Abertay University, will deliver these benefits.

There is a range of actions in place to maximise the opportunities arising from the significant investment that has been made in the new Museum and the wider Waterfront Regeneration project. For example Scottish Enterprise has been actively engaging and influencing businesses within Dundee and surrounding areas in applying a Destination Development approach, encouraging innovation, collaboration and capacity building.

Ahead of opening there are already encouraging signs of increased visitor numbers, inward investment and new business start-ups.

Question reference: S5W-11467

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether a new IT system will be required to deliver its new welfare system in 2020 and, if so, what the procurement process will be; what timescale it has set, and how much it will cost.

New IT systems will be required to deliver the new social security powers in Scotland. We are taking account of Audit Scotland’s recommendations in their ‘Principles for a Digital Future’ report that implementation should not be ‘big-bang’ but must be broken down into manageable stages. Our phased approach to the design of the technology we need mirrors our phased approach to the devolution of social security; this means that different elements of digital/IT systems will go live at different times. For benefits within the first wave - Best Start Grant and Funeral Expense Assistance - we expect to appoint a supplier shortly who will support our agile development of the technology required. Future procurement activity will follow on from work underway just now to design the other benefits. We estimate a high level cumulative IT implementation cost of £190 million over a period of four years.

Question reference: S5W-11012

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of summary criminal cases were dealt with from caution and charge to verdict within the 26 week target in each month since April 2015, broken down by sheriff court.