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-42089

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) fees or honoraria have been paid to and (b) travel and subsistence expenses have been claimed by each named member of the Abortion Law Review Expert Group in each financial year since its establishment.

Question reference: S6W-41926

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41527 by Kaukab Stewart on 11 November 2025, what the eligibility status is for homelessness support for individuals who have been placed in temporary accommodation in each local authority since April 2025.

Question reference: S6W-41909

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of National Museums of Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of the National Museums Scotland (NMS) has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of NMS in May 2024.

In that time period, I joined the NMS Board of Trustees pre-meeting session on 8 June 2022. Ministers and I have met when required with the Chief Executive as is normal convention for non-departmental public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-41907

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of National Galleries of Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of NGS in May 2024.

In that time period, I have not attended any board meetings of NGS. However, Minister and I have met when required with the Chief Executive as is normal convention for non-departmental public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-41908

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of the National Library of Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of the National Library of Scotland (NLS) has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of NLS in May 2024.

In that time period, I have not attended any board meetings of NLS. However, the Ministers and I have met when required with the Chief Executive as is normal convention for non-departmental public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-41904

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of Creative Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

Question reference: S6W-41906

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of Museums and Galleries Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) are an independent Third Sector organisation that is funded by the Scottish Government. Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of the Museums Galleries Scotland has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of NGS in May 2024.

In that time period, the I have not attended any board meetings of MGS. However, the myself and Ministers have met when required with the Chair and Chief Executive to discuss appropriate matters.

Question reference: S6W-41905

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 26 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of Historic Environment Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of HES in May 2024.

In that time period, I have not attended any board meetings of HES. However, the Cabinet Secretary and Ministers have met regularly with the Chief Executive as is normal convention for non-departmental public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-41910

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 26 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many board meetings of the National Records of Scotland the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has attended since May 2021, and on what dates.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is a non-ministerial department of the devolved Scottish Administration. The NRS Chief Executive is supported by an advisory board in the effective discharge of their statutory responsibilities. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Ministers to attend these meetings.

In the last twelve months, I have met the NRS Chief Executive on 11 separate occasions. The NRS Chief Executive also provides me with routine written updates.

Question reference: S6W-41792

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 26 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the meeting between the First Minister and the leader of Plaid Cymru (PC) at Bute House on 30 October 2025, at which the First Minister commented that, "I will be delighted to work with my friends in Plaid Cymru to show the people of Scotland and Wales that there is a positive alternative", what role in their official capacity its ministers are playing in advising or supporting PC in its preparations for possibly forming the next administration in Wales; whether it will publish any (a) formal and (b) informal (i) correspondence, (ii) minutes and (iii) briefing material relating to any meetings in this regard with PC representatives; whether it sought advice from the Permanent Secretary or its senior civil servants ahead of such activity, and whether any public funds have been used by it (A) directly or (B) indirectly to support such cooperation, and, if so, (1) for what specific reason, (2) on what date and (3) how much was spent.

The Scottish Government is committed to forging a constructive relationship with nations across the UK and collaborating on issues of mutual interest. The First Minister meets a range of people from across the UK and abroad and is supported in doing so by civil servants as appropriate.

The meeting on 30 October 2025 was requested by Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, and covered the close relationship between Wales and Scotland, and the challenges both countries face, such as tackling child poverty.

This engagement was separate and distinct from any engagement that may take place between Plaid Cymru and the SNP, which is not supported by the civil service.