- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it determines whether the additional support being provided to the 299,445 pupils recorded as having an additional support need is appropriate to their individual needs, particularly where the pupil has not been assessed by an educational psychologist.
Answer
Responsibility for identifying, providing for and reviewing the additional support needs of individual children and young people rests with education authorities. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 places duties on education authorities to identify and make provision for the additional support needs of pupils for whose education they are responsible, and to keep those needs and the adequacy of provision under review.
Assessment is an ongoing process and should be proportionate to the individual child or young person’s circumstances. It may draw on information from the pupil, their family, teachers and other relevant professionals. An assessment by an educational psychologist is therefore not required for every pupil with an additional support need. Educational psychology is one of a range of services that may contribute where this is appropriate to the pupil’s individual needs.
The appropriateness of the support provided to an individual pupil is therefore determined locally through the assessment, planning and review of their needs and progress. There is no requirement for all pupils with additional support needs to have their support assessed by educational psychology services.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, of the 299,445 pupils recorded as having an additional support need in 2025, how many have received a written report from an educational psychologist setting out their identified needs and the educational support considered appropriate for them.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The annual pupil census records whether pupils have an additional support need and the type of support recorded for them but does not collect information on whether an individual pupil has received a written report from an educational psychologist.
Education authorities are responsible for identifying, providing for and reviewing the additional support needs of children and young people in their area. The assessment of additional support needs is not limited to assessment by an educational psychologist. The nature of any assessment, and the professionals involved, will depend on the individual circumstances and needs of the child or young person.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-02875, by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026, what opportunities have been identified to further support officers transitioning into operational roles, and when the Scottish Prisons Service (SPS) plans to implement these changes.
Answer
As an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has the responsibility for operation of prisons, including staffing.
The Scottish Prison Service has identified opportunities to strengthen support for new prison officers, including piloting a work-based learning approach for Residential Officers, initiating a review of both the Officer Foundation and Residential Officer Foundation Programmes in 2027, and also through the development of a proposed formalised SPS-wide approach to mentoring.
Working with their key stakeholders including the recognised trade unions, SPS will be commencing work on these initiatives over the coming months with any agreed and required changes being implemented thereafter.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline recommendation that the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) be added to the list of prescribed persons under whistleblowing legislation, what consideration it has given to implementing that recommendation.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports the addition of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) to the list of prescribed persons under the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 and has been working with the Department for Business and Trade and PIRC on the practical arrangements required to support implementation.
As an amendment of the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 is a matter for the UK Government through reserved legislation, the timing of any amendment to the Order is ultimately a matter for the UKG Government. The Department for Business and Trade has advised that the next update to the Order is expected in 2027.
The Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 has strengthened independent oversight of Police Scotland and increased the transparency of how public interest concerns are handled. The Act requires PIRC to keep under review the arrangements that Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority have in place for investigating whistleblowing complaints. This provision commenced in June 2025 and supports organisational learning, continuous improvement and greater public confidence in the handling of concerns raised by police officers and staff.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline finding that some allegations of potential senior officer misconduct were not being reported to the Scottish Police Authority, what action it is taking to strengthen independent scrutiny.
Answer
The Scottish Government has introduced reforms through the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Amendment Regulations 2026 to strengthen the independent scrutiny and handling of misconduct allegations involving senior police officers.
Under the new arrangements, any allegation concerning a senior officer that is received by, or comes to the attention of, the Scottish Police Authority or the Chief Constable must be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) without delay. The Commissioner is then required to assess whether the alleged conduct, if proven, would amount to misconduct, gross misconduct, or neither, and to investigate the matter where appropriate.
The reforms also provide for misconduct hearings to be chaired by a legally qualified member of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland appointed by the Lord President. In addition, they increase transparency by enabling hearings to be held in public and by providing for the publication of outcome reports in most cases.
These measures recognise the distinct role held by senior officers, who exercise significant leadership responsibilities and are entrusted with maintaining the highest standards of public service and confidence in policing. For that reason, the senior officer misconduct regime incorporates additional safeguards to ensure independent scrutiny, transparency and accountability. Collectively, these reforms strengthen public confidence in the handling of allegations involving senior officers.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline finding that not all allegations of potential senior officer misconduct were being referred to the Scottish Police Authority for assessment, what action it is taking to ensure that such allegations are recorded and referred appropriately.
Answer
The Scottish Government has addressed this issue through the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Amendment Regulations 2026, which establish a robust statutory framework for the referral, assessment and investigation of misconduct allegations involving senior police officers. Under the regulations, any allegation received by, or otherwise coming to the attention of, either the Scottish Police Authority or the Chief Constable must be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) without delay.
The regulations also place a statutory duty on the Commissioner to assess all allegations that are referred to, received by, or otherwise come to the Commissioner's attention, to determine whether the conduct alleged would, if proven, amount to misconduct, gross misconduct or neither. This ensures that all allegations are subject to independent consideration under a clear and consistent statutory process.
These reforms strengthen the framework for the oversight of senior officer conduct by providing independent scrutiny at the earliest stage of the process and ensuring that allegations are assessed transparently, consistently and in accordance with statutory requirements.
The enhanced arrangements reflect the unique responsibilities, visibility and public accountability associated with senior officer roles. For that reason, the senior officer misconduct regime incorporates additional safeguards to support independent scrutiny, transparency and public confidence in the handling of allegations.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Assurance review of Conduct and Discipline finding that 20% of Police Scotland officers and staff who died by suicide between 2013 and 2024 were subject to live complaints or conduct processes, what assessment it has made of the adequacy of wellbeing support available to officers and staff involved in such processes.
Answer
Every suicide is a tragedy with a far-reaching impact on families, friends and communities. Through Creating Hope Together, Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy and action plan, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing suicide and tackling the inequalities that can contribute to it.
The action plan includes measures to support workforce wellbeing, ensuring employers have access to sources of support for mentally healthy workplaces which include a focus on suicide prevention, alongside wider mental health and wellbeing.
Workforce management is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
The Scottish Government welcomes Police Scotland’s acceptance of HMICS recommendations, including strengthening wellbeing support for officers and staff involved in conduct and disciplinary processes. Support should be tailored to individual needs and delivered consistently.
Since 2024, Police Scotland has invested around £2 million annually in an occupational health contract to support workforce health and wellbeing.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 October 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider requiring a specific fire risk assessment, including consideration of the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries, before a vape shop can operate in or immediately adjacent to a listed or historic building.
Answer
Existing fire safety legislation, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, places responsibilities on duty holders to assess and manage fire risks in relevant premises, including risks associated with the storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries, where relevant.
However, the Scottish Government is currently reviewing the suite of fire safety guidance for all relevant premises (including shops) and will consider this as part of the ongoing work.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 6 November 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what weighting the ScotZEB3 assessment process gave to sustaining (a) skilled manufacturing employment, (b) apprenticeships and (c) supply chains, and whether it will publish the methodology used.
Answer
Answer expected on 6 November 2026
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 6 November 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many buses supported by ScotZEB3 are expected to be manufactured (a) in Scotland, (b) elsewhere in the UK and (c) overseas, broken down by (i) manufacturer, (ii) grant recipient and (iii) grant value.
Answer
Answer expected on 6 November 2026
