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: S6O-01151

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to involve victims more in the justice system.

Question reference: S6O-01101

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to enable them to reduce Scope 3 emissions.

Question reference: S6W-07720

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the ramifications are of the data breach at SEPA in December 2020 for Scotland’s environment.

SEPA’s most critical services, including flood forecasting and warning service and its 24-hour pollution hotline, were restored on the day of the attack. SEPA maintained its ability to receive reports of and to attend environmental incidents, prioritising those with highest potential impacts on the environment and/or communities. SEPA continues to monitor compliance with environmental laws and continues to take enforcement action where necessary.

In the 15 months since the attack, SEPA has issued 317 flood warnings, provided information on bathing water quality throughout the 2021 season and has issued fixed monetary penalties, required enforcement undertakings and has successfully prosecuted those that break environmental laws.

SEPA remains impacted by the attack and significant work is ongoing to build back. Latest information on current service status and recovery of SEPA, is available to all stakeholders and updated weekly, which outlines progress and level of service to expect: https://regulatoryapproach.sepa.org.uk/cyber-attack-service-status

SEPA will shortly publish a Regulatory Report outlining its regulatory work in 2020 and 2021 and which will provide information about compliance during the period covered by both the pandemic and the cyber-attack.

SEPA continue to play a vital role in Scotland’s response to the challenges faced from Climate Emergency and Biodiversity loss.

Question reference: S6W-07724

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is giving to help return SEPA to normal operations following the data breach in December 2020.

The Scottish Government responded quickly to provide support to enable SEPA to meet its highest priority and immediate requirements. This included provision of 120 laptops to enable staff delivering the most critical services to communicate easily and securely to maintain those services. The Scottish Government also authorised additional funding amounting to £2.5m to assist SEPA’s recovery efforts in the immediate aftermath of the attack, although this facility was not required and SEPA operated within its budget allocation.

Question reference: S6W-07725

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what assessment has been made of SEPA’s ability to enforce the law and protect the environment following the data breach in December 2020.

The Scottish Government continue to actively monitor SEPA via agreed milestones within its Annual Operating Plan. This will be key to ensuring SEPA continue to maintain a high degree of environmental protection as referred to in S6W-07720 on 9 May 2022 .

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-07722

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what conversations and correspondence has taken place between ministers and SEPA regarding the data breach in December 2020.

Question reference: S6W-07723

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans exist for SEPA to get back to normal operations following the data breach in December 2020.

SEPA remains impacted by the cyber-attack and significant work is ongoing to build back. SEPA’s approach is to accelerate improvements already underway by building new systems and ways of working that will set it up for long term success. This includes a digital transformation that enables services to be more accessible online, making it quicker and easier for communities and businesses. SEPA will shortly publish its 2022-23 Annual Operating Plan setting out its priorities for the year ahead.

Question reference: S6T-00678

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner that it should release legal advice that it received regarding a second independence referendum.

Question reference: S6W-07721

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what advice and guidance has been given to SEPA following the data breach in December 2020.

Question reference: S6O-01014

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of funded laptops, tablets and internet connections for young people across Scotland.