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: S7W-02877

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to integrate the database systems of the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

The Scottish Government continues to support reforms across our justice services – responding to society’s changing needs, removing duplication and ensuring there are modern user-centred digital services which deliver best value for money and fully support all users of the justice system, including expanding digital evidence sharing capability and enabling police and expert witnesses to give their evidence remotely.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) is an independent, judicially led, public body, chaired by the Lord President. The scheduling and delivery of programmes, including database integration, are operational matters for the SCTS Board and the Scottish Prison Service.

Question reference: S7W-02889

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Prison Officers’ Association in its report, Crisis Point Reached - The Pressures Facing Scotland’s Prison Officers Uncovered, which indicate that 91% of prison officers do not believe that they will be physically or mentally capable of working until the state pension age of 68.

Prison officers play a vital role in our justice system, helping to ensure our prisons are safe, secure and stable environments for all that live and work there. Unlike other uniformed groups, prison officers do not have a dedicated pension scheme as they are members of the Civil Service pension scheme which is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

The Scottish Government has strongly supported the position of the Prison Officers’ Association that the retirement age of prison officers be brought into line with armed forces, police, and firefighters who retire at 60. This reflects the operational environment and physical demands associated with the role which can be particularly challenging.

On 10 September 2026, I wrote to Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon John Healey MP urging him to give this matter urgent attention.

Question reference: S7W-02882

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards establishing the proposed national oversight mechanism for deaths in custody, and how it will ensure that lessons identified through Fatal Accident Inquiries are implemented.

The Scottish Government remains committed to establishing a National Oversight Mechanism (NOM) for deaths in custody. Officials are working with HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) to establish an initial prison-focused model, following the former Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s commissioning of HMIPS earlier this year. Work is progressing on a phased test-of-change basis, with governance and staffing arrangements currently being finalised.

The NOM will draw on findings from Fatal Accident Inquiries, internal reviews and wider scrutiny activity to identify systemic issues, promote learning and improve accountability. By tracking recommendations, monitoring progress against agreed actions and reporting on recurring themes and areas of concern, the NOM will help ensure that lessons identified through FAIs are considered, implemented and embedded across the system.

Question reference: S7W-02725

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding issues that have arisen in relation to the new ScotRail app.

Question reference: S7W-02724

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 11 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what testing was carried out on the new ScotRail app prior to its launch on 30 July 2026.

Question reference: S7W-03190

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on passengers of changes to the ScotRail ticketing app, whereby tickets purchased after a train has departed a station will be invalid.

Question reference: S7W-02843

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ruth Charteris on 10 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Lord Advocate will publish the code of practice on investigative functions as set out in section 57 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016.

A draft Code of Practice on investigative functions under section 57 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 was prepared and is being adjusted following earlier consultation with statutory consultees, the public, and internal review within COPFS.

Before the Code can be finalised and laid before the Scottish Parliament, I must further consult the statutorily mandated consultees on the final draft. Thereafter, the draft Code will be issued for public consultation.

The aim is to complete the remaining consultation and publication process by early 2027. That timeframe will be kept under review in light of responses to the consultation required, and any amendments required to the draft Code as a result.

Question reference: S7W-03109

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government since 1 January 2026 regarding the impact of imported buses on the competitiveness of bus manufacturing in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03101

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of annual bus orders required to sustain Alexander Dennis manufacturing operations in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-03102

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term viability of bus manufacturing at Alexander Dennis in Scotland following the expiry of its furlough support arrangements announced in September 2025.