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-41011

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the provision of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) in colleges, in light of Audit Scotland’s finding in its recent report, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, that demand for such courses is high.

Question reference: S6W-40992

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Audit Scotland, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, which notes that the demand for modern apprentice places exceeds funded placements, how it plans to support colleges to meet local and national skills needs in sectors such as engineering, construction, digital, healthcare and renewables.

Question reference: S6W-41003

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Audit Scotland, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, which recommends that the funding model for colleges should better reflect equity and demand for courses, whether it will review the funding model.

Question reference: S6W-41005

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the reasons for the withdrawal of £26 million of transition funding in 2023, as noted in the recent report by Audit Scotland, Scotland’s Colleges 2025.

Question reference: S6W-41013

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support college staff wellbeing, in light of Audit Scotland’s findings in its recent report, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, that workforce reductions and curriculum changes have increased workloads and stress.

Question reference: S6W-41016

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact of college campus closures on students from deprived communities, as noted by Audit Scotland in its recent report, Scotland’s Colleges 2025.

Question reference: S6W-41014

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is sufficient ASN staff provision in colleges, in light of findings in Audit Scotland’s report, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, that ASN staff reductions have limited the provision of courses and support for students with additional support needs.

Question reference: S6W-41015

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made to resolve the national job evaluation for support staff, in light of Audit Scotland’s recent report, Scotland’s Colleges 2025, which notes that some colleges have expressed concerns that the uncertainty over the possible costs of back pay could pose a significant financial risk.

Question reference: S6W-41010

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the higher non-completion rates among college students from more deprived communities, care-experienced students and disabled students, as identified in the recent report by Audit Scotland, Scotland’s Colleges 2025.

Question reference: S6W-40785

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 3 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that (a) disabled and (b) older people are protected in their communities, in light of reports that they experience lower levels of safety.

The Scottish Government believes everyone should be safe, and feel safe, in their home and community. Our communities are safer than they were a generation ago.

Community safety is not the responsibility of one organisation – it is a shared endeavour. Local authorities and Police Scotland have statutory duties to share intelligence and plans for antisocial behaviour strategies and local policing plans. The Scottish Government has increased the funding that local authorities receive in real terms by 5.5% for 2025–26, and Police Scotland receive a record £1.64 billion for 2025–26.

To address local needs, the Scottish Government is providing £150,000 for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland in 2025 – 26 to promote safety, resilience and community cohesion through their growing network of connected local community groups. NWS plays an important role in offering reassurance to local communities by sharing messages on potential criminal activities in the area, offering advice on keeping safe, and encouraging communities to look out for one another – especially the elderly and vulnerable. NWS has recently run events specifically targeted at older people such as a session with the West Lothian 50+ Network in Bathgate.

The Scottish Government also supports Crimestoppers Scotland through £182, 500 of funding for 2025 – 26. Crimestoppers aims to reach and support communities experiencing higher levels of crime, those who are at risk of harm, and the most vulnerable in our communities.