The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6O-05016

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has in place to ensure that public body officials do not misuse their position for personal gain.

Question reference: S6W-40399

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the safety certification of all Large Panel System buildings.

Scotland does not have a legislative provision for safety certification of Large Panel System buildings. Local authorities in Scotland have statutory powers under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to address buildings that pose a risk to public safety due to structural instability or other hazards.

Owners of LPS buildings can use the long established guidance from the Building Research Establishment to assess and manage their property and can use information from The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) website: An update about Large Panel System (LPS) - The Institution of Structural Engineers.

Question reference: S6W-40397

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to identify all residential buildings containing Large Panel System concrete.

The Scottish Government takes matters of building safety seriously. While building owners have responsibility for their properties, the matter of Large Panel System buildings has been considered by the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety and discussed within the Cross Sector Building Safety Forum. This Forum has been established to ensure that potential building safety issues are identified and shared amongst those who may have an interest, to allow them to take action where necessary.

Owners are advised to engage appropriate expert consultants to advise them using the authoritative guidance on Large Panel Systems from the Building Research Establishment and the Institution of Structural Engineers

Question reference: S6W-40398

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many high-rise residential buildings are currently assessed as high-risk due to Large Panel System construction.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Ensuring the safety of Large Panel System buildings is a shared responsibility, where there are multiple property owners in a shared residential block they hold joint accountability.

While building owners have responsibility for their properties, the matter of Large Panel System buildings has been considered by the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety and discussed within the Cross Sector Building Safety Forum. The forum includes key sector leads in this area including local authorities and NHS assure. This forum helps to inform the Scottish Government approach to such buildings in Scotland.

Owners are advised to engage appropriate expert consultants to advise them using the authoritative guidance on Large Panel Systems from the Building Research Establishment and the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Question reference: S6W-40251

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support services are available for families affected by exposure to the pregnancy medication, stilbestrol (DES), including fertility, cancer screening and psychological support.

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the professional body for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, has recommended that women who believe they may have been exposed to stilbestrol (DES) in utero and who are concerned about the risks of vaginal and cervical cancer should be offered careful monitoring by annual colposcopic examinations in specialist centres.

Cervical screening is offered to women who live in Scotland and are aged between 25 and 64 years and we encourage all women to take up routine cervical screening appointments when invited.

Evidence for an increased risk of other cancers is less conclusive but participation in the National Breast Screening Programme is recommended. Pregnant women who know that they were exposed in utero to DES should inform their obstetrician and be aware of the increased risks of ectopic pregnancy and preterm labour.

The Scottish Government continues to fund the charity Health in Mind to deliver peer support services to those affected by historic forced adoption, including mothers and adoptees.

Question reference: S6W-39749

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Scotland has higher rates of long-term sickness and disability relative to the UK average, and what analysis it has made of any economic cost of this.

The Scottish Government routinely analyses labour market data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The latest ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) statistics for April 2024 – March 2025 show that the estimated economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 in Scotland was 23.4% compared to 21.6% for the UK. They also show 34.6% of inactive people aged 16 to 64 in Scotland gave their reason for being inactive as “long-term sick or disabled”, compared to 28.4% for the UK.

Reducing economic inactivity can have economic benefits. Scottish Government analysis published in October 2024 indicated that even a relatively small increase of 0.25 percentage points in the economic activity rate could boost GDP in the long-term by around 0.1%, or around £180 million each year (in 2024-25 prices). This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-economic-insights-october-2024/

Question reference: S6W-40402

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding has been allocated to the Techscaler scheme since its inception.

Since its inception, the Scottish Government has provided approximately £23 million, exclusive of VAT, to the Techscaler programme. Techscaler supports a network of over 1,260 startups across Scotland, offering tailored support, education, mentoring, workspace and peer learning events. Since joining the programme, members have raised more than £195 million in investment, demonstrating the health of Scotland’s tech ecosystem and highlights Scotland’s growing reputation as a leading tech hub.

Question reference: S6W-40425

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in (a) specialist staff and (b) facilities to deliver thrombectomy treatment since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-40427

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what cost-benefit analysis of 24/7 thrombectomy provision it carries out.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of 24/7 thrombectomy provision.

Research suggests that, on average, every patient treated with a thrombectomy procedure could save the NHS £47,000 over five years, due to the reduction in length of hospital stays and a reduced need for social care input. This economic benefit is in addition to the significant improvements in outcome and quality of life for patients.

Question reference: S6W-40396

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing legislation restricting mobile phone use in schools.

The Scottish Government cannot unilaterally ban mobile phones in schools. The statutory responsibility for the delivery of Education in Scotland rests with Local Authorities, under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

In August 2024 we published updated guidance on use of mobile phones in schools, which was developed in consultation with the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools. The guidance makes clear that headteachers can take the steps that they consider appropriate to respond to the disruption caused by mobile phones, including banning their use in schools. A number of schools and Local Authorities have now enacted such approaches as a result and they will continue to have the full support of the Scottish Government in so doing.

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Question reference: S6O-05016

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Question reference: S6W-40399

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Question reference: S6W-40397

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Question reference: S6W-40398

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Question reference: S6W-40251

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Question reference: S6W-39749

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Question reference: S6W-40402

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Question reference: S6W-40425

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Question reference: S6W-40396

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