Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-05035

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of rising levels of knife crime in Dundee over the summer, how it is supporting Police Scotland and local partners to prevent and reduce incidents of violent crime.

Question reference: S6W-40582

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its fiscal sustainability delivery plan to “simplify the education and skills public body landscape”, which public bodies will be (a) merged and (b) closed; what the timeline is for this, and what financial savings will be made.

The Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme includes work to simplify the funding body landscape. Subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament, the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill allows responsibility for securing and funding all apprenticeships to be consolidated at the Scottish Funding Council. Responsibility for funding further education student support is moving from the Scottish Funding Council to the Student Awards Agency Scotland administratively. These changes simplify roles and responsibilities, but nobody is being merged or closed. These changes will happen over financial year 2026-27.

The Scottish Government responded to the Stage 1 Report on the Bill, from the Education, Children and Young People Committee, on 19 September 2025. This included an update on the costs and savings for the Bill in Annex A of the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill - response to Stage 1 Report. Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans

Furthermore, the Education Reform programme is making good progress in improving the landscape of national education bodies. The passing of the Education (Scotland) Act 2025 provides a platform for the establishment of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and for Qualifications Scotland to replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The programme is ensuring that these are both more focused on their role in improvement for learners and able to function as efficiently as possible. This has included, for example, models which support increased use of shared services. Alongside this we are also working to ensure that a refocused Education Scotland is streamlined and focussed on curriculum improvement.

Question reference: S6W-40491

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, whether any areas of NHS board spend will be protected from its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”.

The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan confirms that efficiency and improvement is a key focus for the Health and Social Care portfolio and reflects the commitment to ensure use of core resources is optimised and best value is delivered across NHS Scotland.

Spending decisions are an operational matter for individual NHS Boards to consider within the overarching financial framework of governance and accountability set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).

The Chief Executive of each NHS Board is designated as the Accountable Officer, responsible in leading the Board to promote the efficient, economic and effective use of resources, whilst ensuring patient outcomes are protected. However, Scottish Government are consistently clear that NHS Board savings should be sensible, proportionate, and minimise the impact on frontline services.

Question reference: S6W-40497

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, in what areas it plans for NHS boards to make savings in order to achieve its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”.

The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan confirms that efficiency and improvement is a key focus for the Health and Social Care portfolio and reflects the commitment to ensure use of core resources is optimised and best value is delivered across NHS Scotland.

Spending decisions are an operational matter for individual NHS Boards to consider with the overarching financial framework of governance and accountability set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).

The Chief Executive of each NHS Board is designated as the Accountable Officer (AO). They are responsible in leading the Board to promote the efficient, economic and effective use of resources, this includes decisions regarding areas in which to make savings, whilst ensuring patient outcomes are protected.

Question reference: S6W-40492

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, what the total projected savings are from its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”, in the financial year (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28, (d) 2028-29 and (e) 2029-30.

Question reference: S6W-40054

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what active travel plans for the Western Gateway area of Dundee have been submitted to it by Dundee City Council, and when any decisions will be made on allocating funding.

Dundee City Council have submitted an application to Tier 2 of the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund for design funding to develop active travel options for the Western Gateway development area. These include a segregated cycle route, speed limit reduction measures, pedestrian and cycle crossings, modal filters, a cycle-friendly road project, and shared use paths.

Successful Active Travel Infrastructure Fund applications for 2025-26 for design are yet to be awarded.

Question reference: S6O-04786

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported reduction in Scottish Attainment Challenge funding for Dundee City Council.

Question reference: S6W-37449

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15187 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 March 2023, whether it will provide (a) updated figures on average gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per (i) pre-school registration, (ii) primary school pupil and (iii) secondary school pupil and (b) information on allocations (accounting for teaching and tuition fees funding) per (i) college and (ii) university place, in each year from 2012-13 to 2023-24 inclusive, in (A) cash terms and (B) real terms for 2024-25 prices, using HM Treasury GDP Deflator.

Question reference: S6O-04646

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the constitution secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding its constitutional strategy, including in relation to its reported call for full fiscal autonomy.

Question reference: S6W-36715

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has produced on the contribution of the University of Dundee to the economy (a) of the Dundee area and (b) nationally, and what economic impact assessment it has made of the proposed job losses and reduction in services as a result of the institution's financial situation.

The University of Dundee is an invaluable component of the economic, social and cultural success of the city and region. The Scottish Government continues to work with external partners and internal analysts to better understand the economic impact the University has, locally and nationally. Universities are autonomous institutions, and whilst Ministers cannot compel a commitment to no compulsory redundancies, the university is expected to work with staff to make every effort to protect jobs. We will continue, alongside the Scottish Funding Council, to work closely with the sector on its sustainability into the future. A Strategic Advisory Taskforce has been established, bringing together expertise to support the development of a sustainable future for the University, the region, and the wider economy. The first meeting of that Taskforce was held on 24 April. Membership includes a range of stakeholders including skills and enterprise agencies as well as representatives of the business community.

Chamber and committees