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-42063

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of cruelty and unnatural treatment of children, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of cruelty and unnatural treatment of children, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Cruelty (neglecting & causing) to & unnatural treatment of children – Total custodial	2	11	11

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of cruelty and unnatural treatment of children, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Cruelty (neglecting & causing) to & unnatural treatment of children – Total non-custodial	71	90	153

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42066

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of stalking, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of stalking, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Offence of stalking – Total custodial	23	28	37

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of stalking, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Offence of stalking – Total non-custodial	196	313	345

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42067

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of the production manufacture or cultivation of drugs and possession with intent to supply, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of the production manufacture or cultivation of drugs and possession with intent to supply, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs -Total custodial	19	39	26
Supply, possession w.i. to supply etc of drugs – Total custodial	240	313	362

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of the production manufacture or cultivation of drugs and possession with intent to supply, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs – Total non-custodial	132	190	191
Supply, possession w.i. to supply etc of drugs – Total non-custodial	413	613	897

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42064

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of domestic abuse, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of domestic abuse, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Domestic abuse – Total custodial	72	111	112

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of domestic abuse, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Domestic abuse – Total non-custodial	309	579	651

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42061

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of robbery, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of robbery, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Robbery and assault with intent to rob - Total custodial	220	195	238

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of robbery, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Robbery and assault with intent to rob - Total non-custodial	63	105	147

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42068

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of slavery or forced labour, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of Slavery or forced labour, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Slavery or Forced Labour - Total Custodial	-	-	3

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of Slavery or forced labour, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Slavery or Forced Labour - Non-custodial	-	-	-

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42065

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of sexual crimes, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of sexual crimes, and received a custodial sentence

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Sexual crimes – Total custodial	251	441	462

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of sexual crimes, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Sexual crimes – Total non-custodial	590	842	953

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-42069

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, as per the definition in the Scottish Crime Recording Standard: Crime Recording and Counting Rules, and received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

The figures are provided in the following tables.

Custodial

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and received a custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Death by careless driving when under influence of drink/drugs – Total custodial	-	1	1

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Non-custodial sentence

How many times a person has appeared in court on a charge of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and received a non-custodial sentence:

Details	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Death by careless driving when under influence of drink/drugs – Total non-custodial	-	1	-

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Question reference: S6W-41899

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Business and Employment has (a) commissioned or (b) reviewed any analysis of the potential impact of floating offshore wind activity on other marine-related businesses and employment.

Ministers and officials consider a broad range of evidence of the potential impact of offshore wind activity on other marine-related sectors, including through the established and rigorous planning, licensing and consenting processes for offshore wind developments.

The Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy, which is currently being updated, is underpinned by comprehensive impact assessments that identify opportunities and constraints for development. These assessments are informed by the latest scientific evidence and extensive stakeholder engagement, including input from other marine related sectors.

Offshore wind developers provide detailed environmental and socio-economic assessments as part of applications for marine licences and consents. These are reviewed by officials and inform recommendations to relevant Ministers.

Question reference: S6W-41897

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Business and Employment has received any analysis on the net employment impact of floating offshore wind developments, including any potential displacement of existing jobs.

Ministers and officials consider a broad range of evidence to assess the economic opportunities and constraints of offshore wind development. This includes analysis as set out in the Offshore Wind Focus paper and the Social and Economic Impact Assessment for the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy.

Together these sources provide the Scottish Government with an overarching understanding of the economic and employment impacts of offshore wind development, informing ministerial advice and decision-making across relevant portfolios.

Offshore wind developers also provide detailed environmental and socio-economic assessments as part of applications for marine licences and consents. These are reviewed by officials and inform recommendations to relevant Ministers.