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-02864

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reintroduce previously applied local connection rules for access to social housing and, in light of reported concerns that people with longstanding connections to communities may be disadvantaged in accessing social housing, what safeguards are in place to ensure that the allocation of social housing does not unfairly disadvantage Scottish residents.

The Scottish Government has no plans to reintroduce previous local connection rules for homeless households.

Social landlords are responsible for the allocation of their housing, and each landlord’s approach is set out within their published Allocations Policy. Allocations policies give priority to homeless people and those threatened with homelessness who have unmet housing needs; people living in unsatisfactory housing conditions with unmet housing needs; and tenants occupying homes that are under-occupied. A decision to allocate housing is based on a fair, transparent and objective assessment of an applicant’s housing need.

Question reference: S7O-00288

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a ban on all face coverings in public places, including balaclavas and the burqa.

Question reference: S7W-02416

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the educational materials and activities of “Educators for Peace” within the Scottish education system, including whether it has considered any potential implications for (a) political impartiality, (b) the promotion of balanced and diverse perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and (c) the wellbeing and inclusion of Jewish and Israeli pupils in Scottish schools.

The Scottish Government is determined that all children and young people, including those from Scotland’s Jewish community, as well as teachers, feel safe, respected and able to learn and work in an environment free from prejudice or intimidation.

In Scotland, decisions on curriculum delivery and the use of external materials are for local authorities, schools and teachers, who are expected to exercise professional judgement and ensure appropriate balance.

Schools have an important role to play by providing a safe space for learners to explore, discuss and debate a range of social and political issues. This is guided and informed by a range of Scottish Government and Education Scotland-led frameworks outlining high-level expectations.

Question reference: S7O-00154

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the night-time economy in Glasgow, including any assessment it has made of the increasing impact of tax, business costs and regulation.

Question reference: S7W-02046

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, should any Barnett consequential funding arise from the UK Government’s recent announcement that it will invest £340 million to tackle rough sleeping, and in response to calls from Crisis Scotland and Homeless Network Scotland for any such funding to be used to expand Housing First, (a) how it plans to use such funding, and (b) what its position is on taking account of the immigration status of applicants when prioritising the allocation of social housing.

The £340 million funding package to tackle rough sleeping, announced by the UK Prime Minister in July, will be met from within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s existing budget. As the funding does not constitute new departmental spending, it will not generate Barnett consequentials for the Scottish Government.

All households assessed as unintentionally homeless, are considered under the same homelessness legislation and local allocation policies. Access to social housing is determined on the basis of assessed housing need and individual circumstances, and no group receives automatic priority over others. Eligibility for certain housing and homelessness assistance is subject to immigration legislation, which is reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S7W-01632

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the proposed funding cut to the Women's Service at Murrays Initiative, what assessment it has made of its potential impact on women who have experienced gender-based violence, and what action it will take to ensure that specialist, gender-responsive support services remain available if the proposed reduction in funding proceeds.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of specialist, gender-responsive support for women who have experienced gender-based violence.

Funding for the Women's Service at Murrays Initiative was provided through the National Drug Mission Fund, administered by Corra Foundation on behalf of the Scottish Government. The grant was awarded for a fixed period from 2021 to June 2026 and concluded in line with the terms of the grant agreement.

We remain committed to supporting women affected by gender-based violence through wider investment in services that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and through our ongoing commitment to improving support for women affected by substance use and related harms. We will continue to engage with partners across the sector to help ensure that women can access appropriate support.

Question reference: S7W-01419

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication in June 2026 of the Independent Inquiry into White Working Class Educational Outcomes report, whether it will assess the extent to which white working-class boys and young men experience educational or socio-economic disadvantage in Scotland, and whether it will consider introducing targeted measures to address this where such disadvantage is identified.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.

Through the Scottish Attainment Challenge, we are investing up to £200 million in 2026-27 to improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty. Schools and local authorities are supported to use national and local data to identify need and target support accordingly.

This investment is complemented by wider action to tackle the impact of poverty on children's lives, including the provision of free school meals, support through the School Clothing Grant, and action across government to reduce child poverty through measures such as the Scottish Child Payment.

Question reference: S7W-01076

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for a public inquiry into the response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation, commonly referred to as grooming gangs or rape gangs, including whether the inquiry will consider any failures by authorities.

Work is continuing at pace to establish the inquiry. Detailed Terms of Reference are currently being developed, informed by ongoing discussions with Professor Jay, and these will be published in due course.

Professor Jay has made clear her intention to deliver the inquiry at pace, while retaining the necessary flexibility to examine all areas within its remit. The institutions within the scope of the inquiry will be established in discussion with Professor Jay, these will be detailed in the Terms of Reference once finalised.

Question reference: S7O-00119

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the development of skills and encourages apprenticeships, in light of reported concerns that young people are steered towards some degree courses that offer limited value.

Question reference: S7W-00661

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 11 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding proposals for the introduction of a chief assessor in Scotland, and whether such a role would provide greater accountability for non-domestic rates payers compared with the current system of 14 different lead assessors.

Assessors, who are responsible for the valuation of domestic and non-domestic properties, are independent of Scottish Government and Local Government. They are all chartered surveyors accountable to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and are accountable for individual valuation decisions through the appeals function delivered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals System.

Assessors use the established legal framework to determine premises’ rateable values based on the notional rental value that they could be expected to attract on the open market if they were vacant and to let. They follow applicable statute and case law in making their decisions on non-domestic property valuations

The Scottish Government supports the principle of assessor independence and the value of a property valuation system that is founded on local knowledge and expertise. A property valuation system based primarily on rental values is likely to produce valuations that reflect evidenced differences in rents in different parts of Scotland.

We recognise, however, the disquiet expressed by some business sectors about non-domestic rates. We will soon undertake a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates which builds on our commitment to examine the impact and configuration of all our reliefs in advance of the next revaluation on 1 April 2029, and we will engage with businesses, working with them to shape the rates system into the future.