The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6W-44080

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many crimes involving a knife have been recorded in North Ayrshire in each year since 1999.

The requested information is not held centrally as the data received from Police Scotland for production of the recorded crime statistics is a simple count of the number and type of crimes and offences recorded. We do not in general hold further details as to whether any of these crimes included a knife.

There are two exceptions to this. The first are crimes of homicide, where information is held on method of killing (including by sharp instrument and more specifically since 2013-14, a knife). Table One below presents the number of knife-related homicide victims in North Ayrshire from 2013-14 to 2024-25.

The second are those types of crime that specifically reference the presence of a knife or bladed/pointed article. The only crime category of this type where data is available prior to 2017-18 is Weapons possession involving a bladed or pointed article that was not used in other criminal activity. Table Two presents the number of these crimes in North Ayrshire from 1999-00 to 2024-25.

Due to changes in recording practices for 2017-18 onwards, data is also available on the number of recorded crimes of Weapons possession involving a bladed or pointed article that was used in other criminal activity (see Table Three).

Finally, data is available on the number of recorded crimes of Possession of certain dangerous knives in a private place since 2022-23, following the implementation of Part 4 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 on 27th March 2023. There were no recorded crimes of this type in North Ayrshire up to 2024-25.

Table One: Number of knife-related homicide victims, North Ayrshire, 2013-14 to 2024-25

Year	Knife-related Homicide Victims
2013-14	1
2014-15	1
2015-16	0
2016-17	2
2017-18	0
2018-19	0
2019-20	1
2020-21	0
2021-22	2
2022-23	0
2023-24	0
2024-25	2

Source: Homicide in Scotland, 2024-25

Table Two: Recorded crimes of Weapons possession involving a bladed or pointed article (not used in other criminal activity), North Ayrshire, 1999-00 to 2024-25

Year	Recorded crimes
1999-00	91
2000-01	113
2001-02	96
2002-03	107
2003-04	113
2004-05	121
2005-06	129
2006-07	131
2007-08	123
2008-09	157
2009-10	88
2010-11	70
2011-12	101
2012-13	45
2013-14	47
2014-15	32
2015-16	55
2016-17	55
2017-18	56
2018-19	83
2019-20	83
2020-21	96
2021-22	69
2022-23	81
2023-24	100
2024-25	83

Source: Recorded crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Table Three: Recorded crimes of Weapons possession involving a bladed or pointed article (used in other criminal activity), North Ayrshire, 2017-18 to 2024-25

Year	Recorded crimes
2017-18	51
2018-19	52
2019-20	47
2020-21	39
2021-22	60
2022-23	48
2023-24	46
2024-25	48

Source: Recorded crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Question reference: S6O-05705

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Question reference: S6W-44000

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many ferry sailings were scheduled in each year on the Lochranza to Claonaig and Claonaig to Lochranza ferry route in each year since 1 April 1999, and how many sailings did not take place due to (a) inclement weather, (b) mechanical breakdown and (c) other reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

CalMac does not hold data on sailing performance prior to January 2007. The data provided in the following table covers up to February 2026, although that month has still to be audited and may therefore be subject to change.

Sailings cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic are included in the "cancelled (other)" category. During the period that services were compliant with COVID-19 regulations, the original scheduled timetables for routes across the network were replaced with lifeline and essential travel timetables.

This data includes Tarbert/Lochranza statistics as, prior to the launch of CalMac’s new ticketing system in May 2023, these were reported under Claonaig/Lochranza.

Route	Year	Leg	Scheduled Sailings	Cancelled (weather)	Cancelled (technical)	Cancelled (other)
Claonaig/ Lochranza	2007	Total	3,978	47	0	0
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,837	21	0	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,837	18	0	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	152	4	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	152	4	0	0
	2008	Total	4,087	198	14	0
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,893	101	8	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,894	93	6	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	149	2	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	151	2	0	0
	2009	Total	4,072	143	4	4
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,888	72	2	2
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,886	61	2	2
		Lochranza-Tarbert	149	5	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	149	5	0	0
	2010	Total	4,088	135	0	0
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,897	64	0	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,897	62	0	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	147	5	0	0
		Tarbert-Claonaig	1	0	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	146	4	0	0
	2011	Total	4,071	218	8	8
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,886	104	3	4
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,886	101	3	4
		Lochranza-Tarbert	149	7	1	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	150	6	1	0
	2012	Total	3,964	69	6	2
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,831	31	2	1
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,831	30	2	1
		Lochranza-Tarbert	151	5	1	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	151	3	1	0
	2013	Total	3,962	105	11	0
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,830	41	5	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,830	38	4	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	151	13	1	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	151	13	1	0
	2014	Total	3,948	118	8	0
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,821	45	0	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,821	42	0	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	153	16	4	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	153	15	4	0
	2015	Total	3,948	101	13	18
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,822	33	7	9
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,822	30	6	9
		Lochranza-Tarbert	152	19	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	152	19	0	0
	2016	Total	4,060	150	16	3
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,877	69	6	1
		Claonaig-Tarbert	2	0	0	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,879	65	6	2
		Lochranza-Tarbert	150	8	2	0
		Tarbert-Claonaig	1	0	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	151	8	2	0
	2017	Total	3,928	159	26	2
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,806	73	13	1
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,803	68	13	1
		Lochranza-Tarbert	159	9	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	160	9	0	0
	2018	Total	3,914	208	1	21
		Claonaig-Lochranza	1,789	83	1	0
		Claonaig-Tarbert	2	2	0	0
		Lochranza-Claonaig	1,791	83	0	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	166	21	0	10
		Tarbert-Lochranza	166	19	0	11
2019	Total	3,948	192	0	19
	Claonaig-Lochranza	1,814	87	0	3
	Lochranza-Claonaig	1,812	84	0	3
	Lochranza-Tarbert	161	11	0	7
	Tarbert-Lochranza	161	10	0	6
2020	Total	2,186	135	10	18
	Claonaig-Lochranza	848	46	0	8
	Lochranza-Claonaig	847	44	0	8
	Lochranza-Portavadie	2	0	0	0
	Lochranza-Tarbert	244	23	5	1
	Tarbert-Lochranza	245	22	5	1
2021	Total	3,397	85	24	26
	Claonaig-Lochranza	1,518	31	11	3
	Lochranza-Claonaig	1,517	29	11	3
	Lochranza-Tarbert	181	13	1	10
	Tarbert-Lochranza	181	12	1	10
2022	Total	3,936	135	24	6
	Claonaig-Lochranza	1,809	60	11	3
	Lochranza-Claonaig	1,813	58	11	3
	Lochranza-Tarbert	157	9	1	0
	Tarbert-Lochranza	157	8	1	0
2023	Total	3,650	104	32	0
	Claonaig-Lochranza	1,762	56	16	0
	Lochranza-Claonaig	1,762	48	16	0
	Lochranza-Tarbert	62	0	0	0
	Tarbert-Lochranza	64	0	0	0
2024	Total	3,547	113	0	0
	Claonaig-Lochranza	1,773	60	0	0
	Lochranza-Claonaig	1,774	53	0	0
2025	Total	4,174	199	18	2
	Claonaig-Lochranza	2,087	116	10	1
	Lochranza-Claonaig	2,087	83	8	1
2026	Total	548	85	20	0
	Claonaig-Lochranza	274	51	10	0
	Lochranza-Claonaig	274	34	10	0

Question reference: S6W-43999

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many ferry sailings were scheduled in each year on the Ardrossan to Brodick and Brodick to Ardrossan ferry route in each year since 1 April 1999, and how many sailings did not take place due to (a) inclement weather, (b) mechanical breakdown and (c) other reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

CalMac does not hold data on sailing performance prior to January 2007. The data provided in the following table covers up to February 2026, although that month has still to be audited and may therefore be subject to change.

Sailings cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic are included in the "cancelled (other)" category. During the period that services were compliant with COVID-19 regulations, the original scheduled timetables for routes across the network were replaced with lifeline and essential travel timetables.

This data includes sailings which diverted to Gourock/Wemyss Bay/Rothesay. It also includes all Troon/Brodick sailings as they are reported together.

Route	Year	Leg	Scheduled Sailings	Cancelled (weather)	Cancelled (technical)	Cancelled (other)
Ardrossan/ Brodick	2007	Total	3,949	89	0	19
		Ardrossan-Brodick	1,971	44	0	12
		Brodick-Ardrossan	1,960	45	0	7
		Brodick-Gourock	9	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	9	0	0	0
	2008	Total	4,166	158	22	3
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,073	83	11	2
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,073	75	11	1
		Brodick-Gourock	10	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	10	0	0	0
	2009	Total	4,148	112	2	3
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,065	59	1	2
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,067	53	1	1
		Brodick-Gourock	8	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	8	0	0	0
	2010	Total	3,993	74	2	5
		Ardrossan-Brodick	1,996	43	1	2
		Brodick-Ardrossan	1,997	31	1	3
	2011	Total	3,914	150	5	2
		Ardrossan-Brodick	1,955	84	3	1
		Brodick-Ardrossan	1,955	66	2	1
		Brodick-Gourock	2	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	2	0	0	0
	2012	Total	3,829	113	10	2
		Ardrossan-Brodick	1,904	62	5	1
		Brodick-Ardrossan	1,905	51	5	1
		Brodick-Gourock	5	0	0	0
		Brodick-Wemyss Bay	5	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	5	0	0	0
	2013	Total	4,674	181	18	0
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,336	94	9	0
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,338	87	9	0
	2014	Total	4,695	144	19	7
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,339	76	10	4
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,338	68	9	3
		Brodick-Gourock	9	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	9	0	0	0
	2015	Total	4,708	252	61	20
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,347	132	29	10
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,347	120	32	10
		Brodick-Gourock	7	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	7	0	0	0
	2016	Total	4,746	155	113	4
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,371	82	54	3
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,370	73	59	1
		Brodick-Gourock	2	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	2	0	0	0
		Wemyss Bay-Brodick	1	0	0	0
	2017	Total	4,858	127	127	9
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,429	67	63	4
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,429	60	64	5
	2018	Total	4,775	162	204	5
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,385	88	102	2
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,382	74	102	3
		Brodick-Gourock	4	0	0	0
		Gourock-Brodick	4	0	0	0
	2019	Total	4,928	225	36	47
		Ardrossan-Brodick	2,460	118	19	23
		Brodick-Ardrossan	2,458	107	17	24
		Brodick-Troon	5	0	0	0
		Troon-Brodick	5	0	0	0
	2020	Total	3,689	436	38	47
		Ardrossan-Brodick	1,848	221	19	27
		Brodick-Ardrossan	1,841	215	19	20
2021	Total	4,820	327	35	334
	Ardrossan-Brodick	2,406	172	17	165
	Brodick-Ardrossan	2,410	155	18	169
	Brodick-Gourock	2	0	0	0
	Gourock-Brodick	2	0	0	0
2022	Total	4,794	348	68	201
	Ardrossan-Brodick	2,391	178	32	103
	Brodick-Ardrossan	2,391	170	36	98
	Brodick-Gourock	6	0	0	0
	Gourock-Brodick	6	0	0	0
2023	Total	4,875	249	592	140
	Ardrossan-Brodick	2,431	125	298	69
	Brodick-Ardrossan	2,434	124	294	71
	Brodick-Gourock	5	0	0	0
	Gourock-Brodick	5	0	0	0
2024	Total	4,194	472	97	83
	Ardrossan-Brodick	1,763	271	59	56
	Brodick-Ardrossan	1,764	187	30	23
	Brodick-Troon	333	7	4	2
	Troon-Brodick	334	7	4	2
2025	Total	4,483	321	127	56
	Ardrossan-Brodick	592	80	48	20
	Brodick-Ardrossan	591	69	45	15
	Brodick-Troon	1,649	86	18	11
	Troon-Brodick	1,651	86	16	10
2026	Total	611	29	185	8
	Ardrossan-Brodick	153	6	103	4
	Brodick-Ardrossan	151	3	54	4
	Brodick-Troon	154	9	17	0
	Troon-Brodick	153	11	11	0

Question reference: S6W-44001

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many ferry sailings were scheduled in each year on the Lochranza to Tarbert and Tarbert to Lochranza ferry route in each year since 1 April 1999, and how many sailings did not take place due to (a) inclement weather, (b) mechanical breakdown and (c) other reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

CalMac does not hold data on sailing performance prior to January 2007. The data provided covers up to February 2026, although that month has still to be audited and may therefore be subject to change.

Sailings cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic are included in the "cancelled (other)" category. During the period that services were compliant with COVID-19 regulations, the original scheduled timetables for routes across the network were replaced with lifeline and essential travel timetables.

The data in the following table is from May 2023 onwards when CalMac launched their new ticketing system. Prior to this, figures were reported under Claonaig/Lochranza as it was a shared service. These figures have been provided in the answer to S6W-44000 on 10 March 2026.

There is no data for 2026 yet as the service has not operated. This is because separate Claonaig/Lochranza and Tarbert/Portavadie services have been delivered during the winter 2025-26 period.

Route	Year	Leg	Scheduled Sailings	Cancelled (weather)	Cancelled (technical)	Cancelled (other)
Tarbert/ Lochranza	2023	Total	123	12	0	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	62	6	0	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	61	6	0	0
	2024	Total	298	14	101	5
		Lochranza-Tarbert	148	7	26	2
		Tarbert-Lochranza	150	7	75	3
	2025	Total	168	9	2	0
		Lochranza-Tarbert	84	5	1	0
		Tarbert-Lochranza	84	4	1	0

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6O-05619

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many crimes involving a knife there were in North Ayrshire in 2007-08 and 2024-25.

Question reference: S6F-04721

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2026

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Government’s Spring Statement.

Question reference: S6O-05600

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what actions Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited will take to improve the resilience of Ardrossan Harbour, once it has been acquired.

Question reference: S6O-05568

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are applied in deciding on the location of the new walk-in GP clinics.

Question reference: S6W-43682

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 February 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the escalation status of NHS Ayrshire and Arran for finance.

The NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework is one of the key elements of the evidence-based approach to monitoring performance and managing risk across the NHS in Scotland. All NHS Boards are reviewed against the framework based on their financial position. Following careful consideration of NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s position, the decision was made by Government for the Board to be escalated to Stage Four of the Framework for finance, specifically: financial sustainability; financial management and control; and financial governance and leadership. This is based upon a financial assessment of the Board and the level of support required to deliver a return to financial sustainability.

On 4 November 2025, Audit Scotland published a Section 22 report regarding NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s financial position concluding “the severity of the financial challenge facing NHS Ayrshire and Arran is unprecedented”. As a response the Scottish Government has been liaising closely with the Health Board on their financial position and the Director General now deems further escalation necessary to ensure the Board’s financial recovery. There has been a recent change in the Board’s leadership, and so the focus of escalation will be to provide the Executive team a package of support commensurate with the financial challenges faced.

Stage Four escalation will come into immediate effect and will involve senior external support and monitoring from Scottish Government. This will support the Board to return to financial sustainability, including establishing an Assurance Board chaired by Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to monitor their financial position and assist with longer term financial planning and improvement. Regular updates will be provided to Ministers on the financial position of NHS Ayrshire and Arran following this escalation.

The Parliament will of course be kept updated on any further developments.

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Question reference: S6W-44080

Answer

Question reference: S6O-05705

Answer

Question reference: S6W-44000

Answer

Question reference: S6W-43999

Answer

Question reference: S6W-44001

Answer

Question reference: S6O-05619

Answer

Question reference: S6F-04721

Answer

Question reference: S6O-05600

Answer

Question reference: S6O-05568

Answer

Question reference: S6W-43682

Answer