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-01549

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the time since entering service MV Glen Sannox has operated using (a) liquefied natural gas and (b) diesel; whether this is consistent with the assumptions made in the business case and, if not, for what reason.

Since MV Glen Sannox was delivered to CalMac in November 2024, MGO has been utilised in 20 operating months. As set out in the response to S7W-01548 on 4 August 2026, we cannot therefore compare with the assumptions made in the business case at this time.

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: S7W-01548

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how and when it will assess whether MV Glen Sannox's use of liquefied natural gas has achieved the anticipated reduction in carbon emissions of around 20% compared with conventional marine gas oil, which formed part of the justification for the use of that fuel.

CalMac is currently engaged with an external consultancy to provide independent analysis on the use of LNG vs MGO by MV Glen Sannox. This report is due to be finalised by the end of August. Early results confirm the volumes of CO2 produced during dual-fuel use are lower than if MGO is used as a primary fuel source. CalMac records monthly emissions of CO2 across the fleet as per their reporting obligations. However, like-for-like emission comparison between vessels is challenging due to varied vessel designs and cargo carrying capacity.

Question reference: S7W-02229

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 31 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any (a) Police Scotland officers, (b) members of police staff and (c) personnel working within the wider criminal justice system have had their personal or professional information compromised as a result of the recent cyberattack on the Police National Legal Database, and, if so, what remedial action is being taken.

Question reference: S7W-01547

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessments, reports, correspondence or briefing it has prepared since MV Glen Sannox entered service comparing the vessel's actual greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption with (a) those of the vessel or vessels that it replaced and (b) the emissions reductions forecast in the business case.

Question reference: S7W-01536

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 30 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the £10 million Scottish Heating Oil Support Scheme fund, how many households have received support, broken down by (a) average amount received and (b) total amount paid out from the fund.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme within a matter of weeks in response to the spiralling prices caused by the Iran conflict and wider instability undermining energy security across Europe.

As at the end of 26 July 2026, 3,418 households have met the eligibility requirements, with the first payments being made within 24 hours of the Scheme launching on 1 April 2026.

Each award is for £300 and therefore £1,024,500 has been paid out thus far to ensure the most vulnerable households are supported during the cost of living crisis, which includes households on means-tested benefits but also those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable heating needs.

Question reference: S7W-02078

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01537 by Stephen Gethins on 23 July 2026, which did not address the point raised regarding the £10 million Scottish Heating Oil Support Scheme fund, where any unallocated funds are currently held and what its plans are for such funds when the scheme closes in September 2026, including where any remaining funds will be held thereafter.

Question reference: S7W-01967

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what procurement process was used to appoint delivery partners for the International Development Inclusive Education Programme, (b) which organisations have received funding through the programme, (c) how much funding each organisation has received, (d) what outputs and outcomes were set for the delivery partners at the commencement of the programme, and (e) whether these outputs and outcomes are expected to be achieved by the end of the programme in 2029.

Question reference: S7W-01964

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to expenditure under the International Development Inclusive Education Programme, (a) (i) what proportion of expenditure has been on (A) programme delivery, (B) administration, (C) monitoring and evaluation and (D) other overhead costs, and (ii) what the value of expenditure has been in each of these categories, and (b) how many children and young people have been directly supported since the programme's commencement, particularly in relation to (aa) enrolment, (ab) attendance, (ac) retention and (ad) educational attainment.

Question reference: S7W-01962

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £12.5 million International Development Inclusive Education Programme announced in 2024, (a) how much funding has been paid to date, broken down by (i) financial year, (ii) project, (iii) recipient organisation and (iv) partner country, and (b) what payments remain to be made, broken down by financial year to 2028-29.

Question reference: S7W-02079

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01538 by Stephen Gethins on 23 July 2026, which states that officials have been monitoring the scheme on an on-going basis and that consideration has been given to any adaptations that can be made since the scheme launched on 1 April 2026, what adaptations (a) have actually been made, (b) were proposed as being prudent, necessary or advisable but were not made, and who made such a decision.