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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2090 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-41060

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of high-value car thefts committed and the location where they were reported, broken down by year since 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-41063

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of keyless car thefts committed and the location where they were reported, broken down by year since 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-41062

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address keyless car thefts.

Question reference: S6W-41147

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40336 by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025, how many Drug Treatment and Testing Orders were (a) imposed by Edinburgh Sheriff Court and (b) successfully completed in (i) 2022-23 and (ii) 2023-24, also broken down by calendar month.

The information is provided in the following tables:

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders imposed by Edinburgh Sheriff Court in 2022-23 and 2023-24, broken down by calendar month [Note 1][Note 2]

Month	2022-23	2023-24
April	5	6
May	7	8
June	16	12
July	6	0
August	c	c
September	c	c
October	0	0
November	c	c
December	c	c
January	0	0
February	c	c
March	c	c
Total for year	38	29

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders from Edinburgh Sheriff Court which were successfully completed in 2022-23 and 2023-24, broken down by calendar month [Note 1][Note 3]

Month	2022-23	2023-24
April	5	4
May	7	5
June	c	8
July	6	c
August	c	5
September	9	6
October	6	c
November	c	c
December	8	c
January	5	c
February	c	c
March	c	c
Total for year	59	39

Notes

1. [c] in tables refers to values between 0 and 3, which may have been suppressed to prevent against the identification of individuals.

2. For some DTTOs imposed by Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the person may live outwith the City of Edinburgh council area.

3. Orders can be successfully completed in a different year to the one in which they were imposed. Persons included in these figures may live outwith the City of Edinburgh council area.

Question reference: S6W-41140

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of illicit cigarettes that have been seized by Trading Standards Scotland since 2021.

Trading Standards Scotland is a team operated by COSLA and has no role in the disruption of the illegal tobacco supply. The Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP) is delivered by local authorities coordinated by Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS).

Scottish Government does not hold information relating to the value of illicit cigarettes seized by Trading Standards. Value could relate to the average retail cost of cigarettes and tobacco, or the “street value” of illicit products.

However, SCOTSS have provided figures in relation to the amount of illicit cigarettes and tobacco seized since 2021, and this has been answered in question S6W-41139 on 4 November 2025.

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-05101

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide financial scrutiny over NHS Grampian.

Question reference: S6T-02716

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the prison population reaching a record high of 8,430 prisoners.

Question reference: S6W-41148

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Retail Consortium’s reported view that the term “shoplifting” underplays the seriousness of the crime and the cumulative impact it is having on the retail industry, and the recommendation that the term “shop theft” be used instead across the criminal justice system, including for data collection.

In Scotland, theft is defined as the taking or appropriating property from another person without their consent and with the intent to deprive them of it. This definition encompasses various forms of theft, including shoplifting, housebreaking and malicious mischief. The legal framework for theft in Scotland is based on common law, which is developed through court rulings and precedents.

Common law theft is not defined in legislation but is established through the principles of earlier court decisions. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is responsible for the public prosecution of criminal offences in Scotland, including theft.

The Scottish Government recognises the concerns expressed by the Scottish Retail Consortium regarding the impact of retail crime and the terminology used to describe it. While “shoplifting” is commonly used, both terms – “shop theft” and “shoplifting” – refer to the same underlying common law offence of theft.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling shoplifting and retail crime in general was reaffirmed in our Programme for Government, which makes clear our strong support for Police Scotland’s robust approach in addressing this issue.

We continue to invest record levels of funding in policing, with £1.64 billion provided in 2024-25, including £3 million specifically to tackle retail crime. Police Scotland has also published a dedicated action plan to deliver a visible and measurable impact in this area.

Question reference: S6W-40871

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 being named by the US State Department in its United Kingdom 2024 Human Rights Report in the context of “areas of concern, including involving restrictions on political speech deemed ‘hateful’ or ‘offensive’”, and what its position is on the assessment made in the report by the US State Department.

It is important to live in a society where human rights are sacrosanct. Hate crime is the term used to describe behaviour which is both criminal and rooted in prejudice, or which is intended to stir up hatred. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 provides greater protection for victims and supports people to feel safe. Its commencement was welcomed by the UN Human Rights Committee, in their 8th review of UK performance under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Hate Crime Act includes rigorous safeguards on free speech, and protection for freedom of expression is embedded in the Act. It does not criminalise anyone who wishes to debate, discuss or criticise any matters in a non-threatening or abusive manner, and is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, including Article 10 which protects everyone’s right to freedom of expression.

Question reference: S6W-40887

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what outcomes and actions from its 2019 Restorative Justice Action Plan have been achieved, and on what dates.

Information about activity undertaken to support and develop restorative justice (RJ) services can be found in quarterly and annual reports published by Community Justice Scotland.

Examples of the outcomes and actions achieved to date include:

Outcome 1 - Restorative Justice is available across Scotland

Baseline survey carried out in 2018 to establish current provision of services
Hub and Spoke model developed (2020)
Training and model tested for delivery of RJ in sensitive cases (2021-2023)
Options Appraisal produced by Community Justice Scotland (CJS) (learning from testing of Hub and Spoke model) (2024)
RJ test cases identified, funded and, where feasible, taken forward, with report on findings due to be published soon (ongoing)
Engagement activity undertaken with individual local authorities, victim support organisations and other services such as Scottish Prison Service (2024-25)
Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice survey carried out and shared with stakeholders - Capturing the Organisation and Delivery of Restorative Justice across Scotland, designed toidentify strengths and gaps in RJ service provision for under 18s and identify test cases (2025)
Policy and Practice Framework developed with partners and stakeholders to build on existing published guidance and provide more detailed information for facilitators (Ongoing – due to be published 2025)
RJ Stakeholder Group established (2020); membership and remit refreshed (2024); last met in June 2025.
RJ development forum established in 2025 bringing local leaders together to learn from others and develop RJ in their own area

Outcome 2 - High quality restorative justice services are delivered by trained facilitators

National RJ Training Needs Analysis commissioned and completed (2022)
Research into risk mitigation measures commissioned and completed (2022)
Training material developed and tested for facilitating sensitive cases (2023)
Training module produced by CJS (2024)

Outcome 3 – There is strong public awareness and understanding of Restorative Justice in Scotland

Ipsos Mori telephone survey carried out (2020)
RJ animation developed and produced (2020)
Free to use Flickr photo album created showing RJ practices (updated 2024)
Communications brief developed and agreed with RJ Stakeholder Group (2021)
Work in schools including:
“The views of school pupils on the use of Restorative Justice in Scotland” (2022) where school children were asked about their awareness, understanding, and attitudes toward restorative justice
“Key Messages from Children and Young People about Restorative Justice,” (2023) groups from Drumchapel High School and youth groups contributed their views on how RJ should be carried out.
Mapping of existing practices with under-18s across Scotland (2025) to identify strengths and gaps
Two workshops at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh (2023 and due 2025) delivered as part of a Crime and Justice Conference for Advanced Higher Modern Studies students from schools across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Funding provided to SACRO for development of RJ Forum website (2021)
Restorative Voices – Seen and Heard exhibition developed and delivered as part of Scottish Mental Health Festival (2024)
RJ Stakeholder Group chaired by Scottish Government meets three times a year