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-00325

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 4 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a full list of the policy areas for which the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs has responsibility.

Question reference: S7O-00042

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Scotland’s energy security, including any consequent action it plans to take, in light of heightened global tensions particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Question reference: S7W-00644

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the introduction of zonal pricing in the electricity market, and what specific evidence it has relied upon in forming its position.

As you may be aware, the UK Government decided to rule out zonal pricing in July last year. However, the Scottish Government has been clear that the current wholesale electricity market is unfit for purpose, and leaves Scottish consumers exposed to high energy costs, driven by volatile natural gas prices.

The levers to effect change such as energy price setting and market reform lie with the UK Government. We have repeatedly called on them to use the opportunities offered by reformed national pricing to bring forward measures that tackle fuel poverty, responds to global price shocks, and strengthens long-term energy security.

In an energy-rich country like Scotland, people should not be struggling to pay their bills.

Question reference: S7W-00322

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it proposes to reform the energy consents process, as committed to in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto.

The Scottish Government is committed to reforming the energy consenting process to ensure it delivers timely results and takes a pragmatic approach. We continue to maintain a robust consenting regime, working to existing commitments for faster decision-making timescales. This includes the ambitions set out in the Onshore Wind Sector Deal and the Priority Applications for Transmission Infrastructure Guidance to determine applications within 52 weeks where possible.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 provided Scottish Ministers with new regulation-making powers, including mandating pre-application engagement, introducing an acceptance stage, and streamlining the consenting process by establishing clearer statutory timescales.

Ministers will consult later this year on how these powers should be used to improve the consenting process for all stakeholders, with findings informing secondary legislation.

Question reference: S7W-00321

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to establish the ScotWind Wealth Fund.

Question reference: S7W-00326

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will finalise and publish its Energy Strategy, which has been delayed since 2023, and, if so, by what date.

New government ministers have just been appointed, and will now begin work to deliver on their manifesto commitments.

We will continue to work closely with NESO, Ofgem and the UK and Welsh Governments on the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) as it develops to ensure that it respects devolved powers and ambitions, delivers real benefits for the people and communities of Scotland and supports our ongoing efforts for a just transition.

Question reference: S7W-00016

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, whether it expects that the findings of the jury deliberation research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases will inform future proposals on (a) juryless trials, (b) jury reform, (c) the sexual offences court and (d) the handling of trials.

Section 67 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 amended the Contempt of Court Act 1981 to allow for more detailed research into jury deliberations, where research has been approved by the Lord Justice General. During Stage 3, the former Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs committed to commission research into jury deliberations as a priority, highlighting the need to better understand the impact of rape myths on jurors’ decision making. The 2025 Act introduced landmark changes to the justice system and there are no current plans to introduce anything further.

Question reference: S7W-00148

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, whether the research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases will specifically examine whether the abolition of the not proven verdict and the change to the jury majority required for conviction have affected juror deliberations, decision-making and/ or verdicts.

Question reference: S7W-00013

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, by what date it will publish the findings of the research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases, and whether it will commit to publishing (a) the full report and (b) details of the methodology used, including any limitations that were encountered when carrying this out.

Question reference: S7W-00014

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of Award of DSF – Jury Deliberation Research, in February 2026, what methodology will be used for the research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases, including whether jurors will be interviewed, surveyed, observed or otherwise asked to disclose information about their deliberations and, if so, what safeguards it will put in place for (a) juror confidentiality, (b) complainer anonymity, (c) accused persons’ rights, (d) data protection, (e) appeals and (f) the integrity of criminal proceedings in relation to the research.

The research design and approach will only be finalised if approval from the Lord Justice General is provided.

Ensuring the research is undertaken in an ethically appropriate manner will of course be a key priority. Juror confidentiality, complainer anonymity, accused persons’ rights, data protection, appeals and the integrity of criminal proceedings in relation to the research have all been considered extensively during the drafting of the research specification, the evaluation of the bids received and, most recently, by the project’s Ethics Panel. Specific safeguards will be finalised when the research design is confirmed.