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-00324

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 Flynn on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the £9 million it has allocated to the Mossmorran industrial site over the next three years, when will all payments be made, what outcomes are expected from the payments, what undertakings have been given by the recipients in order to receive the payments and how it has determined that the amount allocated for each is sufficient to deliver the results intended.

The Scottish Government has allocated £9 million over three years to the Mossmorran industrial site, with £3 million planned for each of 2026–27, 2027–28 and 2028–29. Funding in later years remains subject to the outcomes of the Scottish Spending Review and annual budget processes.

In 2026–27, up to £1.3 million has been allocated for a Mossmorran Skills Intervention, delivered by Fife College. This funding will support the workforce in gaining critical training support to transition to other labour market opportunities including training needs assessments, targeted reskilling aligned with labour market demand, progression into employment, and measurable uptake, completion and employment outcomes. It is disappointing that, to date, the UK Government has chosen not to join us in providing this critical support to the workforce.

Funding for 2026–27 will also support activity to identify and develop future opportunities for the site. ExxonMobil has committed to working collaboratively with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise to explore viable future options for the site. Scottish Enterprise are also utilising the breadth of their experience to attract new investment and secure sustainable alternative uses for the site.

Question reference: S7W-00615

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 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on energy affordability for consumers in Scotland of the anticipated closure of Torness nuclear power station, in light of its policy position on new nuclear generation.

Question reference: S7W-00616

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 4 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the current Contracts for Difference strike price per MWh for (a) onshore, (b) fixed-bottom offshore and (c) floating offshore wind.

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is an important mechanism to support new low-carbon electricity generation. Administrative strike prices are determined by the UK Government through the competitive CfD auction round process. Information regarding the most recent CfD Allocation Round 7 including strike prices can be found here: Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7: results - GOV.UK.

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.