Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-36393

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Marine Conservation Society 2024 report, State of our Beaches, which records that, compared with 2023, there had been an increase of 7.2% in items of litter found on the beaches surveyed.

The Scottish Government thanks the Marine Conservation Society and all the many volunteers for their excellent work in monitoring beach litter and cleaning our shores. Citizen science is valued, and in combination with data from our scientists and our wider international monitoring programme, it is useful in helping us prioritise policy development to effectively reduce marine litter.

Marine litter is a global challenge and we are working both nationally and internationally to share the development of solutions. We are currently focused on the most problematic of litter items including fishing gear, nurdles, and wet wipes containing plastic. Our work is set out in our Marine Litter Strategy Action Plan, and responsibility for its delivery is shared between the Scottish Government and multiple partners, with progress coordinated through a steering group of which the Marine Conservation Society is a valued member. We are also taking action through our National Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy to reduce land sources of litter which can make their way into our seas.

It takes time for implemented policies and legislation to begin to be reflected in beach litter levels, such as the ban on plastic-stemmed cotton buds from 2019, and the ban on other single-use items including polystyrene food containers from 2022. With more measures and legislation expected in the future; banning wet wipes containing plastic and a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, we expect to see these litter levels reduce.

Question reference: S6W-36284

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how often the full list of public appointments by public bodies is published.

The list of public appointments by public body, which was published on 25 March 2025, is an exhaustive list of Ministerial regulated public appointments only. Ministerial regulated public appointments are those governed by the Ethical Standards Commissioner and the Code of Conduct for Public Appointments (2022).

The list is intended to be updated regularly so that it reflects recently made appointments. It was corrected on 25 March 2025 following the identification of errors.

Details added to the spreadsheet should be correct at the point of the appointment commencing. These details may change over time and become out of date. A process is underway to update the spreadsheet to ensure accuracy, including rectification of any other errors identified, and it will be re-published when complete.

Question reference: S6W-36317

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, to ensure timely implementation, what milestones have been set for the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Service audit.

Scottish Government commissioned the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit in July 2024 following a scoping exercise and business case by Public Health Scotland (PHS). PHS are responsible for the delivery and implementation of the FLS audit, which includes setting delivery and evaluation milestones.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-35534 and S6W-35567 on 21 March 2025, S6W-36002 on 1 April 2025 and S6W-36035 on 17 April 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: S6W-36313

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has met the (a) chief executive of the Scottish Prisons Service, (b) chief Social Work Advisor, (c) chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and (d) Lord President of the Court of Session since 29 March 2023, and what subjects were discussed.

I have met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prisons Service, the Chief Social Work Advisor, Chief Executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and Lord President of the Court of Session on a number of occasions since 29 March 2023.

Information is set out in the following tables on meetings with each individual and a small number of ad hoc additional meetings.

Meetings with Chief Executive the Scottish Prison Service

Date of Meeting	Subjects discussed (Agenda)
5 April, 2023	Introductions Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review Deaths in custody review Private sector contracts Capital and revenue budgets
20 April, 2023	Update from SPS on key issues: HMP Addiewell inspection Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review Criminal Justice Committee Appearance - Children’s care and Justice Bill
29 June, 2023	Update from SPS on key issues: HMP Perth – cell sizes/capacity issue HMP Addiewell inspection update Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review Reflections on Stirling opening and update on Community Custody Units Prison Population
31 August, 2023	Prison population – SPS planning to date GEOAmey Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review Detain in Errors Addiewell healthcare
26 October, 2023	Prison Population Transgender Review GEOAmey Operational Update
16 November, 2023	Prison Population Pay Offer – Next steps and engagement Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review Operational Update
7 December 2023	Prison Population
21 December 2023	Prison Population Pay GEOAmey Operational Update
17 January 2024	Prison Population Pay FAIs and Deaths in Prisons Operational Update
22 February 2024	Operational Update Capital projects Deaths in prisons and FAIs
6 March 2024	Prison population/optimisation of prison estate FAI Determination follow up Early release HMP Glasgow/Highland
14 March 2024	Operational Update Capital projects Kilmarnock transition
25 April, 2024	Operational Update Public Audit Committee session (2nd May) Capital projects Deaths in custody
3 May 2024	Follow up from Public Audit Committee with Chief Executive and Director General Education and Justice
10 June 2024	Pre meet prior to Criminal Justice Committee
27 June, 2024	Prison Population HMIPS thematic review of prisoner progression Body searching in women’s estate Extradition Operational Update - HMP YOI Stirling noise
15 August, 2024	Prison Population Moving children out of HMP Polmont National Preventive Mechanism & Scottish Human Rights Commission report on prisons Operational Update HMP YOI Stirling noise
20 August 2024	Update from Cab Sec visit to SPS College at Polmont Status of recent FAIs Impact of the aging prison population Development of a ligature toolkit Complex conditions within prison population
27 August 2024	Prison population
12 September 2024	Prison population
18 September 2024	Prison population Children’s move from HMP Polmont to secure care HMP Kilmarnock Prison Estate – HMP Glasgow
7 November 2024	Prison population Staffing – HMP Greenock Pre-Budget Scrutiny evidence session
12 December 2024	Prison population Emergency Prisoners (Early Release) Bill Budget 2025-26 HMP Glasgow FAIs Ligature Point Review Foreign National Offenders - Extradition Requests
16 January 2025	FAI determination
30 January 2025	Prison population Drone activity and impact FAI Determination HMP Glasgow / HMP Highland
6 March 2025	Prison population/optimisation of prison estate FAI Determination follow up Early release HMP Glasgow/Highland

Meetings with Chief Social Work Advisor

Date of Meeting	Subjects discussed (Agenda)
27 April 2023	Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser’s responsibilities Issues facing the social work workforce Proposed National Social Work Agency (NSWA) Working across ministerial portfolios
8 June 2023	NSWA Social work education options, Social work leadership within the current integrated context. Supported year for newly qualified social workers Negative perception of social workers. Relationships with other social work stakeholders.
26 June 2023	Update on the COSLA concession discussions
24 August 2023	Update on research and stakeholder engagement Increased demand and expectations on justice social work services Funding for justice social work Recruitment and retention Workforce development and resource issues Interaction between JSW and NCS Strengthening justice social work
31 August 2023	Presentation on the NSWA Discussion on the NSWA Reporting to the NCS National Board. Pay discrepancies in social work
9 November 2023	Background around current system on public protection How to work together across Scottish Government National roles and responsibilities How ministers can help support improvement
21 March 2024	National Social Work Agency Possible NCS Stage 2 Amendments to the NCS Bill Public protection Prison Social Work – update from recent meeting
5 June 2024	Update on the NSWA/NCS Bill – potential stage 2 amendments Public Protection - National Public Protection Leadership group Update on Social Work Education and Scottish Social Services Council. Update on Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme
18 June 2024	Discussion of proposed Stage 2 amendment to the National Care Service (Scotland). Agreed that the SG would put forward a stage 2 amendment for the CSWA role
6 November 2024	Establishment of the National Public Protection Leadership Group (NPPLG) Update on discussion at the NPPLG and on the Chief Officers’ Public Protection leadership event Intersectionality in public protection work Chronologies Online harm The relationship between the NPPLG and the Scottish government
13 November 2024	NSWA update Vision for social work with sector partners Social work education update Updates on Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme (TRSWS) Public Protection: update on the National Public Protection Leadership Group
29 January 2025	NSWA Update National Social Work Partnership The role of the National Chief Social Work Adviser in statute Social work education Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme (TRSWS) update Public Protection – the work of the NPPLG.
5 March 2025	NSWA/NCS Bill – potential stage 2 amendments Public Protection - National Public Protection Leadership group Update on Social Work Education and Scottish Social Services Council Update on Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme
6 March 2025	Data around children and young people accommodated in secure care. Capacity challenges in secure care.

Meetings with Chief Executive of Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service

Date of meeting	Subjects discussed (Agenda)
24May 2023	Provision of court transcripts Court recovery programme / Audit Scotland report on backlogs Pilot of virtual summary domestic abuse trials Failure to appear
15 June 2023	New model of virtual trials for summary domestic abuse cases Sheriff Principal Pyle attended
13 September 2023	Court recovery / GEOAmey SCTS staff pay award Funding Legislation: Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill, and SSI extending temporary justice measures in Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022
14 November 2023	Court recovery programme Trauma Informed Domestic Abuse Model GEOAmey 2024-25 Budget Court Transcripts pilot Floating trials
29 May 2024	Court backlogs / Criminal court recovery Prison population Court transcripts pilot Pre-recorded evidence/Evidence by Commission suites Enabling jury service for jurors with communication needs
25 September 2024	Prison population Criminal court modelling
12 December 2024	2025-26 Budget Planning Criminal Court Modelling Justice System Reform
27February 2025	2025-26 Budget Public Sector Reform Bids Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill ICT system for the Office Public Guardian Summary Case Management

Meetings with Lord President, Court of session

Date of meeting	Subjects discussed (Agenda)
26 April 2023	Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Legal Services Regulation Court Recovery
25 October 2023	Regulation of Legal Services Bill Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill Prison Population GEOAmey Court Recovery Programme Budget Position 2024-25
22 February 2024	Prison Population Airdrie Sheriff Court Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill Horizon Scanning: Human Rights Bill Court Transcripts Pilot Update Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill
18 September 2024	Prison Population Justice System Efficiencies Criminal Court modelling Budget Planning/Office of Public Guardian IT system Legislative Programme Update Preparedness for any anti-immigration riots in Scotland Consultation on media reporting on child homicide victims
4 December 2024	Signing of the SCTS Framework document 2025-26 Budget Planning Criminal Court Modelling Justice System Reform Victims & Witnesses Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill Transcripts Pilot

Question reference: S6W-36283

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what the political balance should be on (a) quasi-judicial panels and (b) local authority decision-making bodies.

Regarding (a), quasi-judicial panels:

There are a wide variety of organisations that could be considered quasi-judicial bodies with their own constitutions, legislative underpinnings and governance arrangements. The position in respect of political balance would need to be checked with each organisation.
Regarding regulated Ministerial Appointments to public body boards that could be considered a quasi-judicial body, all applications are considered individually on their merits. The Ethical Standards Commissioner regulates this area and their Code of Practice for Public Appointments (the ‘Code’) and associated Code Guidance (both 2022) set out the position relating to political activity. In summary, candidates are required to provide information relating to their political activity. It is not necessarily a bar to appointment but the appointing panel will take the information into account as part of the Fit and Proper Person test when assessing ability to perform in role. When an individual is appointed, any political activity is declared in the news release announcing the appointment.

Regarding (b), local authority decision-making bodies:

Councils (and potentially also their decision-making bodies) are independent bodies with their own powers, responsibilities, governing constitutions, legislative underpinnings and governance arrangements. The position in respect of political balance would need to be checked with each organisation.
Scottish Ministers have committed to respecting local government’s democratic mandate as part of the Verity House Agreement. The view of the Scottish Government is that locally elected representatives are best placed to prioritise the needs of the local community.

Question reference: S6W-36285

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the updated list of public appointments by public body, which was published on 25 March 2025, is an exhaustive list of all public appointments.

The list of public appointments by public body, which was published on 25 March 2025, is an exhaustive list of Ministerial regulated public appointments only. Ministerial regulated public appointments are those governed by the Ethical Standards Commissioner and the Code of Conduct for Public Appointments (2022).

The list is intended to be updated regularly so that it reflects recently made appointments. It was corrected on 25 March 2025 following the identification of errors.

Details added to the spreadsheet should be correct at the point of the appointment commencing. These details may change over time and become out of date. A process is underway to update the spreadsheet to ensure accuracy, including rectification of any other errors identified, and it will be re-published when complete.

Question reference: S6W-36344

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will produce a dedicated grassland action plan, similar to those for woodlands and peatlands.

There is no plan at present to produce a grasslands action plan however there are a number of actions within The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy’s Delivery Plan applicable to grasslands.

These actions include, but are not limited to, publishing a Plant Biodiversity Strategy and revision of the Scottish Biodiversity List which currently includes species-rich grasslands as a habitat and specific grassland specialist species among those habitats and species of principal importance. In addition, NatureScot is also mapping the extent of the species-rich grassland resource across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-36191

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) terms of reference, (b) instructions and (c) scope of the work given, as part of the commissioning process, to the person appointed to research and report on the dual role of the Lord Advocate.

The Scottish Government commissioned an expert report from Malcolm McMillan on the roles and functions of the Scottish Law Officers. The purpose of the report is to outline the history and development of the roles and functions of the Scottish Law Officers; describe their current roles and functions; highlight the role of Law Officers in a number of other jurisdictions; describe the constitutional context relevant to a review of the roles of the Scottish Law Officers; and provide a summary of insights and comments on the Scottish Law Officers’ roles from former and current holders of these offices and relevant officials. The work to publish the final report is in the final stages.

The remit and terms of reference will be included in the published report.

Question reference: S6W-35591

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide a list of all organisations and groups that have exhibited at the Scottish Parliament, broken down by how many times each has exhibited, and which MSP sponsored the exhibition, since May 2021.

The list below includes all organisations and individuals that have exhibited at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Member-sponsored exhibitions programme, including the number of times they have done so, this session:

#MEAction Scotland - Ben Macpherson MSP
2023 UCI Cycling World Championships - Clare Adamson MSP
Aberdeen Minerals Ltd - Jackie Dunbar MSP
Action Against Stalking - Sharon Dowey MSP
Advice Scotland Direct - Paul O'Kane MSP
Alcohol Focus Scotland - Gillian Mackay MSP
Alzheimer Scotland - Fulton MacGregor MSP
Amey Limited - Sarah Boyack MSP
Art in Healthcare - Sarah Boyack MSP
ARTconnects: The Migration Blanket - Paul Sweeney MSP
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry - Kenneth Gibson MSP
Asthma + Lung UK Scotland - Annie Wells MSP
Asthma and Allergy Foundation - Michael Matheson MSP
Asthma UK/British Lung Foundation Scotland - Alexander Stewart MSP
AstraZeneca - Alexander Stewart MSP
BBC Scotland - Sarah Boyack MSP
Bhopal Saathi - Sarah Boyack MSP
Blood Bikes Scotland - Alexander Stewart MSP
Bodyworks - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
British Heart Foundation - Christine Grahame MSP
British Transport Police - Russell Findlay MSP
Carers Scotland - Gillian Mackay MSP
Cats Protection - Marie McNair MSP
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland - Bob Doris MSP
Christian Aid, Eco Congregation Scotland & Operation Noah: Get Your Skates On - Ross Greer MSP
CILIP Scotland - Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP
CIPD - Tess White MSP
Climate Café CIC - Mark Ruskell MSP
Competition and Markets Authority - Stuart McMillan MSP
Craft Scotland and Panel - Michael Marra MSP
Crichton Carbon Centre - Ariane Burgess MSP
Crisis - Mark Griffin MSP
Crown Estate Scotland - Jenni Minto MSP
Cycling UK - Graham Simpson MSP
Cycling Without Age Scotland - Michael Matheson MSP
Cyrenians - Sarah Boyack MSP
Dignity in Dying Scotland - Liam McArthur MSP
Dogs Trust - Colin Smyth MSP
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
Drinkaware - Jackie Baillie MSP
Dyslexia Scotland - Oliver Mundell MSP
Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council - Foysol Choudhury MSP
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (2) - Emma Harper MSP (1) & Paul Sweeney MSP (1)
Educational Institute of Scotland - Monica Lennon MSP
Elaine Robinson (artist) - Foysol Choudhury MSP
ENABLE Scotland - Paul O'Kane MSP
Energy Industries Council (EIC) - Brian Whittle MSP
Equity - Mark Ruskell MSP
Erskine Veterans Care - Neil Bibby MSP
Fablevision (2) - Paul Sweeney MSP (1) & George Adam MSP (1)
Falling UP - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Family Fund - Bob Doris MSP
Fashion Revolution Scotland - Monica Lennon MSP
Fight Bladder Cancer - Stuart McMillan MSP
Finding Your Feet - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Siobhian Brown MSP
Food Standards Scotland - Paul O’Kane MSP
Forces Children Scotland - Alexander Stewart MSP
Forth Valley Sensory Centre - Michael Matheson MSP
Friends of the Earth Scotland - Mark Ruskell MSP
Friends of Thomas Muir - Rona Mackay MSP
Galloway National Park Association - Colin Smyth MSP
General Dental Council, General Medical Council, Nursing and
Midwifery Council and General Pharmaceutical Council (2) - Anas Sarwar MSP (1) & Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP (1)
Generations Working Together - Carol Mochan MSP
Genetic Alliance UK - Paul McLennan MSP
Glasgow Centre for Population Health - Paul Sweeney MSP
GoFibre - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Golden Threads Group Tapestry Weavers - Daniel Johnson MSP
GREY2K USA Worldwide - Mark Ruskell MSP
Gypsy Traveller History and Future - Maggie Chapman MSP
Health and Social Care Scotland - Jamie Greene MSP
Held In Our Hearts - Stephanie Callaghan MSP
Hey Girls - Paul McLennan MSP
Horticultural Trades Association - Christine Grahame MSP
Hubbub - ACS Clothing Limited - Stephanie Callaghan MSP
Ian Whyte (artist) - Fergus Ewing MSP
Intuitive - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Inverness Women’s Aid/Reina Edmiston Art - Emma Roddick MSP
John Muir Trust - Paul McLennan MSP
Kidney Research UK - Pam Gosal MSP
Kirrie Connections - Graeme Dey MSP
Kooth plc - Paul Sweeney MSP
Lews Castle College UHI - Alasdair Allan MSP
Libereco, Partnership for Human Rights - Willie Rennie MSP
Liquid Gas UK - Liam Kerr MSP
Living Streets Scotland - Foysol Choudhury MSP
Logos Scotland - Murdo Fraser MSP
Lothians Speak Their Name CIC - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Magic Breakfast - Beatrice Wishart MSP
Make 2nds Count - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Marie Curie and University of Glasgow - Evelyn Tweed MSP
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Myeloma UK - Paul O'Kane MSP
National Biodiversity Network Trust - Ariane Burgess MSP
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Clare Adamson MSP
National Mining Museum Scotland - Christine Grahame MSP
National Trust for Scotland - Sharon Dowey MSP
Network Rail Scotland - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Networking Key Services Limited - Foysol Choudhury MSP
NFU Scotland - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Obesity Action Scotland - Clare Haughey MSP
One Parent Families Scotland - Colette Stevenson MSP
Optometry Scotland - Stuart McMillan MSP
Our Seas - Rhoda Grant MSP
Place2Be (2) - Sarah Boyack MSP (1) & Martin Whitfield MSP (1)
Planet Youth - Marie McNair MSP
Planning Aid Scotland - Sarah Boyack MSP
PlusZero - Alasdair Allan MSP
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness - Pam Gosal MSP
Poppyscotland (3) - Presiding Officer (3)
Powering Futures - Michelle Thomson MSP
Quakers in Britain - Michelle Thomson MSP
Recovering Justice/The Scottish Psychedelic Research Group - Pauline McNeill MSP
Relationships Scotland - Emma Harper MSP
Results UK - Miles Briggs MSP
Revive: The coalition for grouse moor reform - Mark Ruskell MSP
Right There - Miles Briggs MSP
RNIB Scotland - Stuart McMillan MSP
Rothesay Pavilion Charity - Clare Adamson MSP
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and MSD - Elena Whitham MSP
Royal College of Occupational Therapists - Emma Harper MSP
Royal Pharmaceutical Society - Jeremy Balfour MSP
RSPB Scotland - Karen Adam MSP
Scotch Whisky Association - Ivan McKee MSP
Scotland Malawi Partnership - Liam McArthur MSP
Scottish Association of Social Work - Fulton MacGregor MSP
Scottish Book Trust - Jackie Baillie MSP
Scottish Coastal Clean Up - Colin Beattie MSP
Scottish Enterprise - Ivan McKee MSP
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations - Collette Stevenson MSP
Scottish Fishermen's Federation - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Scottish Football Museum: Rutherglen Ladies FC - James Dornan MSP
Scottish Grocer's Federation - Gordon MacDonald MSP
Scottish Hazards - Bill Kidd MSP
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Programmes - Paul O'Kane MSP
Scottish Land & Estates - Christine Grahame MSP
Scottish Prison Art - Fulton MacGregor MSP
Scottish Racing - Miles Briggs MSP
Scottish Renewables - Jenni Minto MSP
Scottish SPCA - Emma Harper MSP
Scottish Water - Liam McArthur MSP
Scottish Women's Aid - Monica Lennon MSP
Scottish Youth Parliament (3) - Presiding Officer (3)
SGI-UK Seeds of Hope and Action - Paul McLennan MSP
Shared Lives Plus - Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP
Shetland Islands Council - Beatrice Wishart MSP
Sight Scotland - Stuart McMillan MSP
Skye Arts-Sea, Land & Sky - Emma Roddick MSP
Smart Energy - Liam Kerr MSP
Social Enterprise Scotland - Miles Briggs MSP
Soil Association Scotland - Ariane Burgess MSP
Sovereign Property Partnership - Paul McLennan MSP
SSE Renewables - Paul McLennan MSP
SSEN Transmission - Michael Marra MSP
Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum) - Paul O'Kane MSP
Stena Line, P&O Ferries and Belfast Harbour - Emma Harper MSP
Stroke Association - Gillian Mackay MSP
Suzi Morris (artist) - Ruth Maguire MSP
Team Jak - Jeremy Balfour MSP
The Aiteal Trust - Jackie Baillie MSP
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation/Country Food Trust - Sharon Dowey MSP
The Coalition of Carers in Scotland - Jackie Baillie MSP
The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK - Emma Roddick MSP
The Gift of Grouse - Jim Fairlie MSP
The Larder - Fiona Hyslop MSP
The Leprosy Mission Scotland - Jeremy Balfour MSP
The Munro Society - Liz Smith MSP
The National Lottery Community Fund - Collette Stevenson MSP
The Open University - Clare Adamson MSP
The Royal College of Physicians - Clare Haughey MSP
The Royal Society of Edinburgh - Willie Rennie MSP
The Society of Independent Brewers - Craig Hoy MSP
The Trussell Trust - Claire Baker MSP
The Young Women's Movement - Monica Lennon MSP
Timebanking Scotland - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
TSB Bank - Paul McLennan MSP
Unity Consulting Scotland: Zero Hours Justice - Richard Leonard MSP
University of Edinburgh - Sarah Boyack MSP
University of Parma - Alasdair Allan MSP
University of the West of Scotland - Christina McKelvie MSP
Upstart Scotland - Kaukab Stewart MSP
Victim Support Scotland - Neil Gray MSP
VoiceAbility - Collette Stevenson MSP
WASPI Scotland - Katy Clark MSP
Water Safety Scotland - Clare Adamson MSP
Waverley Care - Gillian Mackay
West Lothian Diabetes Scotland Group - Angela Constance MSP
Women's Support Project - Ruth Maguire MSP
World Horse Welfare, BHS Scotland & Horsescotland - Sharon Dowey MSP
Young Enterprise Scotland - Jackson Carlaw MSP
Young Scot - Karen Adam MSP

Question reference: S6W-36192

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it responded, other than an acknowledgement, to the letter in February 2024 from the then Secretary of State for Scotland to the then First Minister requesting an update on "whether the dual functions of the Law Officers, as head of the independent prosecution service and principle legal advisers to the Scottish Government should be separated", and, if (a) so, whether it will publish its response and (b) not, when it plans to do so.

Chamber and committees