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-00617

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the price per MWh of electricity generated (a) for Hunterston B prior to its closure and (b) is for Torness nuclear power station.

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: Answer expected on 11 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.

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: Answer expected on 11 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.

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: Answer expected on 11 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-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-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.

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-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-00011

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 the Lord Justice General has granted leave for the research commissioned that will explore jury deliberations in rape and attempted rape cases and, if so, whether it will list any conditions that were attached to this.

Question reference: S7W-00039

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 May 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the First Minister last met the co-leaders of Aberdeen City Council.

Details of all external engagements undertaken by Scottish Ministers, including the First Minister, are published on the Scottish Government website and can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.

These records currently cover engagements up to February of this year, with further information to be published in due course in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code. Scottish Ministers regularly engage with local authority leaders, including the co-leaders of Aberdeen City Council, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

It is also worth noting that although the names of specific councils or council leaders may not appear in records of certain engagements, the First Minister and other Ministers have engaged with various council leaders at COSLA Annual Conferences and other conferences and events that involve council leaders.