The Scottish Government has no plans to do so. The consultation planned for 2024 will, in relation to divorce and dissolution, cover court procedures rather than the grounds of divorce and dissolution or how a marriage can be voided.

The Scottish Law Commission’s 1992 Report on family law (SLC 135) (scotlawcom.gov.uk) recommended that marriages should not be voidable on the ground of impotency (see paragraphs 8.21 to 8.29). The then Scottish Executive indicated in its 2000 White Paper Parents and Children that it did not intend to take forward this recommendation noting that “the concept of a voidable marriage on this ground in civil law would provide a solution to couples who would otherwise be required to seek divorce, against their religious beliefs.”

This matter was further considered in the consultation on the draft Bill which became the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014. Paragraph 139 of the Policy Memorandum for the Bill as introduced said “Consultees suggested that impotency should be abolished as grounds for voiding a marriage. However, other consultees suggested that the concept of “voidable” marriages can have some advantages, particularly for those who might wish to enter another marriage but might not be able to do so (on religious grounds) if they were divorced.”

The Scottish Government’s understanding is the rule that a marriage is voidable by reason of permanent and incurable impotency is little used. However, it is possible that abolishing it could remove an option for some couples.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23719 on 20 December 2023. 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

The Member might be aware that the British Transport Police (BTP) reports to the UK Department for Transport(DfT) and British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). The information on the level of its staff is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The Member may wish to refer to the information on the BTP’s website or contact BTP direct.

This data has been redacted according to data protection legislation. As the redacted figures are below five, there is increased risk of identification of data subjects, and as such these figures must be treated as personal data.

The data protection legislation; UKGDPR and DPA 2018 are derivatives of the Human Rights Act. Their purpose is to uphold the rights of individuals in relation to their data and privacy.

Scottish Government has contracted AssistFM to map existing breakfast provision. This mapping is expected to be completed in Spring 2024. There are no plans to publish it separately, as this work is just one of the elements which will inform policy on school breakfasts, and a plan for breakfast provision, designed around the needs of children and families.

The Scottish Government remains committed to developing plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children. Work is underway to map existing breakfast provision which is expected to be completed in Spring 2024. This will inform policy on school breakfasts, and a plan for breakfast provision, designed around the needs of children and families.

British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) who determines the budget of the BTP force advises that there has been no reductions in funding. Scottish Government would not accept any diminution of services provided by BTP on the Scottish rail network.

British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) publishes its Annual Reports which cover the policing of the railways in each financial year. No direct financial support is provided to BTP by the Scottish Government, because its costs are met by charges levied against the rail industry, which is supported by the funding allocated to it by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish National Investment Bank (the Bank) reports on the Scottish local authority areas that have benefitted from its investments through its annual Impact Report. The Impact Report 2023, setting out the impacts of the Bank’s investment to the close of 2022, showed that 20 of Scotland’s local authority areas had benefitted from the Bank’s investments. An update will be published in the Bank’s Impact Report 2024.

Furthermore, the Bank provides a representative map of its investment portfolio on the Bank’s portfolio webpage. However, it is important to note that although a Bank’s investee may be headquartered in a single location, the impact the investment is having can be further widespread.

On appointment, ministers are offered electronic equipment to assist them in carrying out their official duties. I have included table which outlines the devices used by each of the ministers.