- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted on the potential consequences of rising council tax rates on low and middle-income households.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35046 on 5 March 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that local authorities are being forced to introduce significant council tax increases due to budgetary pressures.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-35046 on 5 March 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many public services have been transferred from local authorities to its agencies or non-departmental public bodies since 1999, and which services have been affected.
Answer
The information requested is not currently held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities are receiving special support beyond that which is offered to all local authorities to meet their particular budget issues.
Answer
Whilst the vast majority of funding distributed to councils through the Local Government Settlement is distributed using a needs-based formula, including factors such as population, rurality, road length and deprivation, there are a number of discrete funding lines to respond to specific local needs both within and out with the Local Government Settlement.
These include, but are not restricted to, specific funding for inter-island connectivity is currently only available to councils with island communities and specific grants are provided for Vacant and Derelict Land and Regional Transport Partnerships in specific local authorities. Such funding streams are included in the which will be published once the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order is agreed by the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review existing policies on classroom discipline and pupil behaviour management, in light of reported concerns raised by teachers about insufficient consequences for disruptive behaviour.
Answer
The national action plan on relationships and behaviour published in August 2024. The first published progress report will publish in the coming weeks.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent to date on planning and development for each of the five national treatment centres, and how this compares with the estimate in its initial proposals.
Answer
As set out in answer S6W-29116 on 6 September 2024, the cost incurred to date in relation to the planned National Treatment Centre in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside is as follows.
Board | Cost incurred to date on National Treatment Centre |
Ayrshire & Arran | £4,843,600 |
Grampian | £6,474,000 |
Lanarkshire | £268,000 |
Lothian | £13,749,000 |
Tayside | £12,111,438 |
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support local heritage organisations, such as Friends of Kinneil, in their efforts to safeguard and promote key historical sites in the Central Scotland region.
Answer
The Scottish Government values both museums and heritage sites as important assets and recognises the undoubted benefits they bring to communities across Scotland.
We will continue to support Museums Galleries Scotland, the dedicated national development body that supports museums and galleries, and Historic Environment Scotland, our lead public body for the historic environment. Both these organisations deliver direct and indirect support to heritage projects and groups across Scotland by providing expert advice and guidance, as well as through their grant schemes – details of which can be found on their respective websites.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic and employment impact of the UK Government’s reported plans to support the steel sector in Scotland with reduced electricity costs compared to any absence of targeted support for the Grangemouth refinery.
Answer
The Plan for Steel hasn’t been published yet so the Scottish Government has not made an assessment of reported plans for the UK Government to support Scotland’s steel sector. An assessment of confirmed UK Government plans and support will be made following the publication of The Plan for Steel. The Scottish Government will be contributing to the steel strategy consultation; and we will continue to represent the sector, including via my membership on the UK Steel Council.
In addition to the Scottish Government’s previously announced Grangemouth Just Transition Fund, which will support the transition of the industrial cluster in its entirety to help secure a long-term and sustainable future, the Scottish Government has announced £25 million targeted investment for the vitally important Scottish industrial site.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding appropriate disciplinary measures for violent or abusive behaviour by pupils towards teachers and school staff.
Answer
The national action plan on relationships and behaviour published in August 2024. The first published progress report will publish in the coming weeks.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what national measures are being taken to address reported increasing concerns over poor pupil behaviour and abuse towards staff in schools, in light of the industrial action at Kirkintilloch High School.
Answer
Violent and abusive behaviours towards pupils or staff is unacceptable. Schools should be safe and consistent learning environments for all.
Concerns about behaviour at specific schools are a matter for the relevant local authority. We expect local authorities to consider how best to implement our national guidance to address particular areas of local challenge or concern.