Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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: S6W-34483

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources and support mechanisms will be put in place in rural and island communities to ensure the effective delivery of the new national throughcare service for prisoners released from (a) short-term sentences or (b) remand.

The new national throughcare service will ensure equitable support provisions across all communities in Scotland.

The partnership delivering the new national throughcare service (consisting of Sacro, Access to Industry, Action for Children, Apex Scotland, Barnardo’s, Circle, Families Outside and Turning Point Scotland) has experience of delivering throughcare in rural and island communities and understands the additional considerations needed to achieve a robust and responsive delivery model.

A proportion of the budget has been set aside to ensure a tailored ‘spot purchase’ approach to support individuals returning to rural and island communities. This model will ensure that wrap-around support is available to individuals as required across island communities, whilst ensuring a level of parity with mainland provision.

The partnership will also work closely with existing services and agencies operating locally to ensure that the right support is in place for every individual returning to a rural or island community.

Question reference: S6W-34473

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure coordination between the new national throughcare service for prisoners released from (a) short-term sentences or (b) remand and existing local authority criminal justice social work services, to avoid duplication and maximise effectiveness.

The launch of the new national throughcare service does not affect the duty on local authorities to provide voluntary throughcare support and will not replace any locally commissioned services or local processes.

The new service will be structured to work collectively with local partners, including justice social work services, to meet the needs of people who request voluntary throughcare support for prisoners released from both short-term sentences and those on remand.

The service will employ dedicated prison-based workers in each establishment who will have a role in supporting effective multi-agency pre-release planning to avoid duplication of service provision.

Question reference: S6W-34482

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions have been made to ensure continuity of support for people currently receiving assistance through the Shine and New Routes programmes for prisoners released from (a) short-term sentences or (b) remand during the transition to the new national throughcare service.

The Scottish Government and the partnership that will provide the new national throughcare service (consisting of Sacro, Access to Industry, Action for Children, Apex Scotland, Barnardo’s, Circle, Families Outside and Turning Point Scotland) are committed to delivering a smooth and supported transition for those currently receiving assistance through the Shine and New Routes programmes.

We are working closely with Shine and New Routes around the decommissioning process to ensure there is no gap in service provision resulting from the transition.

Where relevant, there are clear communication and engagement plans for those individuals who are currently accessing throughcare support and wish to be transferred to the new provision.

Additionally, where possible, staff across Shine and New Routes will be transferred to the new service, ensuring continuity of a skilled and experienced workforce.

Question reference: S6W-34474

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it made of restoring the Scottish Prison Service Throughcare Support Service, rather than establishing a new third sector-led national throughcare service.

The Scottish Government supports third sector delivery of voluntary throughcare support. We recognise that these organisations are uniquely positioned to offer flexible, community-based and person-centred support to individuals transitioning from prison back into their communities.

A review of throughcare provision by Community Justice Scotland in 2023 found that using a partnership approach to delivering voluntary throughcare was an effective way of supporting people leaving prison, as it enables different partners to apply their specific expertise to address a wide range of needs.

This approach aligns with the National Strategy for Community Justice, which emphasises continuity of care and the importance of reducing reoffending by ensuring that people receive consistent, holistic support during this critical period of transition.

The Scottish Prison Service established, operated and suspended their throughcare support service independently. Any decision regarding reinstating this service would be for the Scottish Prison Service.

Question reference: S6W-34478

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures and indicators will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the new third sector-led national throughcare service for prisoners released from (a) short-term sentences or (b) remand, and how frequently this performance data will be published.

The measures and indicators which will be used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and value for money of the new third sector national throughcare service are in the process of being developed. This work is being done in consultation with the partnership of organisations that will deliver the service (consisting of Sacro, Access to Industry, Action for Children, Apex Scotland, Barnardo’s, Circle, Families Outside and Turning Point Scotland) and Community Justice Scotland, who will be responsible for monitoring the new service on behalf of the Scottish Government.

This includes the consideration of what, if any, data will be made publicly available.

Question reference: S6W-34475

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people each year who have been released from prison (a) from short-term sentences and (b) on remand it expects the new national throughcare service to support.

At present, the existing Public Social Partnerships Shine and New Routes provide support to around 1750 individuals each year. It is anticipated that the level of funding provided to the new service will allow an additional number of people to be supported, including men leaving a period of remand, who will be eligible for throughcare support for the first time.

The number of people supported will depend on the volume of eligible population of prisoners, and an assessment of individuals’ required level and duration of support.

Question reference: S6W-35130

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-34392

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to influence grid management in Scotland, and whether it has assessed the possibility of using any such powers to align Scottish transmission impact assessment thresholds with those in England and Wales.

The Scottish Government has no powers to influence grid management in Scotland as legislation and regulations relating to gas and electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government. The independent system operator, National Energy System Operator (NESO), is responsible for strategic planning and day-to-day operation of the electricity network, working with network companies across Great Britain. Regulation of the electricity and gas networks is carried out by the independent energy regulator Ofgem.

The Scottish Government has no role in networks regulation apart from its statutory planning and consenting process.

Question reference: S6W-34390

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the National Energy System Operator, (b) ScottishPower Energy Networks, (c) Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and (d) the UK Government regarding the disparity in transmission impact assessment thresholds between Scotland and the rest of Great Britain.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with Ofgem and NESO to ensure transmission infrastructure delivers for Scotland. This includes exploration of the TIA threshold, and consideration of the impact that this has on energy users in Scotland.

The most recent discussions on TIA thresholds took place with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks on 4 February 2025. Joint discussions with UK Government, National Energy System Operator and Scottish Government officials took place on 6 February 2025. Officials also plan to discuss this when they next meet with Scottish Power Energy Networks representatives on 11 March 2025.

Officials also attend NESO’s Connections Process Advisory Group and Connections Delivery Board meetings where the TIA threshold was discussed. Membership of these governance boards includes representatives from across industry, including TOs, together with Scottish, Welsh and UK Governments and Ofgem. Notes of these meetings can be found via NESO’s website:

Question reference: S6W-34391

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on Scotland's net zero targets of maintaining the current 200-kilowatt threshold for transmission impact assessments.

While, to date, the Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of the potential impact on Scotland’s net zero targets of maintaining the 200kW threshold for transmission impact assessments, it is aware of this issue. As detailed in responses to S6W-34389 and S6W-34390 on 19 February 2025, Scottish Government officials are engaging with stakeholders to develop an understanding of the issues the difference creates and to explore options which may mitigate any negative consequences.

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