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-01419

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication in June 2026 of the Independent Inquiry into White Working Class Educational Outcomes report, whether it will assess the extent to which white working-class boys and young men experience educational or socio-economic disadvantage in Scotland, and whether it will consider introducing targeted measures to address this where such disadvantage is identified.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.

Through the Scottish Attainment Challenge, we are investing up to £200 million in 2026-27 to improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty. Schools and local authorities are supported to use national and local data to identify need and target support accordingly.

This investment is complemented by wider action to tackle the impact of poverty on children's lives, including the provision of free school meals, support through the School Clothing Grant, and action across government to reduce child poverty through measures such as the Scottish Child Payment.

Question reference: S7O-00119

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the development of skills and encourages apprenticeships, in light of reported concerns that young people are steered towards some degree courses that offer limited value.

Question reference: S7W-01076

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for a public inquiry into the response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation, commonly referred to as grooming gangs or rape gangs, including whether the inquiry will consider any failures by authorities.

Question reference: S7W-00661

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 11 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding proposals for the introduction of a chief assessor in Scotland, and whether such a role would provide greater accountability for non-domestic rates payers compared with the current system of 14 different lead assessors.

Assessors, who are responsible for the valuation of domestic and non-domestic properties, are independent of Scottish Government and Local Government. They are all chartered surveyors accountable to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and are accountable for individual valuation decisions through the appeals function delivered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals System.

Assessors use the established legal framework to determine premises’ rateable values based on the notional rental value that they could be expected to attract on the open market if they were vacant and to let. They follow applicable statute and case law in making their decisions on non-domestic property valuations

The Scottish Government supports the principle of assessor independence and the value of a property valuation system that is founded on local knowledge and expertise. A property valuation system based primarily on rental values is likely to produce valuations that reflect evidenced differences in rents in different parts of Scotland.

We recognise, however, the disquiet expressed by some business sectors about non-domestic rates. We will soon undertake a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates which builds on our commitment to examine the impact and configuration of all our reliefs in advance of the next revaluation on 1 April 2029, and we will engage with businesses, working with them to shape the rates system into the future.

Question reference: S7W-00620

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 8 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had, or plans to have, with the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland regarding recent reported anti-Protestant hate incidents and sectarian attacks, and whether it plans to publicly condemn all forms of religious hatred and intimidation in Scotland.

The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of hatred, prejudice or intimidation, including anti-Protestant incidents or attacks. It is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Therefore, we must all play our part to challenge it.

Scotland is a diverse, multi-cultural society and this diversity strengthens us as a nation. That is why we work cooperatively with a range of organisations throughout the country to tackle all forms of hatred and prejudice.

The former Minister for Victims and Community Safety met with representatives of the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland, with engagement continuing at both ministerial and official level throughout 2025 and into early 2026.

Question reference: S7W-00083

Asked by: Thomas Kerr, MSP for Glasgow, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of incidents of violence and disorder associated with the Celtic FC celebrations in Glasgow on 16 May 2026, what discussions it plans to have with the club regarding concerns about public safety, damage to the city and disruption to businesses, and what its position is on whether the club should contribute financially towards the policing and clean-up costs that have been met by the public purse when such incidents have occurred.