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

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Question reference: S6W-43479

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an online 2026-27 non-domestic rates calculator for businesses.

Question reference: S6W-43478

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42438 by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025, and in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government's commitment to pass on any consequentials arising from further UK budget measures on non-domestic rates reliefs for hospitality, what engagement it will have with the licensed hospitality sector on any budget amendments.

Question reference: S6W-43475

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its inquiry into Skye House.

Question reference: S6W-43486

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether Revaluation Transitional Relief for non-domestic rates applies to all property classes and rates, and what net effect it anticipates for those experiencing the highest increases.

Question reference: S6W-43460

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is consistent with Scottish planning policy for a local authority to refuse a planning application on the basis of a separate project that has not reached a formal determination stage, particularly in cases where the local authority is not the final decision-maker for that separate project.

Question reference: S6W-43462

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that newly qualified nurses are able to access employment opportunities within NHS Grampian, in light of reported concerns about the limited availability of posts suitable for new graduates.

Question reference: S6W-43461

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what recent analysis it has undertaken of recruitment and retention challenges in NHS Grampian.

Question reference: S6W-43456

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a particularly challenging year for international trade, what action it has taken to support people and businesses in Scotland in delivering Scotland’s Vision for Trade, and whether it plans to publish a fourth annual report of its progress.

I am pleased to announce that the fourth Annual Report of Scotland’s Vision for Trade (the Vision) is being published today. The Vision sets out our strategic approach to trade policy and this report details the progress we have made in the implementation of the Vision since our last report in late 2024. It demonstrates our continued commitment, in what has been a particularly turbulent year, to transparency and accountability in international trade policy making, and to our principle-based approach.

The last year has seen a number of shocks to the global economy, set against a background of wider and longer term trends changing the way we trade goods and services globally. Scotland has of course not been immune to the headwinds buffeting economies across the globe.

This report details how the First Minister’s mission to grow the economy has been at the forefront of our approach in responding to these developments. In particular, we have taken action to support Scotland’s businesses to be successful globally. That action included influencing the terms of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), engaging directly with President Trump in support of Scotch Whisky and collaborating with the UK Government in tackling market access barriers in the EU and other markets for Scottish exports such as pork, crabs & whisky.

In considering the wider impacts of trade, we have pursued our aims for both growth and inclusive trade, for example by taking action to reduce the gender export gap in support of women-led businesses.

The report details how we worked constructively with the UK Government in furthering these aims and our shared trade interests. I encourage the UK Government to commit to working with Devolved Governments to navigate these turbulent times together, ensuring that the UK Trade Strategy delivers for the whole of the UK

The publication of this report marks five years since the original publication of the Vision for Trade. A lot has changed in that time, and the report sets out some of the highlights and challenges we have faced, including how we have used our principles to navigate difficult issues and trade-offs.

As we look towards the future, there is little to suggest that the challenges will be any less complex. We must continue to build on the legacy of Scotland’s Vision for Trade, building on our successes and continuing to apply our distinct, principled approach to the issues we face.

Question reference: S6W-43181

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42791 by Mairi Gougeon on 13 January 2026, (a) what its position is on whether (i) national security encompasses a wider scope than the matters reserved by Schedule 5, Section 9 of the Scotland Act 1998 and (ii) the recent Strategic Defence Review, in particular chapter 6 (Home Defence and Resilience: A Whole-of-Society Approach) and chapter 7.2 (Maritime Domain), affords significant scope for the Scottish Government to exempt its procurement of vessels under the provision of Section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, and (b) whether it will agree to discuss this matter with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Defence.

National security and defence are matters reserved to the UK Parliament under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, (noting the exception of civil defence). The concept of national security does not extend devolved competence beyond those reserved matters. The Strategic Defence Review is a UK Government policy document and does not alter the statutory division of responsibilities set out in the devolution settlement. As such, including in relation to maritime matters and resilience, it does not provide additional scope for the Scottish Government to rely on the national security exemption set out in Section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 when procuring vessels for devolved purposes. As explained in the answer to question S6W-42791, marine protection vessels and marine research vessels reflect the operational needs of the Marine Directorate, are built and operated to merchant-vessel standards and fulfil functions related to fishing and environmental protection. The national security exemption within the Subsidy Control Act is intended to apply only in exceptional circumstances where this is necessary for the protection of UK national security, and its use does not affect the underlying reservation of defence and national security matters. The Scottish Government continues to engage with the UK Government on subsidy control matters through established intergovernmental mechanisms.

Question reference: S6W-42306

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the development of standards for caravans and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers, and further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will ensure that (a) there is a robust inspection regime, (b) those providing accommodation that does not meet the standards are penalised and (c) workers are not charged for or refunded any payments for substandard accommodation.

I would like to reiterate that the Scottish Government cannot accept that people need to live in substandard accommodation in Scotland.

At my meeting with you on 29 January my officials provided an outline of the work undertaken and the key aspects of this work, particularly the provisions within the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 which oblige individual local authorities to make byelaws with respect to accommodation for agricultural and seasonal workers. We expect local authorities to exercise these provisions, suited to their area and in response to activity in their area.

In the meantime, we will continue to develop a longer term piece of work within which we propose to undertake a formal consultation and introduce bespoke regulations for seasonal worker accommodation.

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