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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: S5W-27584

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates firms will save from the decision to increase the business rate poundage by less than CPI inflation in 2020-21, broken down by industry sector.

The basic rate poundage that has been set for 2020-21 is 49.8p, 1.6% higher than it was in 2019-20 (49.0p) (inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index in September 2019 was 1.7%). This, combined with a below-inflation increase in the poundage in 2019-20, will save ratepayers an estimated £5.8 million in 2020-21 relative to a baseline where the poundage is assumed to have increased by CPI in both these years. The following table sets out the savings by property class.

CLASS	Cost savings (£thousands)
Advertising	10
Care Facilities	15
Communications	24
Cultural	9
Education and Training	391
Garages and Petrol Stations	59
Health and Medical	184
Hotels	241
Industrial Subjects	1,062
Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.	120
Offices	809
Other	116
Petrochemical	118
Public Houses	104
Public Service Subjects	257
Quarries, Mines, etc.	16
Religious	5
Shops	1,290
Sporting Subjects	19
Statutory Undertaking	909
All	5,758

Sources: Scottish Assessors' Valuation Roll; Local Authority Billing Information; Non-Domestic Rates income forecasts.

Question reference: S5W-27002

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

Scottish Government fully support the aims of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (CCPW), and congratulate Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust on their ongoing work to highlight the important role cervical screening plays in the prevention of cervical cancer. We know that regular smear tests, along with the HPV vaccination programme, are vital in the fight against cervical cancer and would urge everyone who is eligible, to take up their cervical screening invitation.

This year, CCPW raises awareness of HPV and tackles the myths and stigma around this common virus. We are supporting CCPW and encouraging people to take part in #SmearForSmear by promoting the initiative on our 'wee c' Facebook page. In addition, the award winning Flower campaign will run from 13 January until 16 February 2020 across social media encouraging participation in the screening programme.

Question reference: S5W-26936

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the abolition of the uniform business rate might have on support in future ballots for Business Improvement Districts, which may be funded by a levy related to business rates.

Section 8C of the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, which devolves the power to set rates to local authorities, is technically flawed and would introduce complexity, risks and potential unpredictability into the rates system.

Business Improvement Districts are funded by a levy on businesses in addition to their non-domestic rates bill and they can only exist if they get support from a clear majority of local businesses in a ballot. A number of high profile retailer representatives have highlighted circumstances in which the devolution of rates to local authorities may undermine support at future ballots.

Question reference: S5W-26937

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 21 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding the abolition of the uniform business rate and the handing of control over business rates to local authorities.

The Scottish Government has received numerous representations including a joint letter on 15 January 2020 from an unprecedented 27 national business organisations representing thousands of members from a wide cross section of Scottish industry including manufacturing, retail, property, tourism, hospitality and leisure outlining their alarm and shared concerns over the abolition of the uniform business rate and national reliefs.

The Scottish Government will not support any amendments that continue to threaten the uniform business rate, jeopardise the Scottish Government's ability to set reliefs in subordinate legislation or undermine local government funding mechanisms.

Question reference: S5W-26935

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 21 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the abolition of the uniform business rate would allow local authorities to introduce rate supplements and additional levies.

The Scottish Government does not support the principle of abolishing the uniform business rate and has written to business representative organisations echoing concerns that had been raised to all Members of the Scottish Parliament in a joint letter on 15 January 2020.

Non-domestic rates play an integrated role in the current wider local government finance arrangements by providing a guarantee and protection to local government funding whilst also ensuring certainty for ratepayers across Scotland.

The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill as amended at Stage 2 contains a number of technical flaws that means it is not immediately clear what impact it would have on the future rates system in terms of integrated features such as supplements, levies, reliefs or Business Improvement Districts.

Question reference: S5W-26670

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 20 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how abolishing the uniform business rate and handing the control of business rates to local authorities could impact on its proposed rates relief for shops and others hosting deposit and return reverse vending machines.

On 29 October 2019, the First Minister confirmed that a new 100% non-domestic rates relief for Reverse Vending Machines will take effect from 1 April 2020 in preparation for the Deposit Return Scheme going live.

The amendment to the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill intended to return non-domestic rate-setting to local authorities also removes the Scottish Government’s ability to set national reliefs through secondary legislation. On commencement the Scottish Government would no longer be able to provide the proposed relief for retailers hosting deposit and return reverse vending machines. In addition, the amendment would immediately abolish important reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme and Nursery relief.

Question reference: S5W-26761

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the return of Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector.

We made clear in 2013 that the Scottish Government intended to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector when the time was right. We were pleased that the opportunity to buy the business, set out in the Official Journal of the European Union, attracted considerable interest. Following careful consideration of the bids received, I have accepted a recommendation made by TS Prestwick HoldCo to appoint a Preferred Bidder. To protect the integrity of the process I am not able to disclose the identity of the bidder at this time but we remain satisfied that good progress is being made in the interests of the business. I will update Parliament further in due course.

Question reference: S5O-03921

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will provide to North Ayrshire Council to support the construction of a new Ardrossan Academy.

Question reference: S5W-26444

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are in receipt of free personal and nursing care (a) in North Ayrshire and (b) nationally.

Question reference: S5O-03829

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people in North Ayrshire it expects to receive support from the new Scottish Child Payment.