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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-13631

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports young people who are school non-attenders or not in mainstream education to have resources similar to the national Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) resources.

Local authorities are responsible for the education of all pupils who are registered within their school rolls.

It is for teachers, schools and local authorities to determine how best to deliver learning and teaching on any topic and subject, in line with Curriculum for Excellence. We expect teachers to use their professional judgement, experience and understanding of their pupils to respond sensitively to complex and challenging issues.

The national relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) resources are part of a wider package of resources available to all schools and teachers to support delivery of RSHP education. A summary of wider resources in use across Scotland is available on Education Scotland's National Improvement Hub at https://education.gov.scot/improvement/learning-resources/a-summary-of-rshp-resources/ .

Question reference: S6W-13586

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many transactions the Additional Dwelling Supplement has been applied to in (a) the 2022-23 financial year to date and (b) each of the previous four full financial years, also broken down by local authority area.

Revenue Scotland publishes monthly and annual data on transactions subject to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS). This data is available at: Statistics | Revenue Scotland .

The monthly data published by Revenue Scotland includes the number of transactions subject to the Additional Dwelling Supplement per month. Data up to and including November 2022 is currently available at: Monthly LBTT Statistics | Revenue Scotland . In total, 17,970 transactions were recorded for the period of April 2022 to November 2022.

Local authority level data is published on an annual basis, as part of Revenue Scotland’s Annual Summary of Trends in the Devolved Taxes. The report for 2020-21, which provides data for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2021, is available at: Annual Summary of Trends in the Devolved Taxes 2020-2021 | Revenue Scotland . The report for 2021-2022 is due to be published in early 2023.

Question reference: S6W-13646

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 06 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess the potential of piloting a VAT offset or rebate scheme in Scotland that is focused initially on properties listed on the Buildings at Risk Register maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, in order to test its efficacy as an incentive to promote retrofit, renovation and reuse of Scotland's most at-risk built heritage.

Setting VAT rates is reserved to the UK Government, and remains a decision for HM Treasury. This issue affects heritage properties across all four nations of the UK and provides an opportunity for the UK Government to respond proactively to the global climate emergency. I wrote to Nigel Huddlestone MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society, in February last year making the case for a VAT reduction to encourage and promote energy efficiency improvements in traditional buildings, unfortunately the UK Government has not indicated any willingness to consider the issue at this time.

The Scottish Government has already recognised in its housing strategy, Housing to 2040 , that reductions in VAT on household repairs would encourage home renovation in Scotland, and better equip homes for the challenges posed by climate change and the transition to net zero.

The Historic Environment Scotland publication, Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings addresses the common assumption that it is harder to improve the energy efficiency of older buildings, and enables the owners of traditional and historic properties in Scotland to make informed choices about the options available.

The Scottish Government will continue to call on the UK Government to introduce VAT reductions for traditional buildings and to work with stakeholders, including Historic Environment Scotland, to develop further solutions to transition Scotland’s historic buildings to net zero emissions while respecting and preserving their special characteristics.

Question reference: S6W-13835

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 13 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on Green Freeports.

Having welcomed five very competitive bids in June, and following a rigorous assessment process, the Scottish Government can today confirm that the two Green Freeport locations selected jointly by Scottish and UK Ministers are Inverness and Cromarty Firth and the Firth of Forth.

Scotland’s Green Freeports will support businesses to create high-quality, well-paid new jobs; promote growth and regeneration; and make a significant contribution to achieving our net zero ambitions.

The Scottish Government looks forward to working closely with the successful consortia, supporting them through the next phase of the process as they develop their business cases, in order to ensure that they deliver maximum positive impact.

We will also work with the unsuccessful bidders to consider how they can build on the plans set out in their bids to deliver jobs and growth in their regions outside the Green Freeports programme.

Question reference: S6W-13806

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-13805

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-13319

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial visits have been made in Scotland since 2010, broken down by parliamentary region.

Information on Ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ .

Information on Ministerial engagements prior to May 2016 can be found at: Ministerial Engagements (webarchive.org.uk)

Visits are not recorded by parliamentary region. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Question reference: S6W-13436

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will lay regulations to amend Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 to give effect to the motion S6M-05106 that was agreed, as amended, by the Parliament on 22 June 2022, in advance of the date prescribed in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 of when local authorities are required to set council tax rates for 2023-24.

Work is underway to consider options for changes to Council Tax, reflecting the current circumstances created by the cost crisis. Central to this, the Programme for Government 2022-23 committed to establishing a working group to oversee deliberative engagement on local government funding, including Council Tax.

The Joint Working Group has commenced its work and within its remit has begun to consider the provision of powers to allow local authorities to increase the rate of Council Tax on second and empty homes to support best use of existing housing stock. We will take account of the Group’s conclusions in developing proposals for public engagement and consultation on the matter.

Question reference: S6W-13435

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which suppliers (a) registered for and (b) attended the Single Building Assessment(s) for Fire Safety in Scotland remote suppliers event, which was held on 14 December 2022.

Question reference: S6W-13256

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what compensation is available to businesses that face significant disruption as a result of road closures on the trunk road network.