The Visitor Levy is a discretionary power for local authorities to use. In doing so, a local authority will have to comply with its duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. Additionally, Local authorities have the power to charge different rates and exemptions for different geographical areas .Each local authority has a responsibility to publish assessment of the impacts of introducing a Visitor Levy, and they have a statutory requirement to consult with local communities, businesses, and the public, prior to the introduction of a Visitor Levy.

As part of the Scottish Government’s work with HMRC to develop the evidence base analysis on intra-UK migration has been published by HMRC, showing movements by tax band and age band. This is available at:

Intra-UK migration of individuals: movements in numbers and income - GOV.UK

Both the National Records of Scotland (NRS) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish official statistics on migration between Scotland and the rest of the UK. However, these aim to measure total migration (where the HMRC analysis considers only the subset of people who were taxpayers before and after moving). As these figures are not concerned with taxpayers specifically they do not contain information about incomes or tax bands.

Following a public consultation (https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/change-to-basis-of-pitch-uprating-consultation/), the Scottish Government has confirmed its intention to update the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to change the presumed basis of pitch fee uprating from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index, for both existing and future contracts.

We also propose to make a further change so that the statistical basis for uprating pitch fees can be amended by secondary rather than primary legislation in the future. Provision for the change was included in the Housing Scotland Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March 2024 and is currently at Stage 2. No new regulations are being considered.

Through the work of the Scottish Government funded Scotland Food & Drink Export plan, Scottish Development International (SDI) will be organising a learning journey to Saudi Arabia & Qatar for Scottish food & drink companies later in 2025, including those in the seafood sector, who are looking to enter or grow their business in the Middle East region.

The purpose of the mission will be to raise the ambition of the companies and their awareness of the opportunities in these emerging markets, as well as help them to identify routes to market. SDI will be arranging a programme of activity that will include attending in-market events, stakeholder/meet-the-buyer meetings and receptions that will allow companies to showcase their products.

More generally, SDI and Seafood Scotland will continue to work with key partners to monitor any potential emerging opportunities for Scottish Seafood companies in the Middle East.

The Scottish Government and UK Government have jointly funded the ‘Project Willow’ cross site study. This has been commissioned by Petroineos and supplied by Ernst and Young Parthenon.

Recommendations and key outputs will be made available via a public information document shortly after the study’s conclusion, expected in the coming weeks.

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.

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 https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The legal powers governing Health and Safety, Employment and Equality laws are reserved to the UK Government, and it is their responsibility to promote and enforce legislation in this area. However, taking action to prevent sexual harassment at work is an issue that the Scottish Government takes very seriously. We have made employers aware of their duty to protect their workers' health, safety and welfare by promoting fair work practices. For example, we notified employers and stakeholders of the Act in October’s edition of our monthly Equally Safe bulletin.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of promoting reusable nappies during Reusable Nappy Week. Content will be posted across Parent Club’s social media channels and will highlight the benefits of reusable nappies and answer common questions people have about them.

Social media posts will also direct users to the Parent Club website which has recently been reviewed with up-to-date content on ‘How to use reusable nappies’. This is available at: https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/how-use-reusable-nappies.

We are aware that two registered social landlords have approached the Scottish Government for financial support for the assessment and if needed remediation of potentially unsafe cladding.