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-03050

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what specific statutory powers it would rely upon to prevent the construction of a small modular reactor (SMR) or advanced modular reactor (AMR) with a generating capacity of less than 50MW, in light of such installations not requiring consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 from Scottish Ministers and being ordinarily determined by the local planning authority.

Question reference: S7W-02655

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to ensure that alternative regeneration models, such as partnerships with registered social landlords or housing associations/trusts/cooperatives, are fully exhausted before granting consent for the demolition of a listed building on the grounds of private commercial unviability.

Question reference: S7W-02657

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what constitutes "adequate marketing" under Historic Environment Scotland’s guidelines before a listed building can be demolished on the grounds that its retention is not economically viable; and whether it considers a failure to actively market a site for facade retention or alternative development models for several years as meeting this evidentiary threshold.

Interpretation and application of Historic Environment Scotland’s non-statutory guidance is a matter for Historic Environment Scotland. Decisions on whether sufficient evidence has been provided in support of an application, including evidence relating to marketing and economic viability, are considered on a case-by-case basis by the decision maker having regard to the circumstances of the application.

Question reference: S7W-02654

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine when the proposed demolition of a listed building transitions from a localised planning dispute to a "significant issue for planning policy" warranting a ministerial call-in under section 46(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Ministers consider the need for call-in on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the specific individual circumstances. They use their powers under section 46(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 sparingly, recognising the important role of local planning authorities in decision making. As set out in the Ministerial statement on call-in, Ministers will generally consider intervention only where there may be some important issue at stake which should be determined at the national level.

Question reference: S7W-02656

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk of "demolition by neglect" across the historic built environment, and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that developers are not financially rewarded for allowing listed buildings to deteriorate while awaiting planning consent for complete demolition.

The Scottish Government considers that Legislation currently in place provides appropriate powers to help protect the historic environment while also ensuring public safety. Responsibility for the maintenance and repair of buildings rests with owners, and planning authorities have a range of powers available to help secure the preservation of listed buildings. Proposals to demolish listed buildings are subject to statutory controls and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Question reference: S7W-02658

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the enforcement of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 7 (Historic assets and places), specifically in circumstances where a developer cites private commercial targets, such as a 20% Profit on Cost (PoC) margin, as the primary justification for the demolition of a listed building rather than structural impossibility.

Question reference: S7W-02487

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 to grant permitted development rights for shopfront alterations that strictly comply with a local authority’s formally adopted heritage design code.

Question reference: S7W-02488

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to integrate the material and architectural standards developed under the Traditional Shopfront Improvement Grant Scheme (TSIG) into the statutory guidance supporting National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

We have no plans to integrate the standards developed under the Traditional Shopfront Improvement Grant Scheme (TSIG) into national guidance supporting National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

NPF4 supports the vibrancy and vitality of our towns and town centres and encourages ‘Distinctive Places’ which includes supporting local architectural styles.

Expectations on shopfront design, colour and materials are best addressed at the local level, to reflect and reinforce local styles and the character of individual places. Planning authorities have the ability to take this forward through local guidance.

Question reference: S7W-02495

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reforming the non-domestic rates system to provide a targeted rates relief or discount for commercial tenants and property owners who successfully reinstate traditional shopfronts on listed buildings or within conservation areas.

We are undertaking a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates which will examine improvements and reforms that can be made to the system, and working closely with business to ensure the system provides the clarity, incentive and transparency which businesses need.

The Scottish Budget offers a generous relief package worth almost a billion pounds in 2026-27, which includes Business Growth Accelerator offering relief for 12 months on increases to a property’s rateable value due to property improvements. In effect, this means that any increases in non-domestic rates due to improvements to or the expansion of existing properties will not take effect until 12 months after the changes were made to the property.

Local authorities also have the ability to offer local relief schemes under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. It is entirely at the discretion of the local authority as to whether they award this relief taking into account affordability and the interests of the local community. Reliefs awarded under this Act are funded by the relevant council.

Question reference: S7W-02489

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 8 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the capacity of local planning authorities to take swift enforcement action against any unauthorised alterations to shopfronts on listed buildings and within conservation areas.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of staff employed in local authority planning services or their allocated duties. Staffing and resourcing decisions for planning services are matters for individual local authorities.

In 2025, the National Planning Improvement Champion (NPIC) published a workforce and capacity report, which is available at: www.improvementservice.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/64559/NPIF-Workforce-and-Capacity-Report.pdf. The NPIC is undertaking a survey of planning authorities in order to provide a refreshed evidence base for 2026.

Planning enforcement is a matter for the relevant planning authority. It is for the authority to decide what, if any, action to take in relation to any potential breach of planning control.

The Scottish Government recognises the financial and capacity pressures facing the planning system and continues to implement a package of measures to provide planning authorities with additional support and resources, including through increased planning fees, support from the National Planning Hub and actions to grow the planning profession in Scotland.