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: S6W-42765

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the stability of the local government funding system, as required under the Settlement and Distribution Group’s remit, when proposing changes that may result in significant year-on-year losses for individual local authorities.

Question reference: S6W-42761

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether directors of finance or officials raised any concerns about the quality or suitability of the new data used in the revised social care funding formula, and, if so, how those concerns were addressed before the proposal was put to COSLA leaders for approval.

Question reference: S6W-42762

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the new data underpinning the revised social care funding formula accurately reflects demographic pressures and service delivery costs in rural local authorities, and how this was tested before the formula was agreed.

Question reference: S6W-42763

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any financial impact of the revised social care funding formula, including the estimated gross gain or loss prior to the application of any floor mechanism, for each local authority.

Question reference: S6W-42766

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when officials first became aware that census data from 2001 and 2011 continued to be used in the social care funding formula after more recent census data was available, and what action was taken at that point.

Question reference: S6W-42764

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the approval of the revised social care funding approach, whether it will provide information on how COSLA leaders were able to make an informed decision in the absence of clear, council-by-council impact assessments, and what information was provided to support their decision.

Question reference: S6W-42771

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial impact of the revised social care funding formula on Scottish Borders Council, including the estimated gross loss prior to the application of any floor mechanism.

Question reference: S6O-05382

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with SWestrans to discuss bus provision in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6W-42489

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the reported average 120% increase in draft rateable values for self-catering businesses, and what assessment it has made of any potential implications for the financial sustainability of the sector and any impact on the rural economy.

Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values once final valuations are available.

In the meantime, Ministers have received representations from the self-catering accommodation sector regarding implications of changes in draft rateable values and I met with the Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers on 17 December 2025.

Decisions on non-domestic rates policy for 2026-27 including reliefs are considered in the context of the Budget in line with other government priorities and will be set out in the budget on 13 January 2026.

Question reference: S6W-42490

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the 2026 revaluation of eligibility for the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Ministers regularly discuss matters of importance including budget priorities and the views of stakeholders in the run-up to the Scottish Budget. Decisions on non-domestic rates policy for 2026-27 will be set out in the budget on 13 January 2026.

The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values once final valuations are available.