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-43360

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2026-27 of bringing the higher property rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector.

Question reference: S6W-43359

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided not to extend retail, hospitality and leisure rates relief to premises that are liable for the higher property rate.

Question reference: S6W-43356

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fulfil the commitments in the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto and subsequent Framework For Tax, and the recommendation of the Barclay review of non-domestic tax rates, to restore the level playing field with England for retail, hospitality, and leisure premises that are liable for the higher property rate.

Question reference: S6W-43358

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to raise from the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, and business sectors, from the higher property rate in 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-43357

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not brought the higher property rate into line with that in England, as recommended by the Barclay review of non-domestic tax rates.

Question reference: S6W-43149

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether national guidance is required regarding the position of councillors who are subject to criminal proceedings holding ceremonial or civic positions.

The Scottish Government recognises that councillors are elected representatives and that local authorities are independent, statutory bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, separate from the Scottish Government.

In line with the Verity House Agreement, the Scottish Government has committed to respecting local government’s democratic mandate and autonomy. Decisions about whether a councillor should hold or continue to hold ceremonial or civic roles, including in circumstances where they are subject to criminal proceedings, are therefore matters for individual councils to determine.

As stated in answer to S6W-43148 on 29 January 2026 the Scottish Government is considering consulting on amending legislation to mean councillors that are subject to criminal proceedings should be suspended from office or subject to temporary restrictions during the period in which any charges are being investigated or prosecuted. 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.

Question reference: S6W-43148

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the adequacy of existing legislation regarding serving councillors who face serious criminal charges and whether they should be suspended from office or subject to temporary restrictions during the period in which any charges are being investigated or prosecuted.

The Scottish Government is considering proposals for amendments to the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 proposed by a joint review by the Ethical Standards Commissioner and Standards Commission. As the same Act would need to be amended via primary legislation to expand statutory suspension provisions for councillors, it may be possible for this to be considered as part of any future amendments to the 2000 Act.

Given the significant implications of introducing any new statutory suspension provisions for councillors, particularly in respect of instances where an individual has been charged, but not convicted of a criminal offence, it would be essential for the Scottish Government to properly consult on this proposal. Careful consideration of the parameters of any provision would also be needed to ensure they did not interfere with the general principle of justice that people are presumed innocent until found guilty.

As amendments could not be made to the 2000 Act until the next Parliament, new Ministers will consider the potential amendments, and whether to hold a public consultation on these.

Question reference: S6W-43150

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of the current Ethical Standards Framework, in relation to local councillors, to ensure that it protects public confidence in local democracy.

The Ethical Standards Framework sets out the high standards of conduct expected of councillors while acting in that capacity, helping to underpin public confidence in local democratic decision making.

The Standards Commission for Scotland is the independent body responsible for encouraging high ethical standards in public life through the promotion and enforcement of the Codes of Conduct introduced as part of the Framework. The Commission has previously indicated that it considers the current Ethical Standards Framework to be an effective means of promoting ethical behaviour and maintaining public confidence in local democracy.

The Scottish Government keeps the operation of the Framework under review. Any changes to the Ethical Standards Framework would be considered at the request of the Standards Commission, the Ethical Standards Commissioner or local government and would be subject to appropriate consultation.

Question reference: S6O-05481

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made in dealing with the issue of short-formed trains on services between Fife and Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6W-43355

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s analysis of its draft Budget 2026-27, as set out in its Post-Budget submission to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, that the new retail, hospitality and leisure sectors' rates relief “is less generous at every level than England’s RHL relief”, that the difference in the poundage rates is set to move from being a “gap … to become a chasm”, and overall that the relief “doesn’t match the more competitive rates regime for retailers in England being introduced from April 2026”.