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-42433

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the review on the non-domestic rates valuation methodology for the licensed hospitality sector plans to deliver a fairer system of valuations, and by what date the remit of the review will be published.

The Scottish Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government 2025-26 to commission an independent review of the valuation of licensed hospitality properties, to be led by an independent chairperson and supported by persons with relevant knowledge and expertise, to report by the end of 2026 and consider any recommendations in advance of the 2029 revaluation cycle. It is not for the Scottish Government to pre-empt the review’s findings or recommendations but it will consider these in due course when the review group reports to Ministers. The Scottish Government confirmed the appointment of an independent chair for the Review and the chair is giving consideration to review group membership.

Question reference: S6W-42436

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of non-domestic rate values in the hospitality sector, including licensed hospitality arising from the 2026 revaluation process.

Question reference: S6W-42438

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering interim non-domestic rates support for the licensed hospitality sector ahead of the independent valuations methodology review recommendations implementations.

Question reference: S6W-42432

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what Barnett consequential funding will arise from the non-domestic rates decisions of the UK Government that were announced in its 2025 Budget.

The Scottish Government will receive £189 million in consequential funding in 2026-27 from decisions taken by the UK Government on Business rates in England. This includes measures on Business rates income retention, rate-setting and reliefs in England. Decisions on rates and reliefs alone account for £188 million in consequential funding. Consequentials, both negative and positive, accrue as a whole at fiscal events to Scotland and it is for the Scottish Ministers to allocate the funding available at Budget in line with prevailing economic conditions and Government priorities.

Question reference: S6W-42439

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider bespoke non-domestic rates relief and/or poundage for the licensed hospitality sector.

Question reference: S6O-05353

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Skills Development Scotland to discuss the development of new Modern Apprenticeships.

Question reference: S6W-42172

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that housing associations cooperate with telecommunications providers in agreeing wayleaves, in order to enable the timely roll-out of full-fibre broadband to tenants and residents.

Due to the reserved nature of telecoms legislation the Scottish Government is unable to intervene in negotiations between housing associations and network operators. Where it is not possible to reach an agreement, operators can seek to have an agreement imposed by the courts using the Electronic Communications Code.

The Scottish Government is supportive of reducing barriers to telecoms deployment and engage regularly with network operators to understand these issues and reflect them in our engagement with the UK Government.

Question reference: S6F-04505

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on whether the Scottish Government will instigate a direct award to Ferguson Marine for the replacement of MV Lord of the Isles.

Question reference: S6W-42025

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to update the Building Standards technical handbooks to phase-out the installation of low-level letterbox doors in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognise that the matter of low-level letterboxes has been a long-standing issue for members of the Communication Workers Union. As noted in earlier answers, Officials have been in the process of assessing options for amendment to building standards guidance, with the intent of providing more explicit guidance on the positioning of letterboxes where these are provided in new dwellings.

Further to this process, I can confirm our intent to include such amendments within our next edition of the Technical Handbooks, expected to come into force from April 2026. This amendment to guidance will help address the concerns of postal workers while also providing more general benefits in relation to the accessibility of new homes.

Question reference: S6O-05235

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress that is being made to replace Greenock Police Station and increase police officer numbers in Inverclyde.