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-04450

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 4 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to make greater use of their existing powers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to vary non-domestic rates.

Part 11 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 amends Section 3A of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962 to allow local authorities to create local non-domestic rates relief schemes to reflect local need. It is entirely at the discretion of individual local authorities as to whether they use these powers to offer such relief taking into account affordability and the interests of the local community, and it would be contrary to the intention of the legislation for Ministers to encourage them to do so.

Local authorities can for example use the powers to offer a local relief in full or in part for empty properties following the devolution of Empty Property Relief on 1 April 2023 utilising the £105 million per year funding transfer that accompanied the devolution. These powers are also used to deliver Green Freeports non-domestic rates relief to properties within Green Freeport tax sites, where the property meets the eligibility criteria set out in the non-statutory guidance published in May 2024; and non-domestic rates relief in specified tax sites within Investment Zones in line with the eligibility criteria set out in the non-statutory guidance published in July 2026.

The Scottish Government provides annual guidance for local authorities on all non-domestic rates reliefs with information for each non-domestic rates relief, including local discretionary relief. This guidance is published on the Scottish Government website at: Local government finance circular 7/2026: non-domestic rates relief guidance.

Question reference: S7W-04186

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on host communities of delaying the ringfencing of business rates revenue from onshore wind developments, in light of the declining number of future projects that could benefit from such a policy.

Non-Domestic Rates income (NDRI) is retained in full by Local Authorities in Scotland. Distribution of NDRI and the General Revenue Grant for local authorities is carried forward under a needs-based formula, including population and deprivation indicators, which is kept under review.

There is no current assessment of removing any aspect of NDRI from the distribution arrangements agreed with local government. As engagement continues on local governance reform, one aspect that will be open to consideration is future tax and funding models.

Question reference: S7O-00416

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Scottish Urban-Rural Classification, including its application in the delivery of public services.

Question reference: S7W-04452

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have used their powers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to vary business rates, broken down by financial year, and how many are seeking to do so.

Question reference: S7W-04451

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue raised by the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme was retained by each local authority in each year since the inception of the scheme, and how much is expected to be raised in 2026-27.

Question reference: S7W-04014

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of investment in community-led housing as a preventative measure to reduce future demand on health and social care services.

The Scottish Government recognises the preventative value of good quality affordable housing, including community-led housing, in supporting health, wellbeing and independent living.

While we have not specifically quantified the impact of investment in community-led housing on future demand for health and social care services, we recognise that it can help meet locally identified housing needs and enable people to remain within their communities. Individual schemes can also deliver wider benefits. At Staffin on Skye, for example, a community-led development delivered six affordable homes alongside business space and a new community-owned health centre, improving local access to healthcare services.

Question reference: S7W-04015

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the withdrawal of the Communities Housing Trust on the delivery of community-led housing projects currently being developed in Scotland, particularly in rural and island areas.

The decision by Communities Housing Trust to begin a managed withdrawal from its activities is a matter for the organisation and its trustees. The Scottish Government recognises the significant contribution Communities Housing Trust has made to rural and island housing over many years, helping communities deliver affordable homes and supporting the sustainability of local communities.

The Scottish Government is actively engaging with Communities Housing Trust to understand the implications of its decision and consider potential support.

The Scottish Government remains committed to community-led housing as part of its wider approach to meeting housing need, including through the Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan.

Question reference: S7W-04016

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to maintaining the support for community-led housing currently provided by the Communities Housing Trust.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that specialist advice, capacity and expertise can play in enabling communities to develop and deliver their own housing projects, particularly in rural and island areas.

We are actively engaging with Communities Housing Trust to understand the implications of its decision and consider potential support, including how communities can continue to access the support needed to progress community-led housing projects.

Question reference: S7W-04017

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the withdrawal of the Communities Housing Trust on the provision of preventative health and care support through community-led housing.

Question reference: S7W-03715

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential role of Community Health and Care Hubs, as proposed in the Programme for Government, in improving community-based management of long-term conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and what investment will be made in community-based allied health professionals, including specialist nurses, dietitians, and psychologists, to support this work.

The Community Health and Care Hubs programme is intended to provide modern facilities capable of supporting integrated multidisciplinary care delivered closer to home. Detailed decisions regarding clinical pathways, workforce models and the management of specific conditions, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, will be determined through wider service and workforce planning processes rather than through the infrastructure programme itself.

We will publish our Long Term Conditions Strategy for Adults in March 2027, which will include digestive conditions within its scope.