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-25588

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2024-25 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector.

Table 1 presents the estimated cost of setting the Higher Property Rate at 54.6p (the rate at which in England, the Standard multiplier applying to properties with a rateable value equal to or over £51,000, will be set in 2024-2025), compared to 55.9p, after General Revaluation Transitional Relief is applied, in 2024-2025. The figures are not adjusted for any other relief. This is broken down by property class, as the Scottish Government does not hold property-level data on industry sectors. Property class is a classification used by Scottish Assessors to describe the type of property, and does not necessarily accurately reflect the use of a property.

This table is based on the valuation roll as at 30 March 2023, 1 April 2023, and 1 January 2024.

Figures in this table are rounded to the nearest £1,000, and may not sum due to rounding.

Table 1: Estimated cost of reducing the Higher Property Rate to 54.6p (£), adjusted for General Revaluation Transitional Relief, 2024-2025

Property class	Estimated additional gross revenue (£)
Shops	9,722,000
Public houses and restaurants	408,000
Offices	7,195,000
Hotels	2,581,000
Industrial subjects	9,898,000
Leisure and entertainment	2,199,000
Garages and petrol stations	403,000
Cultural	447,000
Sporting subjects	181,000
Education and training	6,935,000
Public service subjects	3,011,000
Communications	331,000
Quarries, mines, etc.	121,000
Petrochemical	1,718,000
Religious	76,000
Health and medical	2,348,000
Other	1,219,000
Care facilities	764,000
Advertising	55,000
Statutory undertaking	13,141,000
All	62,750,000

Question reference: S6O-03144

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the potential impact of the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement on large retailers, as set out in its 2024-25 Scottish Budget.

Question reference: S6O-03080

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an analysis of the potential impact that its 2024-25 Budget will have on primary care services.

Question reference: S6W-24346

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 30 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to amending the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 to allow mountain hares to be hunted for the purposes of falconry.

Question reference: S6T-01765

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what role the National Clinical Director has had in relation to the clinical review process for former patients of Professor Eljamel.

Question reference: S6W-24614

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used to determine which businesses will be subject to the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-24615

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of retail businesses will be subject to the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-24613

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, what its position is on whether the introduction of such a levy is consistent with the intention stated in the New Deal for Business Implementation Plan to "change the dial on business/Government relations".

Question reference: S6W-24616

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement took place between ministers and businesses, particularly the retail sector and related industry bodies, about the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-24617

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the anticipated revenues that would be generated from the introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, once behavioural changes are taken into account.