Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37351 on 14 May 2025. 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.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to increase the level of fines for engine idling under regulation 8(b) or the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2003. Evidence suggests that the vast majority of requests to switch off engines are complied with without the requirement to issue a fixed penalty notice.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts estimate that £3 billion will be raised in non-domestic rates revenue in 2025-26, and £731 million of reliefs will be provided.

Those reliefs, including the UK’s most generous Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, deliver direct support to small independent retailers, with almost 62% of all shops on the valuation roll benefiting from one or more reliefs.

As at 1 June 2024, almost 34,000 shops in Scotland benefited from non-domestic rates relief, with an estimated value of over £113 million. The Non-domestic rates relief statistics 2024 provide a further breakdown of relief awards by property type and local authority area.

The next revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2026, which will ensure rateable values reflect current market conditions. Decisions on non-domestic rates and reliefs are generally considered in the context of the Scottish Budget.

Decisions on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has published impact assessments and is updating its analysis ahead of a final decision this summer. We are awaiting sight of this updated modelling.

Decisions on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has published impact assessments and is updating its analysis ahead of a final decision this summer. We are awaiting sight of this updated modelling.

Decisions on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has published impact assessments and is updating its analysis ahead of a final decision this summer. We are awaiting sight of this updated modelling.

The National Strategy for Economic Transformation (2022-2032) outlines the Scottish Government’s vision for fair green growth underpinned by six economic objectives.

The strategy is supported by a measurement framework. Reports on progress are available in the 2023 and 2024 National Strategy for Economic Transformation’s Annual Reports.

Further to this, the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government (2017-18) set a target to double Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) expenditure in Scotland. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W- 18678 on 6 June 2023. Following work between the Scottish Government and Office for National Statistics data quality concerns remain regarding BERD. 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.

The Disabled People’s Employment Plan (2018) set a target to at least halve the Disability Employment Gap in Scotland by 2038 based on 2016 baseline. Progress is reported via the Fair Work Action Plan Annual Report, as an annex within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation Annual Report.

A Trading Nation (2019) set out an ambitious target to increase international exports from 20 % to 25 % of GDP over the next 10 years. Progress is available within the Trading Nation Review (2022).

The Fair Work Action Plan (2022) set a target to reduce the gender pay gap in Scotland by the end of this parliamentary term (May 2026) and maintain or where possible improve our position relative to the UK as a whole and our international neighbours. Progress is reported via the Fair Work Action Plan Annual Report, as an annex within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation Annual Report.

However, is important to note that currently, the Scottish Government does not have full levers over employment, taxation, social security, or migration – all of which are vital to our economic prosperity. The Scottish Government believes that independence would deliver the best deal for Scotland – providing control over all public spending decisions, as well as the suite of fiscal powers necessary to unlock Scotland’s full economic potential.

We have had extensive engagement with stakeholders – including consumer organisations such as Consumer Scotland – to ensure we understand all perspectives in this debate and represent this in our engagement with the UK Government.

Decisions on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has published impact assessments and is updating its analysis ahead of a final decision this summer. We are awaiting sight of this updated modelling.

The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 provide local authorities with powers to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers of parked idling vehicles who refuse a reasonable request to switch off their engines. It is for individual local authorities to decide how to make use of their powers and promote awareness. The Scottish Government provides guidance and funding support to assist local authorities in this process.