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-42516

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what cumulative impact assessment it has carried out of the regulatory and fiscal changes affecting microtourism businesses over the last five years.

The Scottish Government undertakes a range of impact assessments when developing or introducing new policy, taking account of other ongoing policy development that may interact with the options being considered. Where relevant, this includes Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments, which consider businesses of all sizes and the cumulative impact of multiple policy changes and their timing.

The Scottish Government report on the 2023 non-domestic rates revaluation was published on 5 July 2023. The report set out the changes in rateable values for different property classes as a result of the 2023 revaluation. A report on the 2026 revaluation will be published once final values are available.

On Short-term lets we continue to work with stakeholders to monitor implementation of the licensing regime. In response to stakeholder feedback we commissioned VisitScotland to launch an expert group to revise short-term let guidance, bringing industry and local authorities together to provide recommend updates to short-term let licencing guidance.

In relation to the visitor levy, impact assessments were carried out to support the original Visitor Levy Bill/Act and we are revising them for the new Bill, but these were on the overall impact of a Visitor Levy. Each Local Authority must assess the impact of its proposed local Visitor Levy’s scheme while it is developing and consulting on it.

Question reference: S6W-42791

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any procurement procedure for the design and build of a new class of marine protection vessel (MPV) and marine research vessel (MRV) to replace the two existing vessels, MPV Minna and MRV Scotia, will be directly awarded to a UK-based shipbuilding firm, or limited to a UK-only competition, in light of the national security role that these vessels play and such a decision being compliant with the exemption under section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Question reference: S6W-42806

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which governance group is responsible for overseeing the delivery of body-worn video cameras for Police Scotland; when it last considered progress, and what action it has taken to address any delays.

Question reference: S6W-42808

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the scale and nature of vehicle and freight crime in Scotland, and whether intelligence from the National (a) Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and (b) Freight Crime Database is used to inform this assessment.

Question reference: S6W-42802

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has taken place in the creation of a model for regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets, as set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030.

Question reference: S6W-42813

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the NHS reimbursement rate for pharmacies purchasing prescriptions for gluten-free products.

Question reference: S6W-42796

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether issues relating to police officers being unable to retire due to pension buyback or pension scheme interaction issues were discussed by officials within the Police Workforce, Diversity and Inquiry Sponsorship team during 2025.

Question reference: S6W-42792

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what obligations are placed on bus operators to accept the National Entitlement Card for local cross-border journeys.

Question reference: S6W-42807

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), including its freight crime function, and whether any discussions have been held regarding the scope of NaVCIS's role in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-42810

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to contributing to, or facilitating Scottish industry participation in, the funding of (a) the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and (b) similar specialist vehicle and freight crime intelligence services.