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-11260

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the reported proposal from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) to delay the introduction of short-term lets licensing in light of the current cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6W-11456

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 October 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the fee for obtaining a registration for a short-term lets licence will cost more depending on the number of occupants that could be accommodated, and, if it is the case, what is the reason for this.

Licence fees are set by licensing authorities to cover their costs in establishing and administering licence schemes in their areas. The Scottish Government has set out in guidance for licensing authorities the parameters that they may want to consider when setting licence fees to ensure fees are affordable for smaller accommodation units.

Larger accommodation units have the potential to generate significantly greater income than smaller units. Secondary letting will also typically yield greater income than home sharing (or home letting for limited periods).

Question reference: S6W-11455

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 October 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason planning permission is required for obtaining a short-term lets licence for flats, but not houses.

In a control area, change of use of a dwellinghouse, which is not a host's only or principal home, to provide short-term lets will always require planning permission. This applies to both houses and flats. In a control area, it is a mandatory condition of licence that planning permission has been obtained or an application is in progress.

Outwith a control area, planning permission may be required where local planning authorities determine a proposed change of use is material, on a case-by-case basis.

In all cases, each planning application will be determined on its individual planning merits in line with local development plan and policies unless there are material planning considerations that would justify a departure from the development plan.

Question reference: S6O-01472

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether independent fiscal forecasts should be published alongside significant fiscal policy events.

Question reference: S6O-01470

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the progress that has been made on a Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6O-01474

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications will be for its budget of recent changes in the UK Government's fiscal policy.

Question reference: S6O-01468

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it anticipates meeting its target to have over 50% of buses running on hydrogen or electric by the end of 2023.

Question reference: S6O-01471

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what resources are available to protect important equipment within the health sector in the event of incidents such as fire or floods.

Question reference: S6O-01473

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given in its planning policy to the role of mixed energy generation methods.

Question reference: S6O-01475

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the People's Plan for Action published earlier in October by the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Poverty Alliance, Living Rent and a number of other groups.