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-35724

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the implementation of visitor levy forms, with reference to businesses that operate across several local authorities.

VisitScotland is responsible for producing, and maintaining, guidance on the operation of the Visitor Levy. Following the outcome of the meetings with stakeholders, as referred to in the response to the question in S6W-35723 on
25 March 2025, we will work with VisitScotland as they consider any changes to guidance. This may include further information in relation to those operating their business within a local area with a Visitor Levy scheme.

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

Question reference: S6W-35723

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to standardise visitor levy forms across local authorities.

Question reference: S6W-35357

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26881 by Jim Fairlie on 5 June 2024, what engagement took place with (a) communities and (b) land managers to test the appetite for nature finance and to design the potential investment; what the results of this engagement were; whether a report on the engagement will be published, and, regarding the Wild Heart Expansion Project, when it will be announced; how many private finance partners will be involved; what the value is of that private investment, and what the total amount is of public funding.

Question reference: S6W-35604

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what specific support is being provided to apprentices and training providers in rural areas, where access to placements may be more challenging.

We are committed to promoting apprenticeship opportunities in island and rural communities to encourage inclusive growth.

As part of this effort we provide a rural uplift for Modern Apprenticeship delivery, offering increased payments to training providers to support the expansion of apprenticeship programmes in these areas.

In addition, funding for travel and subsistence (including accommodation) is available for apprentices who are required to attend structured, formal off-the-job training beyond normal travel limits.

Question reference: S6W-35603

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the recently announced apprenticeship funding compares with previous years in real terms, taking into account inflation and cost increases.

The recently announced £102 million apprenticeship funding for 2025-26 represents a projection of the funding Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will spend to support 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship (MA) starts and 2,500 Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) starts, as well as MAs and FAs already in training.

The following tables include this projected spend for 2025-26, as well as projected outturn for 2024-25, and the actual value that SDS has spent in prior years on MA and FA provision, both in cash and real terms.

Table 1: Cash Terms
Financial Year	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
SDS spend on MA and FA delivery (£m)	96	95	90	85	92	99*	102*
Annual change	-	-1%	-5%	-6%	8%	8%	3%
Source: Figures provided to the Scottish Government by Skills Development Scotland and HMT Deflators (as of December 2024), rounded to the nearest £, million
*Projected spend

Table 2: Real Terms (2025-26 prices)
Financial Year	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
SDS spend on MA and FA delivery (£m)	120	112	107	95	96	101*	102*
Annual change in real terms	-	-6%	-5%	-12%	2%	5%	1%
Source: Figures provided to the Scottish Government by Skills Development Scotland and HMT Deflators (as of December 2024), rounded to the nearest £, million
*Projected spend

Contribution rates have remained largely the same over this period of time and this should be taken into account when considering assumptions for real terms costs.

The Scottish Funding Council also support both Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships, and will provide 2,500 Foundation Apprenticeship opportunities this year.

Question reference: S6W-35625

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the revised national outcome on care will be published.

The next iteration of the National Performance Framework (NPF) and National Outcomes will be published following conclusion of the work I announced in the Chamber, on 8 January 2025. The NPF is being substantially overhauled because we want it to work better for people in Scotland, including carers. We are currently at the planning stage for this work and will update Parliament on progress at the appropriate points.

Question reference: S6W-35602

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it determines which sectors are prioritised for apprenticeship funding, and what assessment criteria are used.

Question reference: S6T-02447

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the reported £203 million it spent on external advisers to help administer agricultural support payments to be good value for money.

Question reference: S6T-02446

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider an independent external evaluation of the pilot scheme that provides victims in rape and serious assault cases with access to transcripts, in light of reports of some waiting a year for transcripts of their court cases.

Question reference: S6T-02448

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what practical steps it is taking to review the funding model for Scottish universities, in light of recent reports that the number of international students enrolled at Scottish universities fell by more than 10% between 2023 and 2024.