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-05759

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of elective surgeries were cancelled in each month since March 2020, broken down by NHS board.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes monthly statistics relating to the number of cancelled planned operations at health board level, a summary of which is available the following link:

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-operations/

The latest statistics published cover the period up to 30 November 2021 and the percentage of planned operations that were cancelled each month from March 2020 onwards can be found within the tab ‘Publication table (%)’ in the table below

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/11000/2022-01-11-cancellations.xlsx

These statistics are sourced from local theatre systems and only includes cancellations that were cancelled the day before, or on the day the patient was due to be treated. PHS does not collect information on cancellations that occur prior to this.

Question reference: S6W-05225

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Ministers were first made aware that there had been a potential breach of state aid rules in relation to its contract with Tata Steel UK Ltd.

Question reference: S6O-00719

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the outdoor education sector since December 2021.

Question reference: S6W-05181

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue from non-domestic rates it expects would be generated in 2022-23 from the increase in the poundage rate proposed in its Budget, broken down by industry sector.

The Scottish Budget continues to deliver the lowest poundage in the UK for the fourth year in a row, with a below inflation increase to 49.8p proposed in 2022-23. Compared to maintaining the poundage at the current rate of 49p, we estimate that this a will raise an additional £45 million.

Table 1 shows the estimated loss in gross non-domestic rates income (£57.9m) from freezing the poundage at 49p compared to raising it to 49.8p.

Table 1 presents a breakdown 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 may not necessarily accurately reflect the use of a property.

Due to the application of a £27,500 cap per ratepayer on retail, hospitality and leisure relief in 2022-23, it is not possible to robustly estimate the breakdown of these net figures by property class at this time.

Table 1: Estimated loss to NDR income of freezing the poundage at 49p compared to 49.8p by property class

Property class	Estimated loss in gross NDR income
Shops	12,473,000
Public Houses	960,000
Offices	8,145,000
Hotels	2,189,000
Industrial Subjects	10,080,000
Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.	2,344,000
Garages and Petrol Stations	582,000
Cultural	441,000
Sporting Subjects	261,000
Education and Training	4,482,000
Public Service Subjects	2,730,000
Communications	202,000
Quarries, Mines, etc.	121,000
Petrochemical	901,000
Religious	451,000
Health and Medical	1,857,000
Other	1,209,000
Care Facilities	989,000
Advertising	85,000
Statutory Undertaking	7,429,000
All	57,931,000
	Estimated loss in net NDR income
All (property class breakdown unavailable)	45,437,000

Source: Scottish Assessors’ Valuation Roll as at 1 October 2021.
‎ Figures may not sum due to rounding. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Question reference: S6W-05177

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) business and (b) higher rate poundage (i) has been in each year since 1999-2000 and (ii) would be in 2022-23 under the proposals in its Budget.

The following table shows the poundage, property rate supplements, and property rate thresholds (rateable value) for each year from 1999-2000 to 2022-2023:

Table 1: Poundage and Property Rate Supplements

Year	Poundage (pence)	Large Business Supplement (pence)	Large Business Supplement Threshold (rateable value)
1999-2000	48.0*	0.9*	> £10,000
2000-01	44.8*	1.0*	> £10,000
2001-02	45.0*	2.0*	> £10,000
2002-03	45.8*	2.0*	> £10,000
2003-04	47.8	0.6	> £25,000
2004-05	48.8	0.3	> £25,000
2005-06	46.1	0.45	> £29,000
2006-07	44.9	0.4	> £29,000
2007-08	44.1	0.3	> £29,000
2008-09	45.8	0.4	> £29,000
2009-10	48.1	0.4	> £29,000
2010-11	40.7	0.7	> £35,000
2011-12	42.6	0.7	> £35,000
2012-13	45.0	0.8	> £35,000
2013-14	46.2	0.9	> £35,000
2014-15	47.1	1.1	> £35,000
2015-16	48.0	1.3	> £35,000
2016-17	48.4	2.6	> £35,000
2017-18	46.6	2.6	> £51,000
2018-19	48.0	2.6	> £51,000
2019-20	49.0	2.6	> £51,000
2020-21	49.8**	Intermediate Property Rate : 51.1p (Poundage + 1.3p) Higher Property Rate : 52.4p (Poundage + 2.6p)	Intermediate Property Rate Threshold : Between £51,001 and £95,000 Higher Property Rate Threshold : > £95,000
2021-22	49.0	Intermediate Property Rate : 50.3p (Poundage + 1.3p) Higher Property Rate : 51.6p (Poundage + 2.6p)	Intermediate Property Rate Threshold : Between £51,001 and £95,000 Higher Property Rate Threshold : > £95,000
2022-23	49.8	Intermediate Property Rate : 51.1p (Poundage + 1.3p) Higher Property Rate : 52.4p (Poundage + 2.6p)	Intermediate Property Rate Threshold : Between £51,001 and £95,000 Higher Property Rate Threshold : > £95,000

* The Large Business Supplement was introduced in 2003-04. In the years prior to 2003-04 there were two poundages, one which applied to premises with rateable values that are less than £10,000, and another for those with an RV of £10,000 or more.

** In 2020-21 the Scottish Government introduced a universal 1.6% relief, effectively freezing the poundage at 2019-20 levels.

Question reference: S6W-05178

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the reference on page 12 of the Scottish Budget 2022-23, when the details of the proposed workplace parking levy scheme will be published.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to set up workplace parking licensing (WPL) schemes. The discretionary power to set up workplace parking licensing (WPL) schemes is intended as a tool for local authorities to use among a suite of measures when developing their local transport strategies. Depending on local circumstances, WPL schemes have the potential to encourage the use of more sustainable travel modes, reducing congestion, improving air quality and reducing emissions.

As set out in our Climate Change Plan Update, we have continued to progress policy development to inform the regulations and guidance which will underpin local authorities’ WPL schemes, should they wish to take forward a scheme. Regulations were laid in Parliament yesterday (12 January 2022) setting out the regulatory framework and this will be followed by guidance for local authorities in the first half of 2022.

It will then be for local authorities to decide whether they wish to implement WPL locally and to shape proposals to suit local circumstances. It will be for local authorities to determine the timing of when they take schemes forward, if they choose to do so, and the detail of their local schemes. Local authorities will be required to undertake a public consultation and impact assessments before implementing a WPL scheme.

Question reference: S6W-05179

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its proposal that rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue at 50% for the first three months of 2022-23, whether this rates reduction will be awarded automatically, or will businesses be required to apply for it.

Question reference: S6W-05180

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates will be raised by the higher property rate in 2022-23, broken down by industry sector, and how many properties in each industry sector will be liable for the supplement.

Table 1 presents the estimated number of properties with a Higher Property Rate (HPR) liability in 2022-23, and the gross additional non-domestic rates income estimated to be raised in 2022-23 through the HPR, by property class.

Table 1 shows gross amounts and does not take account of reductions in liability due to reliefs awarded in 2022-23. This is in part due to the application of a £27,500 cap per ratepayer on retail, hospitality and leisure relief in 2022-23 which means that it is not possible to robustly estimate the breakdown of these figures by property class at this time.

Figures in Table 1 are broken down by property class as the Scottish Government does not hold data property-level on industry sectors. Property class is a classification used by Scottish Assessors to describe the type of property, and may not necessarily accurately reflect the use of a property.

Table 1: Estimated number of properties subject to the Higher Property Rate, and gross HPR income, by property class in 2022-23

Property class	Number of properties with a HPR liability	Gross HPR income by class (£)
Shops	2,970	23,559,000
Public Houses	200	836,000
Offices	1,820	14,237,000
Hotels	570	5,109,000
Industrial Subjects	2,470	18,803,000
Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.	520	3,956,000
Garages and Petrol Stations	150	766,000
Cultural	80	955,000
Sporting Subjects	20	239,000
Education and Training	1,340	12,592,000
Public Service Subjects	520	5,880,000
Communications	80	531,000
Quarries, Mines, etc.	40	222,000
Petrochemical	70	2,931,000
Religious	30	92,000
Health and Medical	310	4,685,000
Other	210	2,316,000
Care Facilities	340	1,363,000
Advertising	10	72,000
Statutory Undertaking	340	23,934,000
All	12,090	123,081,000

Source: Scottish Assessors’ Valuation Roll as at 1 October 2021.
‎ Figures may not sum due to rounding. The number of properties is rounded to the nearest 10, income rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Question reference: S6W-05147

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) insurance industry regarding (i) the issue of reimbursing COVID-19-related domestic trip cancellations and (ii) whether there is a need for consistency across providers.

At present there are no restrictions on domestic travel therefore no specific discussions have been tabled with the UK Government. The majority of domestic trips are able to go ahead however we are asking that people be cautious when travelling and choosing activities and we are strengthening some mitigating measures in some areas of the visitor and retail economy. The Scottish Government also continues to engage regularly with the UK Government in relation to support for the wider tourism and hospitality industry.

The regulation of insurance providers is a reserved matter and the Competition and Markets Authority may choose to engage if they believe there is a need for consistency across providers.

Question reference: S6O-00503

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in 2021 to adopt greener bus transport across Scotland.