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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 573 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-09065

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 11 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue raised by the business rates incentivisation scheme was retained by each local authority area in each of the last three financial years.

The additional non-domestic rates raised and retained by individual local authorities in the last three relevant financial years, as a result of the business rates incentivisation scheme, are set out in the following table. The 2012-13 sums were retained for that year only under the original scheme. Following a review no revised scheme was agreed in time for operation in 2013-14 but was subsequently introduced from 1 April 2014. The figures for both 2014-15 and 2015-16 were retained each year until the next non domestic rates revaluation date which was 1 April 2017.

Details of the sums to be retained for 2016-17 will be confirmed following receipt of final audited returns from local authorities later this year.

Local Authority	2012-13 (£m)	2014-15 (£m)	2015-16 (£m)
Aberdeen City Council		0.533	3.371
Aberdeenshire Council	0.189	0.471	0.932
Angus Council			0.071
Clackmannanshire Council	1.232
East Lothian Council	0.544
East Renfrewshire Council	0.173	0.188
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	0.057		0.072
Fife Council	2.484	0.892
Glasgow City Council			1.514
Highland Council	1.296	0.214	0.371
Midlothian Council	0.366
The Moray Council	1.267	0.137	0.016
North Ayrshire Council	0.861
Perth and Kinross Council	0.148
Renfrewshire Council		0.068
Scottish Borders Council	0.385
South Ayrshire Council			0.030

Question reference: S5W-09067

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 11 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much will be paid out in business rates relief in 2017-18, broken down by type of relief.

The following table sets out the estimated cost of non-domestic rates relief for 2017-18, broken down by type of relief.

Relief Type	Estimated Relief Cost 2017-18 (£million)*
Small Business Bonus Scheme	224
Charity	203
Empty Property	79
Disabled Persons	63
Transitional Relief	45
Religious	27
Sports Club	14
Rural	5
Renewable and District Heating	2
Enterprise Areas, New Start, Fresh Start	2
Hardship	1
TOTAL	663

* Estimates are rounded to the nearest million (total does not equal the sum of the individual relief figures due to rounding). Outturn figures will be available in due course.

Question reference: S5W-09123

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost to set up the Scottish Business Pledge and what its running cost has been each year.

Question reference: S5W-09068

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 9 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many office premises are subject to the large business supplement, broken down by sector.

Question reference: S5W-08907

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the UK Government’s green paper, Building our Industrial Strategy, in January 2017, what engagement ministers have had with the strategy’s consultation process.

The Scottish Government is focused on ensuring sustainable economic growth. Many of the areas set out in the Industrial Strategy, such as skills, business support and trade and investment support, are devolved to the Scottish Government and it is important that Scotland is considered in how the Industrial Strategy is taken forward.

The UK Government’s Green paper contains a proposal to establish a Ministerial Forum on Industrial Strategy with each of the devolved administrations to ensure synergies between devolved and reserved areas: this commitment is being fulfilled via the Scottish Business Growth Group, which first met on 20 April 2017.

This group was established after the First Minister announced plans for a post-EU Referendum business network to work more closely and collaboratively with the main business bodies, the STUC, and the Scotland Office to help shape future policy and support for business. It provides a space for constructive dialogue and, where relevant and agreed, partnership working around:

overcoming economic, commercial and labour market challenges and seizing opportunities; post-Referendum business-related policy development within government; and communications

We continue to work with UK Government throughout the consultation process providing crucial input and change.

Question reference: S5O-00952

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage participation in sport.

Question reference: S5W-08901

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when the Council of Economic Advisers is next due to meet.

The Council of Economic Advisers last met on 26 and 27 January 2017. Minutes of this meeting are available on the Scottish Government website, accessed via the following link: https://beta.gov.scot/groups/council-of-economic-advisers/.

The Council undertakes two formal meetings each year, and Council members and Scottish Government officials interact regularly.

The date of the next formal Council meeting is yet to be agreed, but will take place later this year.

Question reference: S5W-08280

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 19 March 2017, Record year for food and drink exports, whether it will publish the methodology that it used to calculate that "the destination for over 70% of [Scotland's] food exports is the EU".

Question reference: S5O-00845

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Fraser of Allander Economic Commentary, which states that Scotland has a weak export performance that remains a concern and a key challenge.

The latest Fraser of Allander Institute Economic Commentary provides a timely update on the Scottish economy.

Latest data shows that exports from Scotland's food and drink sector grew 8% over the past year to a record £5.5 billion.

The Scottish Government has taken action to support Scottish exporters. The number of exporting businesses in Scotland have increased in each year from 2011 to 2015 and currently stands at around 11,500 businesses. And, in 2014-15 Scottish Development International helped almost 2,500 companies to develop skills to internationalise, access new markets or increase international revenues.

Question reference: S5W-07227

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to establish a Scottish business development bank.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30114 on 26 February 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Scottish Enterprise (SE) is leading on this work, and it is an operational matter for SE. I have asked the Chief Executive to contact you with an update on the progress and the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with you soon.