Michelle Thomson

18 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the £9 million being invested in the Food and Drink Processing Scheme Scotland will help businesses to increase productivity, improve efficiency, and invest in new equipment and technology. 

4 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the CashBack for Communities programme as it enters Phase 7.

23 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of warnings from industry leaders that high transmission charges are making wind farms in the north of Scotland uncompetitive, including any implications for its work to grow the renewable energy sector.

9 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how often he or the Scottish Ministers engage with the Scottish Government’s Washington DC International Office regarding the Scotch whisky industry and other economic interests in the United States.

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many retail properties that are liable for the (a) basic and (b) intermediate property rate in 2026-27 will receive support from the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief, which was set out in its draft Budget 2026-27.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Internal Scottish Government estimates are that up to around 19,100 retail properties could benefit from the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors reliefs set out in the draft Budget 2026-27, subject to take-up and the business level cap of £…

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from representatives of the retail industry in response to the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief from April 2026, which was set out in its draft Budget 2026-27.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the retail sector including through the Non-Domestic Rates Consultative Group.

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact might be for retail properties that are liable for the (a) basic and (b) intermediate rate in each of the next three years as a result of the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief from April 2026, which was set out in its draft Budget 20…

Answer · Ivan McKee: Internal Scottish Government estimates are that up to 37,000 properties could benefit from the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors reliefs set out in the draft Budget 2026-27, subject to take-up and the business level cap of £110,000. Table…

7 Jan 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of its plans to add sex to the characteristics covered by the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

17 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its provision of funding for humanitarian aid, what representations it has made to the UK Government in relation to humanitarian issues arising in Ukraine as a result of landmines and other explosive threats.  

10 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the money allocated in the Grangemouth Just Transition Fund is being used to support the acceleration of new employment and industrial opportunities across the industrial complex.

Answer · Gillian Martin: This morning, I will visit the site of MiAlgae’s new bio-reactor project Grangemouth, which will see omega-3 being produced and sold at scale. The construction of the new plant at Grangemouth is being made possible as a direct result of up to £3 m…

9 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Scottish Land & Estates report, Repopulating Rural Scotland, including how the recommendations align with its current strategies to address rural depopulation.

25 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be an acceptable risk of harm as defined in the Scottish Prison Service policy on the admission of transgender women to women’s prisons.

12 Nov 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the demand for neurodevelopmental assessments and treatment for children and adults, what its assessment is of the recommendations by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, such as its four-tiered service model for assessment and intervention.

28 Oct 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further measures it is putting in place to ensure that workers are at the heart of Grangemouth’s Just Transition.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I am pleased to announce today the launch of the Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme, which prioritises those workers who have been made redundant as a direct consequence of the cessation of refining at Grangemouth for the new jobs which will be created th…

28 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to communities to promote cohesion and develop sustainable support networks for refugees and asylum seekers, to help ensure their full participation in civic and community life.

21 Oct 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns raised by the Scottish MusicIndustry Association about delays in and sufficiency of funding awards, how itwill ensure that the additional £20 million allocated to Creative Scotland forits Multi-Year Funding Programme in 2025-26 effectively supports th…

22 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported calls from the Scottish Retail Consortium and Scottish Tourism Alliance for the UK Government, in its upcoming Budget, to restore tax-free shopping for overseas visitors as a means of supporting Scotland’s retail, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government opposed the abolition of tax-free shopping when it was announced in 2020 and consistently called for the previous UK Government to listen to the industry and reconsider their position on the issue.The Scottish Government recognises how…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any delays in the granting of a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) certificate from Disclosure Scotland, and what percentage of applications currently meet the 14-day service level agreement.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:As of the week commencing 15 September, 94.9% of PVG applications were completed within 14 days. This meets the service level agreement of 90% completed wi…

10 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it will assess the contribution of Scotland’s performing arts organisations in advance of the next Budget.

3 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Scotland’s population being around 5.5 million and the reported need to expand the housing sector capacity, whether it will provide an update on what targeted support it is providing to address the reported decline in small and medium-sized home builders.

27 Aug 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with UK Government ministers regarding the potential impact on the Scottish economy of recent developments with the Grangemouth cluster.

1 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s reported forecast that food price inflation is set to increase to 6% by the end of 2025.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government closely monitors food inflation data published by the Office for National Statistics and inflation projections published by the Office for Budget Responsibility and Bank of England. The British Retail Consortium’s forecast is con…

17 Jun 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its Grangemouth Just Transition Plan.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has today (18 June) published the Grangemouth Industrial Just Transition Plan, following a public consultation on the draft plan. The Plan sets out our vision for the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster and will act as the framework for all…

17 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to supporting schools to raise awareness of, and provide the required assistance to, people with hearing and sight difficulties.

12 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it considers workers in the health and social care sector to be skilled.

12 May 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the recently announced UK-USA trade deal and its potential implications for businesses in Scotland.

30 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made to ensure the timely delivery of benefits by Social Security Scotland.

22 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities it has identified to grow Scotland’s economy, following Tartan Week 2025.

16 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress on the funding model for the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme in its current iteration, following its decision not to “call in” the scheme for ministerial inquiry.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Under the Flood Risk Management Act when valid objections are raised to a proposed flood protection scheme Scottish Ministers decide whether it should be ‘called in’ to a public local inquiry or considered through a local authority local hearing.S…

18 Mar 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Project Willow Grangemouth study.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Project Willow study has concluded and the publication of a “Public Information Document” is now available on Scottish Development International’s website. Ernst & Young Parthenon (EY) supplied the study to the Grangemouth Refinery o…