Michelle Thomson

17 Mar 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the recent UK Living Standards Review 2025, from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, and any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy.

5 Mar 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further engagement it has had with Ineos, in light of recent reports of additional redundancies related to the closure of the Grangemouth refinery.  

19 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role the Skills Transition Centre at Forth Valley College will play in protecting and redeploying the skills base, and providing further training opportunities for a just transition of workers in the Grangemouth chemical cluster.

3 Feb 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to sustain and expand Gaelic-medium education.

29 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to invest in the hospice care sector, in light of the £4 million referred to in the draft Budget 2025-26.

22 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Falkirk Council is to consider a motion calling for immediate action by the Scottish Government to support the Grangemouth chemical cluster and the future of its industry.

15 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the additional £34 million allocated to Culture and Heritage in its draft Budget will assist in the preservation of any small, yet key, Scottish heritage sites under threat of closure, such as Kinneil Museum in the Falkirk East constituency.

17 Dec 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on households experiencing fuel poverty in Scotland, particularly in rural and off-gas grid areas, what communication it has had with relevant third parties regarding the ending of the Radio Teleswitch Service.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is reserved, however the Scottish Government engages regularly with consumer organisations and fuel poverty charities on issues expected to arise from the upcoming switch-off.I recently visited the Western Isles Citizens Adv…

10 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its increased funding for mental health services will help improve access to psychological support for people with long-term conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

9 Dec 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to bring forward legislation to criminalise non-fatal strangulation.

6 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the savings will be in 2025-26 as a result of the decision to freeze the basic property rate, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Table 1 shows the estimated net savings to ratepayers from freezing the Basic Property Rate at 49.8p, compared to an inflationary increase to 50.6p. The net estimates include adjustments for reliefs, as well as in-year adjustments such as reductions due to pr…

26 Nov 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the work of its Digital Assets in Scots Private Law Expert Reference Group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Digital Assets in Scots Private Law Expert Reference Group has made its findings and recommendations to the Scottish Government, and a consultation on possible legislative reform was published today, 27 November 2024, with a closing date of 5 February 202…

26 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update regarding its consideration of whether to legislate to prescribe the number of learning hours.

19 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure equality of access for adults to the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD or ASD, in light of the finding in a National Autism Implementation Team report in 2021 that the current thresholds for mental health services do not meet the needs of those who have been referred.

18 Nov 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government last met with Ineos or Petroineos to discuss the refinery at Grangemouth.

5 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the impact of the recent UK Budget will be on funding for Creative Scotland. 

30 Oct 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has applied its international trade principles and when it plans to publish the next Vision for Trade Annual Report.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to announce that the third Annual Report on our progress towards implementing Scotland’s Vision for Trade is being published today and is available at: www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836019084 The Report sets out how the Scottish Government has appl…

23 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to sustain the economic value of the chemical production sector based around Grangemouth.

1 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further support and guidance it can provide to secondary education establishments regarding the balancing of the right to education of both a victim of sexual assault and the alleged perpetrator.  

30 Sep 2024 · 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 the upcoming Autumn Budget, to restore tax-free shopping for overseas visitors as a means of supporting Scotland’s retail, tourism and hospitality …

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government opposed the abolition of tax-free shopping when it was announced in 2020 and called upon the previous UK Government to listen to industry and urgently reconsider the issue, including in a letter sent to the Chancellor ahead of the 2024…

10 Jun 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports that Scottish universities' budgets have been impacted by £100 million due to a 20% drop in applications from international students in the last academic year as a result of new UK Government immigration rules.

28 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address any issues regarding the implementation of the presumption of mainstreaming, as set out in the recent Education, Children and Young People Committee report on its inquiry into additional support for learning.

22 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what place human ecology, specifically a focus on the relationship between the natural environment and the social environment, has in its rural affairs policy development.

8 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of Brexit on young musicians.

7 May 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is providing to women in enterprise.

17 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority regarding plans to incorporate any precedent set by the Miller v College of Policing case into the recording of non-crime hate incidents.

11 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the savings will be in 2024-25 as a result of the decision to freeze the Basic Property Rate, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated gross savings to ratepayers, after General Revaluation Transitional Relief is applied, for properties with a rateable value of up to and including £51,000, resulting from the Scottish Government freezing the Basic Property Rate …

16 Feb 2024 · 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 a restoration of tax-free shopping for overseas visitors as a means of supporting Scotland’s retail and tourism sectors.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not have policy control over VAT rates or VAT exemptions. This is a fully reserved policy. In a letter of 22 October 2021, the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, and the then Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work…

12 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is underway to ensure that eligible families across Falkirk East, and the wider country, are aware of and can apply for the Best Start Grant before the deadline of 29 February.

31 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding what is required to unlock the full potential of Scotland's green economy.