Parliamentary questions
Michael Marra
205 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the point of order by Stephen Kerr MSP in the Chamber on 14 January 2026, whether an earlier published version of its draft Budget 2026-27 included a specific allocation of £500,000 for film houses in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and, if so, (a) for what reason, (b) …
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government is absolutely clear on the value of cultural cinema, and we are continuing to engage with Screen Scotland and others to ensure that cultural cinema is protected for Scotland's audiences today and in the long term.I am pleased that Scre…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it routinely retains draft versions of budget spreadsheets and working documents that may change post-publication, and, if so, whether it will commit to making earlier versions available to MSPs where material changes are made in new versions.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not publish internal working drafts of Budget spreadsheets or documents. These drafts are part of the routine preparation and quality-assurance process and are not maintained or updated beyond publication.For the main Budget docum…
25 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support available to cultural institutions for energy efficiency measures, in light of reports that Dundee Rep, and other similar cultural bodies that operate as wholly owned trading subsidiaries, h…
18 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the energy costs incurred by (a) it and (b) its public bodies in each of the past five years.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The total cost of gas and electric for Core Scottish Government buildings in the past 5 years is2019 - £3,156,688 (Electricity £2,662,002, Gas £494,686)2020 - £2,076,368 (Electricity £1,832,164, Gas £244,204)2021 - £2…
18 Nov 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting stability and growth in Scotland’s video games sector, including what engagement it has had with Rockstar Games, in light of reports of recent staff dismissals.
3 Nov 2025 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Auditor General’s report, 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, which indicates a £1 billion underspend by the Scottish Government.
30 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of rising levels of knife crime in Dundee over the summer, how it is supporting Police Scotland and local partners to prevent and reduce incidents of violent crime.
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its fiscal sustainability delivery plan to “simplify the education and skills public body landscape”, which public bodies will be (a) merged and (b) closed; what the timeline is for this, and what financial savings will be made.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme includes work to simplify the funding body landscape. Subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament, the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill allows responsibility for …
11 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, in what areas it plans for NHS boards to make savings in order to achieve its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan confirms that efficiency and improvement is a key focus for the Health and Social Care portfolio and reflects the commitment to ensure use of core resources is optimised and best value is del…
11 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, whether any areas of NHS board spend will be protected from its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan confirms that efficiency and improvement is a key focus for the Health and Social Care portfolio and reflects the commitment to ensure use of core resources is optimised and best value is del…
11 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan, published in June 2025, what the total projected savings are from its commitment to “Deliver NHS Board 3% recurring savings against core funding”, in the financial year (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28, (d) 2028-2…
Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Boards continue to work towards to 3% recurring savings target in 2025-26, and Scottish Government officials continue to work with all NHS Boards to enable savings where appropriate. Whilst the 3% recurring savings target is expected to continue, the leve…
21 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what active travel plans for the Western Gateway area of Dundee have been submitted to it by Dundee City Council, and when any decisions will be made on allocating funding.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Dundee City Council have submitted an application to Tier 2 of the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund for design funding to develop active travel options for the Western Gateway development area. These include a segregated cycle route, speed limit reduction me…
3 Jun 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported reduction in Scottish Attainment Challenge funding for Dundee City Council.
5 May 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the constitution secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding its constitutional strategy, including in relation to its reported call for full fiscal autonomy.
5 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15187 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 March 2023, whether it will provide (a) updated figures on average gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per (i) pre-school registration, (ii) primary school pupil and (iii) secondary school pupil and (b) inform…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36497 on 8 May 2025. 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-committe…
4 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has produced on the contribution of the University of Dundee to the economy (a) of the Dundee area and (b) nationally, and what economic impact assessment it has made of the proposed job losses and reduction in services as a result of the institution's financial situatio…
Answer · Graeme Dey: The University of Dundee is an invaluable component of the economic, social and cultural success of the city and region. The Scottish Government continues to work with external partners and internal analysts to better understand the economic impact the Univer…
26 Mar 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure adequate provision of teaching staff in secondary schools in Dundee.
21 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15187 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 March 2023, whether it will provide the complete figures for (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Table 1 provides information on average gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per child attending pre-school, and primary and secondary pupil alongside allocations (accounting for teaching and tuition fees funding) per college and university place.2024-25 fig…
27 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provided for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments in the Aberdeenshire Council area in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23, (c) 2023-24 and (d) 2024-25.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government provided £400,000 to establish an adult ADHD and autism assessment service in Aberdeenshire between 2019-21.NHS Boards and other local partners are responsible for prioritising funding to ensure that their local population receiv…
27 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it will provide for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments in the Aberdeenshire Council area in 2025-26.
Answer · Maree Todd: The recently approved 2025-26 Budget will provide a record £21.7 billion for Health & Social Care next year, including £16.2 billion for NHS Boards.NHS Boards and other local partners are responsible for prioritising funding to ensure that the…
26 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Institute for Fiscal Studies' assessment in its Scottish Budget 2025-26 report that "it is particularly important that the front-loaded increases in investment and public service spending planned are undertaken effectively".
19 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council regarding the University of Dundee.
5 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08765 by Tom Arthur on 10 June 2022, whether ATMs at retailers' premises are now exempted from non-domestic rates and, if so, on what date this exemption came into place; how many ATMs have been affected by this, and whether it has or will issue bac…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The valuation of all non-domestic property, including sites of ATMs, is a matter for Scottish Assessors who are independent of local and Scottish Government.Following the consideration of the valuation of ATMs as referred to in answer to question S6W-08765, A…
5 Feb 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to Dundee Heritage Trust to ensure the long-term future of the organisation.
20 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2025-26 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In England, the standard multiplier in 2025-2026 is being uprated to 55.5p, from 54.6p in 2024-2025. In Scotland, the proposed Higher Property Rate for 2025-2026 is 56.8p, increasing from 55.9p in 2024-2025.Table 1 shows the estimated cost of setting the High…
13 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27073 by Joe FitzPatrick on 3 May 2024, in light of the minister's comment that the "intention is to agree and publish the framework in advance of Budget 2025-26", whether it has agreed a fiscal framework with local government and, if so, on wh…
Answer · Shona Robison: We have made significant progress on delivering a Fiscal Framework with Local Government. The foundations of the framework are being applied in practice through the simplification and consolidation of the Local Government Settlement, development of clear rout…
1 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assumptions it made on public sector pay when setting the 2024-25 Budget.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government places the upmost importance on planning accordingly to balance its budget. We originally assumed 3% per cent for pay awards at the time of the Budget, and a 2% +1% phased multi-year approach was confirmed as part of our 2024-25 Pay Po…
1 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the dates on which its Tax Advisory Group (a) has met and (b) is scheduled to meet.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Tax Advisory Group (TAG) most recently met on 11 September. Their last meeting for 2024 is scheduled for 6 November.The minutes and dates for previous TAG meetings are published at https://www.gov.scot/groups/tax-advisory-group/. The minutes from their Se…
10 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding possible criminal charges against the former NHS Tayside surgeon, Sam Eljamel.
4 Sep 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the renewables economy in the north east of Scotland, including through the retraining of energy workers and enhancing supply chain development.