Craig Hoy

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial impact of the revised social care funding formula on Scottish Borders Council, including the estimated gross loss prior to the application of any floor mechanism.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether directors of finance or officials raised any concerns about the quality or suitability of the new data used in the revised social care funding formula, and, if so, how those concerns were addressed before the proposal was put to COSLA leaders for approval.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the approval of the revised social care funding approach, whether it will provide information on how COSLA leaders were able to make an informed decision in the absence of clear, council-by-council impact assessments, and what information was provided to support their dec…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the quality, completeness and reliability of the new data used in the revised social care funding formula, including how that data was validated, whether any known limitations were identified, and, if so, how those limitations were communicated to the Settl…

Answer · Shona Robison: The formula used to distribute funding between Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities is agreed with COSLA on behalf of all 32 councils each year. The formula is kept under constant review and any changes in quantum or distribution are discussed and agreed thr…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the new data underpinning the revised social care funding formula accurately reflects demographic pressures and service delivery costs in rural local authorities, and how this was tested before the formula was agreed.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any financial impact of the revised social care funding formula, including the estimated gross gain or loss prior to the application of any floor mechanism, for each local authority.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the stability of the local government funding system, as required under the Settlement and Distribution Group’s remit, when proposing changes that may result in significant year-on-year losses for individual local authorities.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when officials first became aware that census data from 2001 and 2011 continued to be used in the social care funding formula after more recent census data was available, and what action was taken at that point.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42760 on 16 January 2026. 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…

9 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the reported average 120% increase in draft rateable values for self-catering businesses, and what assessment it has made of any potential implications for the financial sustainability of the sector and any impact on the rural economy.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values on…

9 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the 2026 revaluation of eligibility for the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Ministers regularly discuss matters of importance including budget priorities and the views of stakeholders in the run-up to the Scottish Budget. Decisions on non-domestic rates policy for 2026-27 will be set out in the budget on 13 January 2026.The final val…

2 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term impact of battery energy storage systems on biodiversity and fire safety, and the long-term landscape and visual impact.  

24 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the illegal use of adapted e-bikes and e-scooters.

18 Nov 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any potential negative impacts for local communities when asylum seekers are housed in large-scale sites in Scotland.

17 Nov 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that its core operating costs have increased by £53 million between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the introduction of an age-related automatic system of regular screening for prostate cancer.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41577 on 11 November 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-committ…

5 Nov 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase income tax in the forthcoming Scottish Budget.

30 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its paper A Fresh Start with Independence and its proposed strategy for establishing a new currency in an independent Scotland, whether its policy for such a currency would include a formal convertibility guarantee to ensure that a Scottish pound would be exchanged at a…

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government’s proposals for the currency of an independent Scotland are highlighted in A Fresh Start with independence , and set out in detail in the Currency and fiscal policy section of Building a new Scotland: A Stronger economy with inde…

29 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion, in its Delivering Real Growth manifesto, that there should be no new levies or taxes on the retail industry.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomes the contribution of the Scottish Retail Consortium and other stakeholders to the debate on how best to support economic growth in Scotland. We will outline our spending and taxation for 2026-27 in the Scottish budget on 13 Jan…

29 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion, in its Delivering Real Growth manifesto, that any further divergence towards higher income tax rates in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK should be avoided.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomes the contribution of the Scottish Retail Consortium and other stakeholders to the debate on how best to support economic growth in Scotland.

29 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion, in its Delivering Real Growth manifesto, that local referenda should be held whenever a local authority proposes an excessive increase in council tax.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government encourages local authorities to carefully consider the impact of council tax increases on local residents and their household finances.Engaging with council taxpayers on the levels of tax proposed is a matter for local authorities. The…

29 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion, in its Delivering Real Growth manifesto, that retailers should benefit from a meaningfully more competitive business rate than in England.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government offers a competitive non-domestic rates regime delivering the lowest property rate in the UK for the seventh year in a row and ensuring that over 95% of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower property tax rate than a…

8 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council and SWestrans regarding the impact of recent changes to bus services on communities.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Government officials met with Dumfries and Galloway Council and SWestrans earlier this year to obtain updates on changes to bus services in the area. However, the Scottish Government is not involved in decision making in relation to local bus service…

8 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial support it can provide for supported bus services in the Dumfries and Galloway Council area.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Local authorities receive money through the general revenue grant, and it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available, including on support for bus services, on the basis of local needs and priorities, hav…

24 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary hashad with ministerial colleagues regarding how to manage any growing funding gapcreated by higher spending on devolved benefits.

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met (a) animal welfare and (b) dog training organisations to discuss the continued use of electric shock collars.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government have regular meetings with animal welfare organisations to discuss a range of welfare issues, including electronic shock collars. Furthermore Scottish Government officials recently met with the Scottish Canine Trainers Alliance to disc…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it provides for prospective puppy buyers on how to source a healthy puppy, and whether any such advice (a) already includes and (b) will be updated to include advice to only purchase puppies from dog breeders that comply with a health standard.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 19 March 2025 and introduced provisions to help ensure more informed and responsible dog ownership. Scottish Government officials have been working with key stakeholders over a period of months …

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its consultation on the use of electric shock collars for training dogs.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: We are continuing to give the SAWC reports on remote control static pulse devices and other aversive training devices careful consideration, along with the findings of our review into whether further provisions for wearable static pulse training devices are r…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department for Business and Trade regarding the impact of opt-out group proceedings (class action) litigation on competition matters, and what lessons it has drawn for the Scotland-specific context of this, including any implications for (a) the opera…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: As set out in the answer to S6W 40658 on 2 October 2025, the introduction of opt-out group proceedings in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC). Under the 2018 Act , opt-out procedures can only be introduced through rules of court…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, how it will ensure that there is an opportunity for the Parliament to scrutinise any proposed changes to the operation of group proceedings (class action).

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that any changes to the operation of group proceedings under the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018 are subject to appropriate scrutiny and transparency.The development of rul…

18 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of introducing opt-out group proceedings (class action) in Scotland, including the implications for (a) the competitiveness of businesses, (b) …

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-40658 and 40659 on 2 October 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-a…