Parliamentary questions
Fergus Ewing
2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the 2026-27 Budget, how much of the capital budget is allocated for active travel, and whether it will set out in full the detail of the projects that will be funded.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has proposed an allocation of £226 million for sustainable and active travel investment in the 2026-27 Budget. Of this total, £213 million is designated for capital expenditure.Full details of the specific projects to be su…
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Enterprise carried out any consultation with Highlands and Islands Enterprise prior to it awarding a £1.83 million grant to Offshore Solutions Group.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Enterprise engaged with Highlands and Islands Enterprise prior to awarding the grant.
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Enterprise reportedly did not (a) carry out an assessment of displacement or (b) have an independent analysis of the need for marine storage of offshore wind platform bases, prior to awarding a £1.83 million grant to Offshore Solutions Group.
Answer · Gillian Martin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their CEO, Adrian Gillespie, to respond to you directly.
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Crown Estate Scotland carried out an independent assessment, one not conducted or led by Offshore Solutions Group or others that might have a clear commercial interest in a particular potential project, of whether there is any need for marine storage, as opposed to storage t…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: This is an operational matter for Crown Estate Scotland. I have asked their Chief Executive, Ronan O’Hara, to respond to you directly.
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require Offshore Solutions Group to carry out a full environmental impact assessment for any potential development for which it might seek licences or permissions, involving the proposed marine storage of offshore wind platform bases near inshore areas off (a) Nairn and (…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I can confirm that Offshore Solutions Group sought a screening opinion from the Scottish Ministers and this is currently undergoing statutory consultation in line with the environmental impact assessment regulations. Following conclusion of the consultation, …
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that Scottish Enterprise awards a £1.8 million grant to a company on the basis that clawback is payable in certain circumstances, and those circumstances arise, and the company had assets of around £131,000 at the approximate time of the award, whether any liabi…
Answer · Gillian Martin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their CEO, Adrian Gillespie, to respond to you
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose the scheduling of a ministerial statement on the use of Scotland’s inshore seas for the marine storage of offshore wind platform bases or other apparatus, in light of the potential impacts on the marine environment and on economic and recreational activities…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has no current plans to propose the scheduling of a ministerial statement on the use of Scotland’s inshore seas for the marine storage of offshore wind platform bases or other apparatus.Storage and constructions of floating offsh…
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evidence demonstrating that the storage requirements for offshore wind platform bases cannot be met by combining onshore storage and storage in existing ports and harbours and, if so, whether it will publish this.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Wet storage requirements for floating offshore wind are project-specific and vary depending on a wide-range of factors such as type of floating foundations, project location, infrastructure availability and deployment timelines. Each offshore wind developer w…
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it took, prior to awarding a £1.83 million grant to Offshore Solutions Group, to assess whether that grant could cause displacement through loss of business or loss of opportunity to other sectors, including loss of revenue for ports and harbours with existing capac…
Answer · Gillian Martin: As the grant provided to Offshore Solutions Group was from Scottish Enterprise rather than Scottish Government, this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their CEO, Adrian Gillespie, to respond to you directly.
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it consistent with required financial practices and the finance manual for Scottish Enterprise to award a £1.8 million grant, with clawback provisions, to a company whose latest accounts show assets of around £131,000 and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As the Scottish Government’s national economic development body, Scottish Enterprise is responsible for its own funding decisions.For all grants provided, Scottish Enterprise is required to undertake rigorous due diligence on companies seeking funding t…
4 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any plans by the AuditorGeneral to carry out an inquiry into the £1.83 million grant awarded toOffshore Solutions Group, a company whose latest accounts, as of April 2024,show net current assets of around £131,000.
Answer · Gillian Martin: For all grants it provides, Scottish Enterprise is required to undertake rigorous due diligence on companies seeking funding to ensure compliance with Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) standards https://www.gov.scot/publications/commercial-due-diligence-g…
27 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s analysis of its draft Budget 2026-27, as set out in its Post-Scottish Budget submission to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, that Scotland’s less competitive retail hospitality and leisure sectors ra…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Scottish Budget 2026-27, announced on 13 January, ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by the Consumer Price Index than pre-COVID despite the number of properties on the val…
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in its draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 to provide a smaller business rate discount for retail and hospitality premises than will apply in England from April 2026, what analysis or assessment it has undertaken of the potential risk to the funding of Business …
Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Scottish Budget 2026-27, announced on 13 January, ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by the Consumer Price Index than pre-COVID despite the number of properties on the val…
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in its draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 to provide a smaller business rate discount for retail and hospitality premises than will apply in England from April 2026, what analysis or assessment it has undertaken of the potential risk to fulfilling its Town Cent…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Overall, the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27, announced on 13 January, ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by the Consumer Price Index than pre-COVID despite the number of properties o…
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in its draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 to introduce Retail Hospitality and Leisure sectors rates relief, what analysis or assessment it has undertaken of the potential risk to commercial investment in retail, hospitality and leisure shifting to England if Sc…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Scottish Budget 2026-27, announced on 13 January, ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by the Consumer Price Index than pre-COVID despite the number of properties on the val…
26 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with its Tax Advisory Group regarding excluding premises liable for the Higher Property Rate from the new retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief.
Answer · Ivan McKee: No discussion on that subject has been had with the Tax Advisory Group (TAG). The minutes for TAG meetings are published at Tax Advisory Group - gov.scot.On Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) matters in the budget, Ministers regularly discuss and engage with a range of…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-05362 by Kate Forbes on 14 January 2026, how much investment has been confirmed for each of the next four years for dualling the A96, and for what specific purposes the investment has been allocated each year.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The position of the Scottish Government has not changed: we support fully dualling the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass.The commitment to progressing A96 dualling is included in the Scottis…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the advice note, and any speaking note, provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government for the draft 2026-27 Budget statement relating to the dualling of the (a) A9 and (b) A96, including the section of the A96 between Inverness and Auldearn an…
Answer · Shona Robison: As recognised in the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, it is necessary to maintain appropriate space for Ministers to receive advice from officials. The Scottish Government therefore would not release such material. The statement I…
15 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-05362 by Kate Forbes on 14 January 2026, by what date before the end of the current parliamentary session the Cabinet Secretary for Transport will provide an update on the procurement method for the dualling of the section of the A96 between Inverne…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The position of the Scottish Government has not changed: we support fully dualling the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass.The commitment to progressing A96 dualling is included in the Scottis…
12 Jan 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether, without the use of privatefinance to enable construction of key infrastructure projects, there is a riskthat Scotland could be seen as less attractive for inward investment and as alocation for business, compared with other European countries.
7 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all of the analyses referred to by the Minister for Public Finance during the debate on motion S6M-20295 on 7 January 2026, including (a) the analysis of the estimated level of revenue that will be raised from non-domestic rates should the revaluation proceed in l…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The independent Scottish Fiscal Commission is responsible for forecasting tax revenues in its Scotland's Economic and Fiscal Forecasts and for 2026-27 the forecast Non-Domestic Rates revenue is £3,387 million.Once final rateable values are available, th…
5 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential economic impact of fully dualling the A96, in order to provide faster and safer transport links between the two key economic areas of north east Scotland and the Highlands, and to support t…
18 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Government Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality businesses in England from April 2026, what analysis or assessment it has undertaken of the potential risk to the fulfilment of its Town Centre Action Plan…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Budget published on 13 January ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms than pre-COVID using the Consumer Price Index.It continues to support businesses and communities with a strong non…
18 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Government Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality businesses in England from April 2026, whether it will adhere to its pledge in the New Deal for Business Group Implementation Plan to deliver a competitive…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Budget published on 13 January ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms than pre-COVID, using the Consumer Price Index.The strong package for 2026-27 decreases the Basic, Intermediate an…
18 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Government Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality businesses in England from April 2026, what analysis or assessment it has undertaken of the potential risk to the funding of Business Improvement Districts…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Budget published on 13 January ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms than pre-COVID using the Consumer Price Index.The Budget continues to support businesses and communities with a st…
17 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41922 by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025, whether all of the £100,000 will be disbursed to local authorities and if not, by whom will it be spent and what it will it be used for.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42494 on 5 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-committee…
16 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments in The Scotsman on 16 December 2025 from the Scottish Retail Consortium, Scottish Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Scotland, ukactive and the UK Cinema Association that, if Scotland does not follow England and introduce a permanent business rate d…
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42626 on 22 December 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…
16 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments in The Scotsman on 16 December 2025 from the Scottish Retail Consortium, Scottish Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Scotland, ukactive and the UK Cinema Association that Scotland should follow England and introduce a permanent business rate discoun…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Decisions on non-domestic rates policy for 2026-27, including reliefs, are considered in the context of the Budget in line with other government priorities and will be set out on 13 January 2026.
16 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments in The Scotsman on 16 December 2025 from the Scottish Retail Consortium, Scottish Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Scotland, ukactive and the UK Cinema Association that, if Scotland does not follow England and introduce a permanent business rate d…
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42626 on 22 December 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…
15 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to devise, and deliver to every school pupil, a programme that provides the opportunity to learn how to touch type.