Parliamentary questions
Joe Fagan
24 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from territorial NHS boards regarding the impact of walk-in GP clinics on staffing and current NHS operations in South Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: All Health Boards were asked to submit proposals in response to the initial Call for Proposals and were asked to ensure proposals did not adversely impact existing service provision. I am however aware of staffing challenges faced by some sites and my officia…
30 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress for each proposed walk-in GP clinic in South Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: There are two walk-in services open in South Scotland, located in Hawick and Stranraer. Sites in East Ayrshire and Lanark are due to open in high street or former retail premises. These locations require longer lead times, as converting retail spaces into cli…
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what obligations are placed on local authorities regarding cross-boundary early years and childcare placements in statute and statutory guidance.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that funded ELC is available to the children residing within their own area and are also responsible for meeting the statutory guidance requirements in relation to cross-boundary placements.This guidance is cl…
19 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities fund and invoice for cross-boundary early years and childcare placements, and what information it has on those that currently do not, but have plans to introduce such arrangements.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Local authorities hold the statutory duty to ensure that funded ELC is available to the children residing within their own area, and are also responsible for meeting statutory guidance requirements in relation to cross-boundary placements.The Scottish Governm…
18 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00448 by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 10 June 2026, how many businesses will be eligible for 100% relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme in 2026-27, following the recent non-domestic rates revaluation, broken down by (a) local authority and (b)…
Answer · Ivan McKee: As at 1 June 2025, there were 100,700 properties receiving 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) relief. We estimate that, in 2026-2027, more than 100,000 properties will be eligible for 100% SBBS relief, of which we estimate that around 96,900 will apply f…
17 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund, including the next steps and milestones.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund is a £20 million investment aimed at strengthening the capacity of third sector organisations to deliver tailored, community-based support to families living in, or at risk of, poverty across Scotland,…
17 Jun 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop fairer food production systems.
1 Jun 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board regarding the outcome of the Service Delivery Review that is due to be considered on 22 June.
27 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) gross and (b) net running costs are of its operations, and how these have changed since its records began.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government’s running costs are reported in the annual consolidated accounts in note 5f Outturn Income and Expenditure - Operating Costs (2019-20: note 6f). The consolidated accounts can be found here: Financial reports and accounts - Govern…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current regulatory and planning frameworks for long-duration energy storage are sufficient.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: Large-scale, long-duration energy storage, such as pumped hydro storage, will play a critical role in lessening our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, supporting our net zero ambitions.It will help to maximise our significant renewable ene…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the battery energy storage applications approved by the Energy Consents Unit have been subsequently withdrawn.
Answer · Ivan McKee: It is the Scottish Ministers who determine applications made under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit administers these applications on their behalf.Following consent, developers are typically required to commence develop…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the battery energy storage applications approved by the Energy Consents Unit are operational.
Answer · Ivan McKee: It is the Scottish Ministers who determine applications made under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit administers these applications on their behalf.The Energy Consents Unit does not retain data on applications which subs…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many battery energy storage applications have been (a) granted and (b) rejected by the Energy Consents Unit.
Answer · Ivan McKee: It is the Scottish Ministers who determine applications made under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit administers these applications on their behalf.Details of decisions made by the Scottish Ministers about battery energy…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the deadline for proposals against new 2026 rateable values was set at 31 July.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: Scottish Government issued a consultation on ‘Reforming the non-domestic rates system: proposals, the draft valuation roll, content of valuation notices, etc.’ in 2021. Views were sought on a range of changes to the system including the introducti…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many small businesses were estimated to be eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme in 2025-26, and how many it estimates will to be eligible in 2026-27 following the recent rates revaluation, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) joint valuation board area.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: As at 1 June 2025, there were 116,100 properties receiving any amount of Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) relief. In 2026-2027, we estimate that SBBS relief will be awarded to around 115,500 properties. Table 1 shows a breakdown of these figures by council …
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following each of the last three revaluations, how many appeals were lodged against non-domestic rates valuations in the period between the valuation and the end of May that same year.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government collects and publishes quarterly statistics on proposals and appeals against non-domestic rates revaluations. The publications present the position up to the end of each quarter (end of June, September, December and March). As a result…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals against non-domestic rates valuations have been lodged following the most recent revaluation.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Scottish Government collects and publishes quarterly statistics on proposals and appeals against non-domestic rates revaluations. The publications present the position up to the end of each quarter (end of June, September, December and March).As a result,…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on integrated smart ticketing across bus and rail in the Strathclyde area.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government supports the development of integrated smart ticketing across bus and rail, including in the Strathclyde area, as part of its wider commitment to improving public transport.As set out in the Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Pay…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further enhance (a) East Kilbride, (b) Hairmyres and (c) Thorntonhall train stations.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The £144m East Kilbride Enhancement Project electrified 22.4km of railway line and saw the relocation of Hairmyres station. Brand new, fully accessible stations were built at both East Kilbride and Hairmyres, including a transport interchange at Hairmyr…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the barriers are to increasing rail services on the East Kilbride line, and how these can be addressed.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00442 on 5 June 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-committees/w…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is capacity to increase the frequency of rail services on the East Kilbride line.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Thanks to investment from the Scottish Government, the East Kilbride line has recently been electrified, with the majority of services now operated by modern electric trains - delivering enhanced reliability, comfort and excellent value for money for passenge…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out what its role is in relation to the development of ScotRail timetables.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Timetable development is a complex and iterative process and primarily a matter managed by ScotRail working in collaboration with Network Rail and other passenger and freight operators. Network Rail considers key constraints such as headways (safe spacing bet…
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the strategic focus of Scottish Enterprise and its three missions.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: As our national development agency, Scottish Enterprise is responsible for delivering the Scottish Government’s economic development priorities as set out by ministers.Scottish Enterprise’s strategic plan sets out how it is aligning its resources …
26 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the condition of business properties and the supply of good business premises in South Scotland.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government recognises that the availability and quality of business premises is a key enabler of economic growth across the South of Scotland.Our National Planning Framework states that Local Development Plans should include a suitable range of b…