Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what financial year it expects the devolved public sector headcount to begin falling, in light of reports that it rose in the year following the publication of its workforce reduction target.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In the calendar year to December 2025 the core Scottish Government made a reduction of 2.5% in its total workforce, including both directly employed FTE and contingent worker headcount, as a result of tighter recruitment controls being implemented and taking …
22 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the responsibilities are of the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The responsibilities of all Cabinet Secretaries are published on the Scottish Government website; the detailed responsibilities for the role of Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform is available here: Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform - gov.sc…
22 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, whether it plans to produce detailed guidance for grocery retailers in advance of any cap coming into effect.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government routinely engages with a broad range of stakeholders and is committed to sustaining meaningful and constructive engagement throughout the policy making process.
22 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, what consideration it has given to the suggestion by the Scottish Retail Consortium that it should instead consider pausing or delaying the introduc…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
22 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, whether it plans to hold a public awareness and information campaign ahead of any cap coming into effect in order to minimise frictions in stores.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
22 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, what consideration it has given to the suggestions by the Scottish Retail Consortium and Food and Drink Federation Scotland that it should instead s…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, whether it has estimated the level of additional retail sales that would be required by retailers to offset the cost of the proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, what discussions it has had with Scotland’s Improvement Districts about the possible introduction of the proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, whether the proposal is compatible with the Scottish Government’s Retail Industry Leadership Group’s vision to make Scotland the best pl…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, what discussions it has had with Public Health Scotland about the possible introduction of the proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, what the administrative and cost implications will be for those tasked with enforcing the proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
19 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party’s 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items in shops, what steps have been taken to assess any potential impact on the profitability of food stores.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what assessment it has made of any impact of such a policy on retail stores in more rural areas where there are fewer options for shoppers and where the cost of …
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what impact assessment or modelling it undertook prior to the unveiling of this proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the SNP's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, whether smaller stores, including newsagents and convenience stores, will be included in the scope of the proposal, and, if so, what the rationale is for this.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to comments made by the former managing director of John Lewis & Partners as reported in The Sunday Times on 17 May 2026, that prices of…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what comparative assessment it has made of the expansion of its Best Start Foods programme or similar welfare payments and the introducing a statutory cap.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government.While undertaking this work the Scottish Government will continue to support policies and initiatives that aim to alleviate cost-of-living pressures faced by households including Best…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what alternatives it has considered before pledging a statutory cap.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what assessment it has made of the consistency of any additional administrative implications for stores and shopworkers arising from such a policy with the New De…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, whether it plans to take into account the cumulative impact of any forthcoming devolved and reserved policies that will reportedly have an impact on grocery reta…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, on what basis it plans to set price caps and whether it plans to take into account real-time supply chain costs and retailers’ operating cos…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, when it expects the cap would come into effect.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with Scotland Food & Drink regarding this proposal, including any potential impact on support from food businesses for its suppli…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what assessment it has made of any implications for the level of support from food businesses for the Food Standards Scotland's SAFER programme.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with Food Standards Scotland regarding this proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00062 on 2 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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the pledge in the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with the Strategic Business Forum regarding this proposal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government routinely engages with a broad range of stakeholders and is committed to sustaining meaningful and constructive engagement throughout the policy making process.We recognise the importance of working with relevant stakeholders, includin…
11 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand the availability of venture capital funding to aid business growth.
18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the tourism industry.
12 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the (a) number of woodland creation schemes over 500 hectares that have been funded in each year since 2010 and (b) size of each of these schemes.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Forestry Grant Scheme has funded 13 woodland creation projects over 500 hectares since 2015, the year the grant scheme opened.YearNo. Projects > 500 haProject Size (hectares)20150-20161559.13 ha20171803.68 ha20180-20192542.47 ha / 692.60 ha20200-202116…
12 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many woodland creation schemes of (a) up to two, (b) two to five, (c) six to 10, (d) 11 to 20, (e) 21 to 50, (f) 51 to 100, (g) 101 to 200 and (h) over 200 hectares have been approved in each year from 2017 to 2025, also broken down by total area of woodland in each category.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Statistics on the Forestry Grant Scheme are published monthly on the Scottish Forestry website, the January 2026 statistics are the latest available.A breakdown of how many woodland creation schemes of (a) up to two, (b) two to five, (c) six to 10, (d) 11 to …