Murdo Fraser

4 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help people in homeless households into permanent accommodation. 

2 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect rare forms of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in Loch Rannoch.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The importance of Loch Rannoch as a site for Arctic charr sympatric divergence is well documented. Loch Rannoch is included within the boundary of the River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and as such it receives the highest level of environmental pro…

2 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect the genetic, ecological and morphometric forms of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Loch Laidon.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Loch Laidon, as a habitat for freshwater fish species, receives protection through its inclusion within the boundary of the Rannoch Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest / Special Area of Conservation and the Rannoch Lochs Special Protection Area. Outwith …

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2026-27 of bringing the higher property rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Decisions on Budget are made in the context of the prevailing economic conditions and government priorities. We have had to consider how best to target support within limited finances but also acknowledge that it is no longer possible to directly compare tax …

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided not to extend retail, hospitality and leisure rates relief to premises that are liable for the higher property rate.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Decisions on Budget are made in the context of the prevailing economic conditions and government priorities. We have had to consider how best to target support within limited finances.The draft Scottish Budget 2026-27, announced on 13 January, ensures the est…

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to raise from the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, and business sectors, from the higher property rate in 2026-27.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Internal Scottish Government estimates are that the non-domestic rates (NDR) revenue raised from properties liable for the Higher Property Rate (HPR) will be around £2.7 billion in 2026-27, of which around £648 million is expected to be raised fro…

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fulfil the commitments in the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto and subsequent Framework For Tax, and the recommendation of the Barclay review of non-domestic tax rates, to restore the level playing field with England for retail, hospitality, and leisur…

Answer · Ivan McKee: Decisions on Budget are made in the context of the prevailing economic conditions and government priorities. We have had to consider how best to target support within limited finances but also acknowledge that it is no longer possible to directly compare tax …

27 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not brought the higher property rate into line with that in England, as recommended by the Barclay review of non-domestic tax rates.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43556 on 10 February 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-committ…

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-Budget submission to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, that the new retail, hospitality and leisure sectors' rates relief “is less ge…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The non-domestic rates liability that applies to a property depends on its rateable value, the rate that applies and any reliefs that it is in receipt of. Shops are expected to see an increase in rateable value of 6% at the 2026 revaluation in Scotland while …

27 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made in dealing with the issue of short-formed trains on services between Fife and Edinburgh.

26 Jan 2026 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the finding from UKHospitality Scotland that licensed premises face, on average, an 86% increase in non-domestic rates as a result of the current revaluation.

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether national guidance is required regarding the position of councillors who are subject to criminal proceedings holding ceremonial or civic positions. 

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises that councillors are elected representatives and that local authorities are independent, statutory bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, separate from the Scottish Government.In line with the Verity House Agreem…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of the current Ethical Standards Framework, in relation to local councillors, to ensure that it protects public confidence in local democracy.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Ethical Standards Framework sets out the high standards of conduct expected of councillors while acting in that capacity, helping to underpin public confidence in local democratic decision making.The Standards Commission for Scotland is the independent bo…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the adequacy of existing legislation regarding serving councillors who face serious criminal charges and whether they should be suspended from office or subject to temporary restrictions during the period in which any charges are being investigated or pros…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is considering proposals for amendments to the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 proposed by a joint review by the Ethical Standards Commissioner and Standards Commission. As the same Act would need to be amende…

6 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist businesses that have seen a significant proposed increase in rateable value as a result of the current revaluation for non-domestic rates.

6 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments from the former chair of the Scottish Government’s Retail Industry Leadership Group, Andrew Murphy, in The Times on 22 December 2025, that if Scotland does not follow England and introduce a permanent business rate discount for all retail premis…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The draft Budget ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by CPI than pre-COVID, despite the number of properties on the valuation roll increasing in that time, and introduces the lowest …

6 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what business and regulatory impact assessment was undertaken prior to the First Minister’s announcement of a new defence sector support policy on 3 September 2025, and whether it will publish this.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Given the situation in Gaza, the First Minister announced on 3 September 2025 a pause on new awards of public money to defence companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that…

6 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its current business and regulatory impact assessment in relation to its defence sector support policy, which was updated on 3 September 2025, including the number of any affected companies.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Given the situation in Gaza, the First Minister announced on 3 September 2025 a pause on new awards of public money to defence companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that…

16 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of AI in the composition of judicial judgements.

1 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by the Scottish Retail Consortium in The Herald on 1 December 2025 that if Scotland did not follow England in introducing a retail-specific discounted business rate, it will "become a materially less attractive investment option” and that this co…

Answer · Ivan McKee: In its 2025-26 Budget, the Scottish Government maintained a competitive non-domestic rates package including the most generous small business rates relief in the UK.The retail sector continues to be one of the main beneficiaries of the Small Business Bonus Sc…

1 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from representatives of the retail industry following the decision in the UK Budget to implement a retail-specific discounted business rate in England from April 2026.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Following the decision in the UK Budget to implement a retail-specific discounted business rate in England from April 2026, the Scottish Government has received representations from retail representative organisations including the Scottish Retail Consortium …

1 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by the Scottish Retail Consortium in The Herald on 1 December 2025 that if Scotland did not follow England in introducing a retail-specific discounted business rate, then it will "be at odds with" the vision of its Retail Industry Leader…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government offers a competitive non-domestic rates regime to support businesses and communities worth an estimated £730 million in 2025-26, with nearly half of all non-domestic properties in Scotland paying no rates. This includes the Small…

1 Dec 2025 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 to provide additional flexibilities for local authorities during the remainder of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government plans to introduce an amending bill to Parliament early in the new year. If passed, the Bill will still allow local authorities to charge a percentage based visitor levy, but for those that require a different model the Bill will intro…

1 Dec 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what funding is in place to ensure that the A9 dualling project is completed by the target date of 2035.

25 Nov 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the visitor levy on businesses operating in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

17 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-05099 by Neil Gray on 5 November 2025 regarding patient safety at NHS Grampian arising from faulty sterilising equipment, whether it will provide an update on how it will apply the Scottish Public Finance Manual provisions on redress where maladmini…

Answer · Neil Gray: The advice remains that the complainant seeks a view from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman on whether maladministration has occurred, and if so, appropriate remedy.As set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, Annex 1:The Scottish Public Services Om…

3 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money in each local authority area has been raised from sporting rates in each of the last five years, also broken down by how much was then passed to the Scottish Land Fund to help fund community purchases of land.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Table 1 shows the estimated net non-domestic rates income from shooting rights, from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025, broken down by council area. These are based on snapshot data of relief awards from June or July in each year, and on valuation data from 1 October in…

29 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns regarding patient safety at NHS Grampian arising from faulty sterilising equipment, whether an independent investigation into the procurement practices will be held.

1 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Innovation Investment Programme, which was announced in the National Innovation Strategy and expected to be delivered in early 2024, is not in place.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to establishing Scotland as a leading start-up nation that fosters innovation, creates jobs, and accelerates economic growth.Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy noted the importance of investing in innovation and…

1 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the National Productivity Programme, which was referred to in the National Innovation Strategy in 2023.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy sets out an ambitious programme of actions which aim to use innovation as a key driver of productivity and economic growth.Since 2007 productivity has grown at an average rate of 0.9% per year compa…