Murdo Fraser

14 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what policy changes it has implemented as a result of issues raised in the New Deal for Business Group Report on progress and recommendations.

8 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the total cost of its Building a New Scotland series of papers, including the recently published Migration to Scotland after independence paper.

30 Oct 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the extreme delays reportedly being encountered by users of the A9 north of Dunkeld due to SGN gas pipe replacement works.

25 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to enable the production of sustainable aviation fuel in Scotland and reduce reliance on imports.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22464 on 7 November 2023. 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…

25 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel by the sector in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government continues to explore options for incentivising the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as it develops its Aviation Strategy, recognising that transitioning to SAF is a crucial factor in the worldwide effort to decarbo…

16 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any work that its Constitutional Futures Division is doing to further the case for Scottish independence.  

19 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the next set of export statistics will be published.  

4 Sep 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of short-term let operators have applied to be licensed in advance of the deadline for applications under the licensing scheme of 1 October.

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Tayside Elective Care Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary will be officially opened.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Treatment Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary is currently in the process of submitting their Outline Business Case to the Capital Investment Group, once this is approved a Full Business Case will be developed and upon its approval we will be able to…

7 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many deer it estimates are currently covered by deer management work by its agencies, and what the estimated cost to the public purse is in the current financial year.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Deer management covers a range of work, including culling deer and other damage mitigation actions such as deer fencing which can have an effect on deer movement and impacts. The estimated cost to public agencies for all deer management actions in 2022-23, i…

7 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much deer management is currently done (a) by its agencies and (b) privately.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Deer management covers a range of work, including culling deer and other damage mitigation actions such as deer fencing which can have an effect on deer movement and impacts. We do not hold figures for the overall breakdown of deer management actions underta…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the estimated last date will be that rural residents in Fife can expect to have superfast broadband installed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Reaching 100% (R100) programme is ensuring that all homes and businesses can access superfast broadband. This commitment is being delivered through three strands of activity – the £600 million R100 contracts (North, Central and South), our R100 Scottish B…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the estimated last date will be that rural residents in Perth and Kinross can expect to have superfast broadband installed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Reaching 100% (R100) programme is ensuring that all homes and businesses can access superfast broadband. This is being delivered through three strands of activity – the £600 million R100 contracts (North, Central and South), our R100 Scottish Broadband Vo…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has been a delay in the R100 programme from the original target date of 2021.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The R100 superfast broadband commitment was delivered by ensuring that everyone could access a superfast broadband connection, if they chose to, by the end of 2021 either through the R100 contracts, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme or commercial cov…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects that the R100 superfast broadband programme will be completed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The R100 programme is expected to be completed by March 2028 when the final connections in the R100 North contract are delivered. Around 99% of the connections being delivered through the R100 contracts are full-fibre, capable of delivering speeds of 1,000 M…

13 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it and NHS Scotland are taking to implement the recommendations of the Cass Review into gender identity services for children and young people, as they apply to Scotland.

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in the last academic year, including in relation to any projects designed to support apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The most up-to-date data on Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) spend for Academic Year 22-23, as provided by the Scottish Funding Council to the end of March 2023 and Skills Development Scotland to early June 2023, (rounded to nearest thousand): In d…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has received through the Barnett formula as a result of the Apprenticeship Levy in the last full academic year.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17843 on 23 May 2023. 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/…

17 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest data reportedly showing that a majority of Scottish taxpayers now pay higher income tax than those elsewhere in the UK.

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether entitlement to the Small Business Bonus Scheme should be granted automatically to eligible ratepayers, as opposed to it having to be claimed for.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Public bodies have a duty to manage public finances appropriately and this includes ensuring that procedures for administering relief are suitably robust. Most reliefs generally require an application to be made to the local authority except for universally …

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the Small Business Bonus Scheme to eligible ratepayers.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Scottish Government and local authority websites provide information on a range of non-domestic rates reliefs, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme, with advice on eligibility criteria and how to apply. It also has a Non-Domestic Rates Calculator which i…

10 May 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist any businesses that are struggling to recruit skilled workers.

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from the Scottish Budget 2023-24 has been allocated to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.  

Answer · Graeme Dey: We are currently considering the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in 2023-24 as part of ongoing budget discussions. We will communicate the outcome as soon as a final decision has been reached.

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to work with the business sector to alleviate any concerns regarding whether their demand is being met in relation to Scottish Government spending on apprenticeships. 

Answer · Graeme Dey: Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a skilled w…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the academic year 2022-23, how much it (a) received through the apprenticeship levy and (b) spent to fund apprenticeships through the (i) Flexible Workforce Development Fund and (ii) Scottish Government Apprenticeship programme. 

Answer · Graeme Dey: The UK Government Apprenticeship Levy is a reserved tax on employers which was implemented by the UK Government. Scotland receives a proportionate share of tax revenues via the block grant as per the Fiscal Framework agreement with UK Treasury. On 14 Novembe…

2 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce waiting times for NHS Scotland’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

19 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people, who have been sentenced for a crime, were aged under 25 when they pled guilty, or were found guilty, since 26 January 2022.

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the public has been informed of the closure of the Dumb Dumpers fly tipping reporting service.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Previously the public were able to report flytipping via the Dumb Dumpers system (whereby reports could either be made online to Zero Waste Scotland, or via a telephone hotline hosted by SEPA) and to local authorities directly. As of 1 April 2023, the Dumb …

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how members of the public can report incidents of fly tipping, now that the Dumb Dumpers reporting service has been closed.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Members of the public should report flytipping incidents directly to the relevant local authority. Local authorities will involve other enforcement agencies such as SEPA and Police Scotland into relevant investigations as required, as they do currently, when…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Dumb Dumpers fly tipping reporting service, through which members of the public could previously report incidents of fly tipping, is no longer operating as of 1 April 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Previously the public were able to report flytipping via two parallel mechanisms: the Dumb Dumpers system (whereby reports could either be made online to Zero Waste Scotland, or via a telephone hotline hosted by SEPA) and to local authorities directly. From 1…