Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,644 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reforming permitted development rights in order to accelerate the deployment of mobile telecommunications infrastructure.
13 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to comments from the Scottish Retail Consortium, as reported in The Sunday Times on 12 July 2026, that, 12 weeks on from the policy announcement,…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 July 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-commi…
13 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to comments by the Food & Drink Federation Scotland, as reported in The Sunday Times on 12 July 2026, that such a policy could lead retailers…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 July 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-commi…
7 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the comments from members of its own Retail Industry Leadership Group in The Sunday Times on 5 July 2026 that the policy risks "higher pric…
Answer · Tom Arthur: Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government and we will be taking forward a full consultation on this proposal within the first 100 days. Potential unintended consequences are and mitigations being fully considered as part of t…
7 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what representations it has received on the policy from (a) industry bodies and (b) trade associations.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government remains committed to committed to publishing draft legislative provisions and progressing work on the price cap on essential food items. We have engaged constructively with a range of industry bodies and trade associations, which have …
7 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what additional resources will be required for local authority trading standards to (a) monitor and (b) enforce the policy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: We are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders, including trading standards representatives, to support considered and informed discussion on this policy, and to ensure effective implementation that delivers on our core aim of making the weekly…
7 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, when the policy was first intimated to grocery retailers and/or their representatives.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government remains committed to committed to publishing draft legislative provisions and progressing work on the price cap on essential food items. We continue to engage constructively with all relevant stakeholders and representative groups to s…
24 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises it anticipates will be excluded from non-domestic rates relief as a result of the proposed exclusion of vape shops, including how many of these premises are specialist vape retailers as opposed to mixed-use convenience stores or other types of retailer.
Answer · Ivan McKee: As announced in Parliament by the Deputy First Minister on 23 June 2026, from 1 April 2027, we will remove non-domestic rates relief from vape shops. We want to ensure vape shops are contributing to the high street, recognising the growth of the sector in rec…
24 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it plans to provide to local authorities and assessors regarding the classification of premises that sell vaping products alongside groceries, newspapers, confectionery or other retail goods.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01304 on 6 July 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-commit…
24 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what appeals process will be available to a business that has been classified as a vape shop and excluded from non-domestic rates relief.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01304 on 6 July 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-commit…
24 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a threshold for the proportion of a retailer’s turnover, floor space or product range that must be attributable to vaping products for a premises to be classified as a vape shop and therefore excluded from non-domestic rates relief.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01304 on 6 July 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-commit…
24 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government's statement to the Parliament on 23 June 2026 on Non-domestic Rates, how it will define a vape shop for the purposes of determining eligibility for non-domestic rates relief and what criteria…
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01304 on 6 July 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-commit…
24 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk that retailers offering a limited range of vaping products could be excluded from non-domestic rates relief, even where such products represent only a small proportion of their overall business activity.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01304 on 6 July 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-commit…
9 Jun 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address workforce planning challenges in staff recruitment and retention for health and social care services in Orkney.
2 Jun 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney.
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what timeline has been agreed for the £500 million investment to extend free childcare to children aged between nine months and 12-years-old that it announced in March 2026.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government is in the early stages of work to develop a future childcare expansion. This will draw on learning from the delivery of the expansion to 1140 hours, insights from our work in Early Adopter Communities, and the experience and voices of …
26 May 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the resilience of island communities.
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by justice of the peace courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile lengt…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by sheriff courts but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by sheriff courts, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of tim…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by justice of the peace courts, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile …
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against, (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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/…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by sheriff courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on …
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by justice of the peace courts but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by the High Court of the Judiciary but given a non-custodial sentence, and what was the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand for such individuals, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by sheriff courts but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by sheriff courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which they were remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on reman…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by the High Court of the Judiciary and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which they were remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length…
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00263 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…