Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,644 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
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, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what was the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length …
Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not held centrally. Information on the outcome of court cases is held by Scottish Courts and Tribunals Services (SCTS). Scottish Government (SG) receive a subset of information regularly for use in the Criminal Disposals Dashboard…
21 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody 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 they were remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median, and (iii) 90th percentile length of…
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 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 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 time on remand was…
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 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 length of time …
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…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it plans to undertake ahead of any decision on the introduction of greening measures for permanent grassland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Government will continue to work with the industry to ensure conditions are right before any final decisions are made, this will include stakeholder organisations, farmers and crofters directly through user research, workshops and/ or engagement sess…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with island agricultural sectors regarding the land requirement increase from 5% to 7% for greening measures.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Extensive engagement ensured Enhanced Greening requirements are proportionate for farmers, crofters, and small farms.Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable.…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the economic impact on the beef and dairy sector of potential future greening requirements on permanent grassland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: In exploring the potential of permanent grassland greening requirements, Officials worked with stakeholder organisations, including the National Farmers Union for Scotland, Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), Policy Development Group, a…
15 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the suitability of current ecological focus area activities for farming in Orkney.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Extensive engagement ensured Enhanced Greening requirements are proportionate for farmers, crofters, and small farms.Officials commissioned academic advice to model the impact of the changes to ensure the transitional change was proportionate and deliverable.…
5 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding innovation funding and policy development for wave and wider marine energy, what engagement it has had with the UK Government and Great British Energy within the last 12 months; on what date and through which channels any such engagement took place, an…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Government officials meet frequently with their counterparts in the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to discuss all areas of marine energy policy.The Scottish Government, along with the UK Government and Great British…
25 Feb 2026 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in rural and island communities.
18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish responses to its consultation on a potential point of entry levy.
11 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35293 by Paul McLennan on 7 March 2025, when it plans to publish the next local authority analysis for the Scottish House Condition Survey.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Further to the response provided in question S6W-35293;The Scottish Government publishes local authority analysis using a three-year pooled data set to ensure sufficient sample sizes. As set out in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2023 Key Findings Report …
4 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the agricultural sector in Orkney on changes being made to Ecological Focus Area activities.
30 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the removal of peak ferry fares for Northern Isles ferry services will also apply to (a) cabin and (b) car bookings.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The removal of mid and peak islander fares on Northern Isles Ferry Services will apply to passenger, cabin and car bookings.Officials are working with NorthLink on the detail and timing of implementation and further details will be confirmed in due course.
28 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Men’s Shed movement on the issue of men’s health in Scotland, and how it plans to work with the Men’s Shed movement and similar groups in the future, including on the introduction of a men’s health strategy.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution the Men’s Shed movement makes to men’s health and wellbeing, particularly in reducing social isolation and loneliness and supporting positive mental health. Once seen as projects support…
27 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether the Air Discount Scheme will be continued in its current from after March 2026.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Ministers have confirmed that the Air Discount Scheme will continue to operate beyond 31 March 2026 and are also considering how the Scheme could be reviewed.
23 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41439 by Shona Robison on 6 November 2025, whether it will provide an update on when it will publish the results of, and response to, its consultation on a cruise ship levy.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continues to review relevant evidence and analysis as part of our ongoing consideration of a cruise ship levy. The formal analysis will be published in due course.
23 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement by the UK Government on 19 November 2025 that it will develop a Men’s Health Strategy, what consideration it has given to developing a similar strategy for Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to improving life expectancy and tackling health inequalities across the whole population, and delivering concrete actions to improve men’s health across key areas rather than developing a separate standalone strateg…
23 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement by the UK Government on 19 November 2025 that it will develop a Men’s Health Strategy, what representations it has received in support of a similar strategy being developed for Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to improving life expectancy and tackling health inequalities across the whole population.During the development of Scotland’s Population Health Framework in 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care met…
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates for local communities that rely on self-catering accommodation to support population retention and local services.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values on…
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the effect of the draft rateable value increases on the long-term economic resilience of rural areas dependent on tourism.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42507 on 22 December 2025. 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…
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support local authorities to manage any potential increases in business distress or closures linked to the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates for self-catering properties.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Budget 2025-26 supported local government with £14.4 billion in revenue funding and the 2026-27 local government finance settlement will be set out in the Scottish Budget on 13 January.The Scottish Government’s policy towards local au…
5 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41814 by GillianMartin on 25 November 2025, how it is investing in Scotland’s water and sewagenetwork to ensure it is fully able to cope with expected increases of heavyrainfall events in the future.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is investing £1.03bn to support Scottish Water's £6bn investment programme for the period 2021-27. The Strategic Review of Charges process is underway to establish the maximum level of charges for the period 2027-33. As par…
5 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41814 by Gillian Martin on 25 November 2025, whether it has carried out a cost analysis of the expansion of the monitoring coverage to all remaining overflow locations in Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:"The cost of providing an overflow monitor varies between £7,000 and £11,000 for the majority of locations. However, some sites with comple…
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41729 by Angela Constance on 18 November 2025, how many prisoners mistakenly released from Scotland's prisons have not been returned to prison, in each of the last five years, including 2025-26 to date.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: A range of checks are carried out before the release of a prisoner is authorised including but not limited to, an identity check o…
3 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase awareness of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in light of a recent survey by Crohn's & Colitis UK, which found that around half of respondents from Scotland are not very familiar with IBD, and over three in five do not know that IBD can be life-threatening.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are s…
2 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 15% increase in thefts from shops, as reported in the latest Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, and what its position is on future funding for the Retail Crime Taskforce.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling retail crime was reaffirmed in our Programme for Government and through the additional £3 million in the 2025-26 budget, to assist Police Scotland’s work on this.This makes clear our strong su…
27 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, on what date in 2026 it will launch its new app to “help people access personalised public services more easily”.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Directorate recognises the importance of providing clarity on the app's planned launch date. At present a specific launch date in 2026 has not yet been confirmed.Final timelines depend on ongoing development, testing and regulatory requirements to ensure …
27 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, for what purposes its planned digital public services app will require digital proof of age, and what specifically the app will allow users to access by providing such proo…
Answer · Ivan McKee: There is no requirement for proof of age to use the app. There will be the opportunity for citizens to use the app with the digital wallet to prove their age if they wish to.