Parliamentary questions
Graham Simpson
867 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it carries out of the number of collisions and injuries involving cyclists and pedestrians at or around floating bus stops and bus boarders, and whether such incidents are separately identified in road casualty statistics.
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking, through guidance, engagement or training, to raise awareness among licensing authorities, taxi and private hire vehicle drivers and operators, and disabled passengers in Scotland, of the duties under sections 164A and 165A of the Equality Act 2010, as inserted by…
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the requirement for disabled National Entitlement Card holders whose condition is permanent, including people registered severely sight impaired, to renew their card periodically and re-submit evidence of eligibility, noting that cards issued to people aged 60…
22 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the implementation of Section 20 (2A) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, what guidance or regulation it has issued to licensing authorities on disability (a) equality and (b) awareness training for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers and what its position is on encou…
13 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the development of a funding model that recognises the heritage and community value of listed places of worship in Scotland.
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made regarding Delivery Plan for Sprint 1 for its Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Following the publication of the Life Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group’s (LSSILG) strategy in November 2025, the LSSILG published its delivery plan for sprint 1 in March 2026. Activity is underway across a range of priority actions to support…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) when the new cluster development organisation for Scottish life sciences, as set out in the Life Sciences Strategy for Scotland 2035 Vision, was, or will, be constituted, (b) what its role and remit are, and (c) what is, or will be, its governance and oversight structure.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: Strong industry led clusters are a proven means of delivering economic growth. The Scottish Government commissioned a report in 2025 to take views from industry and other stakeholders and inform the design of a cluster development function to augment and supp…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the role, remit, and governance and oversight structure for the NHS National Pharmaceutical Agency, which is listed as a responsibility of the Minister for Community Care, are or will be.
Answer · Alison Thewliss: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33626 on 3 February 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-committe…
22 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which minister has responsibility for life sciences policy and delivery, and what its position is for not including life sciences as a specific ministerial responsibility, as had previously been the case.
Answer · Stephen Flynn: I have overall responsibility for Life Sciences policy and delivery, as part of my wider remit for economic policy, including business, industry, manufacturing support and entrepreneurship.The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Life Sciences…
28 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward establishing a register of ancient woodlands.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In line with the action in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan, the development of a new Ancient Woodland Register is in progress.NatureScot is leading this and has set up a steering group which includes public bodies and wider stakeholders to support the…
21 May 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 the Scottish Grocers’ Federation in The Herald on 17 April 2026 that the policy could “threaten the viability&…
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…
21 May 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 reported comment from the Federation of Independent Retailers that the proposal “will distort trade and do nothing to help shops o…
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…
21 May 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 the Institute of Public Policy Research in The Times on 27 April 2026 that the policy is unlikely to make a “tangibl…
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…
21 May 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 the Food and Drink Federation in The Times on 17 April 2026 that the policy “risks undermining investment” and…
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…
21 May 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 discussions it has had with its Scottish Business Growth Group regarding 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…
21 May 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 reported comments from Prosper Scotland regarding the proposal “that it’s extremely hard to see how it could feasibly o…
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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what it anticipates the impact might be on farmgate prices from the policy.
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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what it anticipates the administrative implications might be for grocery staff from its implementation.
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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what other regulatory and legislative measures affecting grocery retailers are due to come into effect.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 will commence provisions extending the existing Retail Register, so that any retailer selling nicotine products and herbal smoking products must register in the same way as retail…
18 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, whether it has estimated the level of additional revenues that would be required by retailers to offset the cost of implementing 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…
18 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, how this policy would interact with existing rules on competition and avoid collusion and price fixing, which are designed to protect shoppers.
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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, how prices would be set and who would take that decision.
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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, whether the proposal will extend to distance sales or products purchased out with Scotland.
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 what consideration has been given to the interactions with other food or public health regulations with regards to the products that would be in scope of a statutory price cap on essential food items, if this were to be enacted as per the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitme…
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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with the Advertising Standards Authority 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…
18 May 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifestocommitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, whatdiscussions it has had with the Competition and Markets Authority regardingthis 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, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with the Groceries Code Adjudicator 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…
3 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make records on the Scotland's People website more readily available elsewhere.
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Scotland-based retail, hospitality and leisure firms that will be liable for the higher property rate in 2026-27 will be better placed to pay a higher non-domestic rate than their counterparts in England in similar sized premises.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Following the extended relief announced at Stage One of the Budget Bill, the Budget ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 7% lower in real terms measured by the Consumer Price Index than pre-COVID despite the number …
5 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the proposal in the draft Budget 2026-27 that retail, hospitality and leisure firms liable for the basic and intermediate property rate will be eligible for 15% non-domestic rates relief, how much it would cost to extend this to premises in this sector that are liab…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Internal Scottish Government estimates are that extending the 15% relief to non-domestic rates (NDR) for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) properties liable for the Basic or Intermediate Property Rate, capped at £110,000 per business per year, annou…