Parliamentary questions
Liz Smith
954 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what events it has planned to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings on 6 June.
1 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund.
16 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what provision it is making to ensure that all school pupils have access to music tuition.
8 Apr 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its recent consultations with local authorities about community access to the school estate, including sports facilities.
19 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to make the granting of licence permissions conditional on payment of the real Living Wage, as part of its Fair Work Action Plan, and, if so, which types of licences it anticipates will be in scope.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21195 on 19 September 2023. In the meantime, we are focussing on the successful implementation of Fair Work First conditionality in public sector grants. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are avail…
19 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to make eligibility for business rate reliefs conditional on payment of the real Living Wage, as part of its Fair Work Action Plan, and, if so, which rate reliefs it anticipates will be in scope.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government’s Fair Work Action Plan sets out actions to promote fair and inclusive workplaces across Scotland. We are committed to using all levers at our disposal to extend Fair Work conditionality with clear standards and minimum requirements to…
18 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to measure the extent of economic inactivity in Scotland post-COVID-19 pandemic.
6 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which states that the 2024-25 Budget implied a real-terms reduction to health spending.
4 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would have been in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated gross cost of setting the Higher Property Rate equal to the Standard Multiplier in England. In England, in all three years, the Standard Multiplier was 51.2p, or 1.3p above the Small Business Multiplier of 49.9p. In Scotland, th…
21 Feb 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the potential impact of the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement on large retailers, as set out in its 2024-25 Scottish Budget.
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2024-25 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated cost of setting the Higher Property Rate at 54.6p (the rate at which in England, the Standard multiplier applying to properties with a rateable value equal to or over £51,000, will be set in 2024-2025), compared to 55.9p, after …
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue it estimates will be raised by the Budget decision to increase the Higher Property Rate by 6.7% in 2024-25, broken down by industry sector.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated additional gross income from setting the Higher Property Rate (HPR) at 55.9p, compared to keeping the HPR the same as in 2023-24 at 52.4p, after General Revaluation Transitional Relief is applied, in 2024-2025. The figures are n…
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue it estimates will be raised by the Budget decision to increase the Intermediate Property Rate by 6.7% in 2024-25, broken down by industry sector.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated additional gross income from setting the Intermediate Property Rate (IPR) at 54.5p, compared to keeping the IPR the same as in 2023-24, at 51.1p, after General Revaluation Transitional Relief is applied, in 2024-2025. The figure…
30 Jan 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an analysis of the potential impact that its 2024-25 Budget will have on primary care services.
29 Jan 2024 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the National Clinical Director has had in relation to the clinical review process for former patients of Professor Eljamel.
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the anticipated revenues that would be generated from the introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, once behavioural changes are taken into account.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement took place between ministers and businesses, particularly the retail sector and related industry bodies, about the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on? 18 January 2024. 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…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of retail businesses will be subject to the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on? 22 January 2024. 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…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used to determine which businesses will be subject to the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on? 22 January 2024. 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…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, what its position is on whether the introduction of such a levy is consistent with the intention stated in the New Deal for Business Implementation …
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on? 23 January 2024. 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…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates (NDR) public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, what its position is on whether the introduction of such a levy is consistent with the statement in the New Deal for Business Implementation P…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on? 23 January 2024. 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…
15 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of new homes started in rural areas.
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether it aims to hold a formal consultation on the introduction of any new levy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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…
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether retailers liable for the any new levy could also be subject to a workplace parking levy if their local authority has introduced such a measure.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 3 January 2024. 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…
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether it has assessed, or will assess, the potential impact of any new levy on the pay of store staff, including any bonuses that they may earn.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. 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…
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether it has assessed, or will assess, the potential impact of any new levy on support for new or renewal ballots for business improvement districts fr…
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on? 23 January 2024. 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…
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether the receipts from any new levy would be ring-fenced or hypothecated, and, if so, for what purpose.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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…
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether it aims to produce a business and regulatory impact assessment, or similar, as part of its consideration of any new levy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. 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…
12 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, when it hopes to be able to introduce any new levy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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…
6 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) business rate poundage and (b) large business supplement/higher property rate has been in each financial year since 2012-13.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24111 on? 18 January 2024. 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…