Parliamentary questions
Liz Smith
954 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is putting in place to attract younger people into the farming sector.
8 Mar 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of calls from Audit Scotland to establish a clear plan to increase transparency around spending on drug and alcohol services.
Answer · Angela Constance: I welcome Audit Scotland’s review into drug and alcohol services and their recommendations. We agree that more can be done to improve the accessibility and transparency of funding and how it is used. Currently information on funding allocation is available t…
2 Mar 2022 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment has been made of the new car park barrier system.
Answer · Claire Baker (On Behalf of the SPCB): The new vehicle entry system was one of several security enhancements to upgrade the security of the Service Yard. These enhancements were identified in the Police Scotland review commissioned by the SPCB in 2017, following the tragic attacks on Westminster …
28 Feb 2022 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures have been put in place to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Investment Bank following the resignation of Eilidh Mactaggart.
15 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to introduce legislation to support veterans during this parliamentary session.
2 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received free personal care, under Frank’s Law, since it came into effect in 2019.
24 Jan 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the outdoor education sector since December 2021.
14 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of elective surgeries were cancelled in each month since March 2020, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes monthly statistics relating to the number of cancelled planned operations at health board level, a summary of which is available the following link: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Ministers were first made aware that there had been a potential breach of state aid rules in relation to its contract with Tata Steel UK Ltd.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Government officials initially informed Ministers of the potential presence of State Aid with respect to its 2016 contract with Tata Steel UK on 17 August 2021. There was no breach of State Aid rules as no aid has ever been provided in the contract.
14 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the reference on page 12 of the Scottish Budget 2022-23, when the details of the proposed workplace parking levy scheme will be published.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to set up workplace parking licensing (WPL) schemes. The discretionary power to set up workplace parking licensing (WPL) schemes is intended as a tool for local authoritie…
14 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) business and (b) higher rate poundage (i) has been in each year since 1999-2000 and (ii) would be in 2022-23 under the proposals in its Budget.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The following table shows the poundage, property rate supplements, and property rate thresholds (rateable value) for each year from 1999-2000 to 2022-2023: Table 1: Poundage and Property Rate Supplements Year Poundage (pence) Large Business Supplement (pe…
14 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue from non-domestic rates it expects would be generated in 2022-23 from the increase in the poundage rate proposed in its Budget, broken down by industry sector.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Budget continues to deliver the lowest poundage in the UK for the fourth year in a row, with a below inflation increase to 49.8p proposed in 2022-23. Compared to maintaining the poundage at the current rate of 49p, we estimate that this a will ra…
14 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates will be raised by the higher property rate in 2022-23, broken down by industry sector, and how many properties in each industry sector will be liable for the supplement.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Table 1 presents the estimated number of properties with a Higher Property Rate (HPR) liability in 2022-23, and the gross additional non-domestic rates income estimated to be raised in 2022-23 through the HPR, by property class. Table 1 shows gross amounts a…
14 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its proposal that rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue at 50% for the first three months of 2022-23, whether this rates reduction will be awarded automatically, or will businesses be required to apply for it.
Answer · Tom Arthur: In order to ensure that relief is only awarded to eligible businesses who wish to claim support, retail, hospitality, and leisure non-domestic rates relief will be application-based in 2022-23, as it was in 2021-22.
13 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) insurance industry regarding (i) the issue of reimbursing COVID-19-related domestic trip cancellations and (ii) whether there is a need for consistency across providers.
Answer · Ivan McKee: At present there are no restrictions on domestic travel therefore no specific discussions have been tabled with the UK Government. The majority of domestic trips are able to go ahead however we are asking that people be cautious when travelling and choosing a…
29 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in 2021 to adopt greener bus transport across Scotland.
1 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to protect the autonomy of Scotland’s universities.
26 Oct 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions the constitution secretary is taking to continually improve interactions with the other devolved administrations as well as the UK Government.
11 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the NHS Tayside oncologists who were found by the General Medical Council to have acted appropriately, in line with professional clinical practice, when administering treatment to breast cancer patients, despite concerns expressed in the 2019 Health Impro…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government representatives last met with oncologists in Tayside linked with the HIS report in July 2020, where all independent reviews of the service were discussed, as well the ongoing delivery of the breast cancer services in Tayside. During the wo…
7 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the board of NHS Tayside regarding how it supports oncologists.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government officials have a weekly call with NHS Tayside’s Cancer Team to track all patients on an urgent suspicion of cancer (USC) pathway and update on service delivery, including workforce. To support Cancer and Diagnostic services the Scottish …
7 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the board of NHS Tayside regarding the recruitment of oncologists.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government officials have a weekly call with NHS Tayside’s Cancer Team to track all patients on an urgent suspicion of cancer (USC) pathway and update on service delivery, including workforce. In March 2021, after a request for national support, Sc…
7 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the board of NHS Tayside regarding patients who reportedly received under-doses of the drug, docetaxel.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following concerns raised about prescribing practice in 2016, a range of independent reviews were conducted and regular discussion was had with the board of NHS Tayside. In July 2021, following matters raised by a patient group in the media, SG officials reac…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans and policy regarding the freeze on council tax.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government's policy in relation to locally determined Council Tax increases will be set out as part of future Scottish Budget outcomes.
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish a response to the review of the Town Centre Action Plan.
Answer · Tom Arthur: We are working collaboratively with COSLA and partners to prepare a response to the review of the Town Centre Action Plan which will be published later this year. A joint interim response with COSLA was published in March 2021 and can be found at: https://w…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to run a government-funded retail advertising campaign to enhance footfall in city centres in advance of the Christmas period.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government is aware of the issues facing city centre retail and related sectors as a result of the pandemic. The City Centre Recovery Task Force has engaged with external stakeholders, including those from the retail sector, to inform its recomme…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to lift the cap on what an individual firm can apply for through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Year Five of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, which commenced in August, will be delivered in the same model as Year 4. Levy payers will continue to have access to up to £15,000 worth of training and Small and Medium Enterprises up to £5,000 worth of …
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to introduce a high street voucher scheme similar to that in Northern Ireland.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is supporting the rollout of the new Scotland Loves Local Loyalty Card, part of our £10 million Scotland Loves Local programme. The card is a quick and efficient way to encourage spend and sales growth in our local economies and, than…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to levy a higher poundage on properties registered in a tax haven.
Answer · Tom Arthur: We will explore the possibility of levying a higher poundage on properties where the owner is registered in a tax haven, as well as tackling other known tax avoidance tactics using anti-avoidance powers provided by the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020.
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the conclusions and recommendations of its City Centre Recovery taskforce.
Answer · Kate Forbes: We will publish the conclusions and recommendations of the City Centre Recovery Task Force this autumn.
13 Sep 2021 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with local authorities regarding spectators returning to watch school sports events.