Parliamentary questions
Daniel Johnson
1,103 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy has taken, since entering her post, to set up the Small Business Unit.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Both the Cabinet Secretary and myself as Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade are committed to deepening and strengthening our relationship with business, not only through better engagement and communication, but by actively aligning our…
28 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy has taken, since entering her post, to implement the recommendations of the New Deal for Business Group.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Since the New Deal for Business Group published its implementation plan in October 2023, there have been a number of achievements, including re-instating the establishment of the Regulatory Review Group (RRG). The RRG is now beginning to deliver strong engage…
28 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which of Scotland’s trade unions the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy has met with since entering her post, and when.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Since taking on my expanded portfolio as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, I have formally met with a number of trade unions. I attended a meeting with GMB on 27 February in relation to Ferguson Marine, Port Glasgow. I also met wit…
25 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regarding using the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth as an incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to improve the sustainability of current products in Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: The regulation for the pricing and supply of medicines is reserved to the UK Government. Scottish Government officials worked closely with their counterparts in the UK Government during the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growt…
13 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to grow Scotland's creative industries.
11 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support, including for (a) start-up costs, (b) introduction payments and (c) marketing support and promotional campaigns, (i) it and (ii) VisitScotland has paid, or allocated, to airlines since 2017, broken down by the (A) airline and (B) route.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Transport Scotland, VisitScotland and Scottish Development International work as one Government team to help Scotland’s airports grow international connectivity. In the case of target routes and strategic markets, support takes the form primarily of collabor…
8 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how progress towards the 58 actions published in its The Entrepreneurial Campus report will be monitored, and when any progress report will be published.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has been progressing delivery of the 10 year Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint through integration with existing policies. This includes brokering new partnerships between Techscaler and key universities, aligning with the National Inno…
8 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the innovation scorecard, which is part of its National Innovation Strategy, will be published.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The National Innovation Strategy included an action to publish an annual innovation scorecard. These key metrics will enable us to track our progress towards becoming one of the most innovative small nations over the next decade. The framework for the scorec…
8 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24181 by Neil Gray on 16 January 2024, how many jobs it anticipates will be created as part of the £500 million commitment to offshore wind supply chains.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Offshore wind was highlighted by the First Minister’s Investor Panel as the single most important opportunity for attracting capital to Scotland and raising Scotland’s wider investment profile. Our up to £500m strategic investment will stimulate and support p…
8 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of interventions that have been implemented in Scotland's two Investment Zones to date.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish and UK Governments are collaborating with the Regional Economic Partnerships for the Glasgow City Region and the North East of Scotland, as they develop compelling and complementary propositions for Scotland’s two Investment Zones. The proposals …
8 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what metrics will be used to evaluate Investment Zones, and how often progress will be monitored.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is working collaboratively with the UK Government to establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to cover the Investment Zones in Scotland. The information and metrics included within the framework will be determined by the detail…
27 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the impact in Scotland, whether it will make representations to the UK Government to ensure that investment to support the manufacture of wind turbine jackets is included within the scope of the Green Industries Growth Accelerator.
Answer · Gillian Martin: We are liaising with the UK Government on its plans for the Green Industries Growth Accelerator to ensure that infrastructure and supply chain for offshore wind are supported via the fund. We are keen to collaborate with the UK Government to ensure GIGA fundi…
27 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next cohort of investment proposals in the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council's (SOWEC) Strategic Investment Model will be announced.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Strategic Investment Model (SIM) is a novel industry-led approach for the offshore wind sector in Scotland. On 20 February 2024 SIM group published details of 32 of the 38 projects that have successfully completed stage one of the SIM selection process a…
27 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is giving consideration to ensuring regional balance across the successful investment proposals progressed through the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council's (SOWEC) Strategic Investment Model.
Answer · Gillian Martin: As the world’s largest commercial round for floating offshore wind, ScotWind puts Scotland at the forefront of offshore wind development globally. The Strategic Investment Model (SIM) is coordinated by offshore wind developers, the Scottish Government, enter…
27 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support renewables manufacturing in Scotland for those sites not within designated green ports or investment zones.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Our strategic investment of up to £500 million over the next five years will help stimulate and support private investment in the infrastructure and manufacturing facilities critical to the growth of our world-leading offshore wind sector. We are kick-startin…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided to the Scottish Growth Scheme, and, of that funding, how much has been allocated to businesses, in each year since the scheme was established.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has committed £97 million (over the 10 year period to 31st March 2029) to the Scottish Growth Scheme which was established in December 2018 and operational during financial year 2019-20. In the 4 year period to 31st March 2023 the Scot…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government from where the release of £6.2 million from the Lifelong Learning and Skills budget to support other Scottish Government priorities came, as outlined in the 2023-24 Autumn Budget Revision.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The published 2023-24 Autumn Budget Revision at the link below shares that this funding came from the release of emerging/planned underspends from Lifelong Learning and Skills to support other SG priorities. Autumn Budget Revision 2023 to 2024: supporting doc…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government from where the £12.8 million "emerging and planned underspend" in the Lifelong Learning and Skills budget came, as outlined in the 2023-24 Spring Budget Revision.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The £12.8 million of savings outlined in the 2023-24 Spring Budget Revision and published on 1 Feb 2024 was based on expected and planned underspend across various Lifelong Learning and Skills(LLS) budget lines. These include a mix of demand led activities a…
1 Feb 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, whether such a levy would be in addition to the intermediate property rate where that applies.
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…
1 Feb 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, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any new levy on the behaviour of retailers that are liable for the new levy and also become liable…
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…
1 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with Public Health Scotland regarding the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers prior to the announcement 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-committ…
1 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it hopes to publish its refreshed Framework for Tax.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Framework for Tax has since been superseded by our commitment in last year’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to develop our strategic approach to tax as part of this year’s MTFS publication. This will be published for public consultation with the MT…
1 Feb 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 analysis it has undertaken of the potential implications of any new levy for store fit-outs and on those who provide such services, including bu…
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…
1 Feb 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 it anticipates the (a) administrative and (b) cost implications for local authorities would be for implementing 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…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what type of building would be expected to connect to heat networks as part of a proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Bill consultation proposes that local authorities and the Scottish Ministers may be provided with powers to require buildings within a Heat Network Zone to end their use of polluting heating systems (by a certain date and with a minimum …
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, how heat network developers would be expected to connect waste and recoverable heat sources to heat networks, and what market mechanisms and incentives would be proposed to encourage developers to do this.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government recognises that maximizing the use of recoverable or waste heat, which at present goes unused, remains a priority. For heat network developers, there are clear incentives to connect to this heat as it can be an economical source of he…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it anticipates would be provided to (a) the Scottish Ministers and (b) local authorities to ensure that certain types of buildings are connected to a heat network as part of a proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Bill consultation proposes that local authorities and the Scottish Ministers may be provided with powers to require buildings within a heat network zone to end their use of polluting heating systems (by a certain date, and with a minimum…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what amendments to the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 it anticipates will be included in a proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government is considering using the proposals for a Heat In Buildings Bill (as set out in consultation document “Delivering Net Zero for Scotland’s Buildings: Changing the way we heat our homes and buildings”, published November 2023) to make two…
12 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 alternative levies or taxes it considered as a means of generating additional revenue.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The announcement in the Scottish Budget 2024-25 signalled the Scottish Government’s intent to explore the reintroduction of a Public Health Supplement for large retailers in advance of the next Budget. As set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget publication, th…
12 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 (a) the principles set out in its Framework for Tax and (b) its p…
Answer · Tom Arthur: The announcement in the Scottish Budget 2024-25 signalled the Scottish Government’s intent to explore the reintroduction of a Public Health Supplement for large retailers in advance of the next Budget. The exploratory work will be carried out in compliance wi…