Parliamentary questions
Alexander Burnett
1,406 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jul 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its Emergency Heating Oil Scheme, how many applications in each local authority area have been (a) received, (b) approved, broken down by the total amount paid out, and (c) rejected.
11 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average daily traffic flow volume has been on the A96 trunk road between Aberdeen and Inverness, in each year since 2020.
Answer · Tom Arthur: A table containing the average daily traffic flows on the A96 in each year since 2020 has been lodged with SPICe, BIB number: 66727
5 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage private investment in geothermal energy.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00791 on 12 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/…
5 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution geothermal energy could make to Scotland's energy security.
Answer · Stephen Gethins: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00834 on 12 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/…
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Account Commission's report, Integration Joint Boards: Finance bulletin 2024/25, which was published in February 2026, what its response is to the Commission's warning that, without radical change, the services delivered by Integration Joint Boards cannot be sustain…
Answer · Angela Constance: We are taking bold and ambitious action to reform and renew our health and care systems in line with our vision where people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives while recognising the financial pressures facing the health and social care sector no…
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of local government funding was formally ring-fenced or otherwise directed to national policy objectives in each of the last three years, and what its response is to the Accounts Commission's finding that ring-fencing and directed spending reduce local authorities' flexib…
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The vast majority of funding (97.9% in 2026-27) continues to be provided to councils by means of a block grant from the Scottish Government. This is set out in the final Annex of the relevant Local Government Finance Circular, for example, Annex K of Local Go…
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for refunds of non-domestic rates paid on unoccupied properties since April 2023 have been received by local authorities, and what the total value of those claims is.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Act 2026 (the Act) clarified the legal basis for local authorities to levy rates on the owners of unoccupied properties, subject to any reliefs that local authorities may choose to put in…
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any direction or guidance to Local Government Pension Scheme funds regarding potential investment in affordable housing, and if so, on what statutory basis.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As set out in our manifesto, we will work in partnership with others, including administering authorities in the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme, to progress funding models that safeguard fiduciary duties, provide secure inflation linked returns, and…
2 Jun 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total costs incurred by local authorities as a result of the legislative error in the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 that provided no legal basis on which to levy rates on unoccupied properties from 1 April 2023.
Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Act 2026 clarified the legal basis to levy non-domestic rates on the owners of unoccupied properties, subject to any reliefs that local authorities may choose to put in place, with retros…
3 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the pledge made by the health secretary in 2018 to prioritise the development of new primary care premises in Banchory.
Answer · Neil Gray: The financial position remains challenging – to ensure that available capital funding can be directed to best effect, we are working with all health boards to develop an NHS whole system infrastructure plan for Scotland to inform investment priorities. …
2 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider extending by 28 days the deadline for participation in the public inquiry into the section 37 application for the 400kV Kintore–Tealing overhead line (ECU00005225), in light of reports that several residents who have made submissions to the planning applica…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government will not extend the deadline to participate in the public inquiry into the 400kV Kintore –Tealing overhead line. The 14 day period given to confirm participation in the public inquiry accords with the guidance on Priority Applica…
18 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the recent Court of Session ruling on the Wull Muir scheme in the Borders will impact on its energy policy and strategy.
17 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Grampian about infection control at the Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Centre.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government works closely with NHS Grampian and NHS Scotland Assure on all capital investment projects. Safety is always paramount and NHS Grampian is implementing several changes to the new hospital as a result of clinical recommendations, follow…
11 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in NHS Grampian compared with national averages.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Assessments of respiratory prevalence and emergency hospital admissions are produced and published by Public Health Scotland, including data for NHS Grampian and national averages. The Scottish Government draws on these official statistics rather than underta…
11 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing Modern Service Frameworks, as introduced in England.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware of the development of Modern Service Frameworks in England for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. For clarity, these are being developed by the UK Government but have not yet been formally introduced…
9 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21946 by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2023, whether it will provide an update on NHS Grampian's (a) (i) NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula target and (ii) actual funding allocation, and (b) distance from NRAC parity in each …
Answer · Neil Gray: In 2026-27, NHS Grampian will receive nearly £1.5 billion in baseline funding, which equates to increased investment of £130.7 million from 2025-26 and ensures the Board is no further than 0.6% from its target share. Since 2021-22, NHS Grampian ha…
6 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it has undertaken to ensure consistency between rates assessors across different regions, particularly in relation to the reported discrepancies in rates valuation increases in the self-catering sector in Grampian.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Draft valuations for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025. Valuations are carried out by independent Assessors and we recognise that while some ratepayers will see their rateable values fall, a number will see significant increases.While As…
3 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to restore salmon numbers in Scotland’s rivers.
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the prevalence of faulty installations linked to the ECO4 scheme for energy-efficiency upgrades.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Energy Company Obligation is a UK Government scheme. They have advised us that external wall insulation (EWI) was installed in 421 properties in Scotland as part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation (GBIS) schemes. In Scotl…
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it operates a compensation scheme for people whose properties have been subject to damage, defects or faulty installations as a result of works carried out under the ECO4 scheme for energy-efficiency upgrades and, if not, what routes of compensation are available.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is not a Scottish Government scheme. The Scottish Government does not operate a general scheme providing remediation or compensation for damage caused to people’s homes by third parties.Property owners should first r…
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the ECO4 scheme for energy-efficiency upgrades, what advice it provides to homeowners seeking compensation where installers or scheme providers are no longer trading.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government funds both the Home Energy Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland service to provide free and impartial advice. Property owners who may be affected by the failure of this UK Government scheme can contact these services for advice.The Ener…
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what oversight is in place to ensure that installers operating under the ECO4 scheme for energy-efficiency upgrades remedy defective or damaging works.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a UK Government scheme based upon Westminster regulations and administered by Ofgem, the independent regulator. The obligation requires energy suppliers to achieve energy bill savings by funding the installation of ener…
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent analysis it has undertaken of recruitment and retention challenges in NHS Grampian.
Answer · Neil Gray: The NHS Grampian Assurance Board was established in July 2025. It commissioned an independent diagnostic review to help inform NHS Grampian’s approach to system redesign and service transformation.A sub-group of the Assurance Board has been established …
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is consistent with Scottish planning policy for a local authority to refuse a planning application on the basis of a separate project that has not reached a formal determination stage, particularly in cases where the local authority is not the final dec…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Section 37 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 sets out that, when determining planning applications, planning authorities are to have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application, and to any other m…
29 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that newly qualified nurses are able to access employment opportunities within NHS Grampian, in light of reported concerns about the limited availability of posts suitable for new graduates.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland. Operational matters, including local recruitment decisions, are the responsibility of each NHS Health Board as employers.Whilst it is hoped that all graduat…
28 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to recognise rurality in local government finance settlements.
21 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05166 by Kevin Stewart on 24 January 2022, whether it will provide an update on the number of people with learning difficulties and autism who have died in inpatient units in Scotland since 2015.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Following the parliamentary question asked on 24 January 2022, Public Health Scotland (PHS) published a statistical report in May 2022 on inpatient deaths for patients with learning disabilities and autism at the request of the Scottish Government. The full r…
20 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the recruitment of teachers in rural areas.
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) develop a dedicated men’s health strategy, similar to that published by the UK Government for men in England, and (b) address any health inequalities affecting men and boys.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to improving life expectancy and tackling health inequalities across the whole population.On 17 June 2025, the Scottish Government and COSLA published a Population Health Framework, which sets out a whole-system, cross-gov…
9 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprise housebuilders.