Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the sustainability of third sector and charitable perinatal mental health services in rural areas, including the Scottish Borders, in light of reports that demand for specialist one-to-one counselling and therapy remains high but funding streams are increas…
Answer · Tom Arthur: The third sector continues to play a key role for families in providing access to perinatal mental health support. In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.Between Octo…
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that any changes to funding criteria for mental health support do not disadvantage specialist services providing individual or family-based therapeutic interventions, particularly in rural and remote communities.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government maintains its ongoing commitment to funding perinatal and infant mental health support through the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland.Funding previously allocated directly to NHS Boards t…
22 Jan 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide longer-term funding certainty for charitable perinatal mental health services beyond short-term or transitional funding arrangements, in order to prevent any loss of established and effective provision.
Answer · Tom Arthur: In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund (PIMH), administered by Inspiring Scotland. Between October 2024 and March 2026, we are investing £1.5 million through this fund to support third-sector organisatio…
21 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement on the written case for the Scottish Ministers and Lord Advocate in the judicial review of the Scottish Prison Service policy for the management of transgender people in custody, including how many times women&rsq…
14 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 will have on social security in Scotland.
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a targeted transitional relief scheme for any micro tourism businesses that are facing significant increases in their rateable value in 2026.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Decisions on non-domestic rates policy for 2026-27, including reliefs, are considered in the context of the Budget in line with other government priorities and will be set out on 13 January 2026.
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will explore sector-specific non-domestic rates relief options similar to those applied to hospitality businesses in other parts of the UK.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42504 on 22 December 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-committ…
10 Dec 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the feasibility of capping annual increases in non-domestic rates liability for self-catering businesses in order to prevent sharp cost escalation.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42504 on 22 December 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-committ…
24 Nov 2025 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial, including any implications this may have for improving prostate cancer screening in Scotland.
12 Nov 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legislative action it plans taking in the remainder of this parliamentary session to protect farmers from the threat of rural crime.
11 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Scottish Budget 2026–27 recommendations paper that the business rate is at a 26-year high.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government offers a competitive non-domestic rates regime delivering in 2025-26 the lowest property rate in the UK for the seventh year in a row, ensuring that over 95% of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower property tax rat…
11 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Scottish Budget 2026–27 recommendations paper that the business rate levied on shops liable for the higher property rate has resulted in them collectively paying £93 million more in rates over th…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government continues to offer a competitive non-domestic rates regime and the 2025-26 Budget delivered the lowest Basic Property Rate in the UK for the seventh year in a row.Over 95% of shops in Scotland are liable for the lowest rate in the UK, …
11 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Scottish Budget 2026–27 recommendations paper that the business rate levied on shops liable for the higher property rate makes it more expensive for them to operate and trade profitably on high streets…
Answer · Ivan McKee: In its 2025-26 Budget, the Scottish Government maintained a competitive non-domestic rates regime delivering the lowest property rate in the UK for the seventh year in a row, ensuring that over 95% of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower …
11 Nov 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Scottish Budget 2026–27 recommendations paper that the business rate levied on the 2,400 shops liable for the higher property rate results in them collectively paying £9 million more each year in…
Answer · Ivan McKee: While some shops, and other rateable non-domestic properties, are liable for the Higher Property Rate, the Scottish Government continues to offer a competitive non-domestic rates regime and the 2025-26 Budget delivered the lowest Basic Property Rate in the UK…
10 Nov 2025 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will maintain its manifesto commitment to freeze income tax rates and bands.
29 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the housing secretary had had with the public finance minister regarding the consultation on permitted development rights to support the provision of new homes.
22 Oct 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Scottish Borders Council, andwhether issues regarding the future of local facilities, including thepotential closure of up to 30 sport and leisure facilities, were discussed.
22 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the publication by the UK Government on 17 October 2025 of its summary of the responses to the call for evidence regarding the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, and what implications these might have on responding to rural crime in Scotland.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 began as a private members bill which received Government and cross-party support in England and Wales.The legislation seeks to prevent and deter criminals from targeting items of plant and machinery, the theft of whi…
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the £901,000 veterans budget is being spent in 2025-26.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The veterans budget for this year will cover:The Scottish Veterans Fund, covering 12 projects which support the Armed Forces and Veterans community.The Unforgotten Forces Consortium, to support their work connecting older veterans to services, help and advice…
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the number veterans who are currently unemployed.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The 2022 Census represents the most current comprehensive snapshot we have of the veterans population in Scotland. It estimated there were 2,700 unemployed veterans at that point in time. This equated to 3.6% of economically active veterans, which compared fa…
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand the Veterans In Service Injury Network, which is currently hosted by NHS Highland, to other NHS boards.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Veterans In Service Injury Network is a Scottish Government National initiative available to all UK veterans living in Scotland. NHS Highland has been asked to host the network, but UK veterans residing in any NHS Board in Scotland can be referred to the …
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what new data it has started to collect on veterans since November 2018.
Answer · Graeme Dey: There have been significant developments in the data collected on veterans in recent years, offering enhanced insight into the size, nature and circumstances of the veterans community in Scotland.Scotland’s 2022 Census included for the first time a ques…
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mental health initiatives aimed at veterans it has supported since November 2018 and how much funding it has provided for each programme.
Answer · Maree Todd: Since 2018, the Scottish Government has provided over £6 million to Health Boards to support specialist services for veterans, including the Veterans First Point service. Over £9 million has also been awarded to Combat Stress since 2018 to provide…
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of veterans it has helped enter employment since November 2018, broken down by financial year.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government greatly values the skills and experiences that veterans can bring to employers and to their communities across Scotland when they leave the Armed Forces. Employability services are provided by a mixed economy of public, third and priva…
15 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of veterans it has helped secure accommodation since November 2018, broken down by financial year.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Information on the number of veterans assisted to secure accommodation is not held by Scottish Government. Local authorities have the legal duty to provide housing assistance to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and this includes offering …
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support responsible adventure tourism events, such as the ITERA Adventure Race, in light of the international visitors and reported economic benefits they bring to rural Scotland, while taking environmental protection into account.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government, along with our tourism agency VisitScotland, acknowledges the significance of adventure tourism. VisitScotland has teams strategically located throughout rural Scotland that are instrumental in collaborating with regional stakeholders…
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the role of NatureScot as both conservation regulator and custodian of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, in light of reported concerns by some event organisers regarding potential conflicts of interest.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: NatureScot has a statutory role to promote and publicise the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) and to keep it under review. This does not conflict with NatureScot’s role in protecting and conserving nature. The SOAC is very clear that disturbance of w…
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 are applied consistently and fairly to small-scale, low-impact outdoor adventure and sporting events.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The management of access rights is a matter for access authorities, who have a statutory duty and powers to ensure access rights are upheld. This is done within the framework of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) which provides specific guidance for even…
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the current Scottish Outdoor Access Code guidance for outdoor event organisers, and if so, how it will ensure that any such updated guidance reflects the practical realities of responsible outdoor access, while protecting Scotland’s natural environment.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: NatureScot have a statutory duty to promote, publicise and keep the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) under review. In discharging this duty NatureScot work with access authorities and the National Access Forum. Currently the Outdoor events in Scotland and …
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Treatment Time Guarantee can be meaningfully enforced in cases where NHS boards are unable to measure full patient pathways, and what assessment it has made of compliance under such circumstances.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answers for questions S6W-40963 and S6W-40964 on 17 October 2025.The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 legislates that an eligible patient is to start to receive agreed inpatient or day case treatment within a 12-week Treatment Time…