Tom Arthur

14 May 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent memorandums it anticipates lodging in the Parliament in relation to the legislative programme of the UK Government announced in The Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021.

Answer · Graeme Dey: In accordance with the Sewel Convention and in line with Rule 9B of Standing Orders, the UK Parliament should not legislate with regard to devolved matters – that is on matters within the legislative competence of the Parliament or which change the competence…

17 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting mental health services in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is supporting mental health services with significant investment, The total £262.1 million budget for mental health and autism in the coming financial year more than doubles the budget for 2021/22 when compared to 2020 and takes total …

10 Mar 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its refreshed national digital strategy will enable Scotland's people and economy to flourish in an increasingly digital world.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scotland’s previous digital strategy was published in 2017. It set out a vision of Scotland as a vibrant, inclusive, greener, open and outward-looking digital nation. This vision is now even more compelling – however, the context in which it needs to be deli…

8 Mar 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish details of its view regarding the UK Government’s activity in relation to devolution following Brexit.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government published a report on 8 March 2021 showing the extent to which the Scottish Parliament’s powers are being eroded by the UK Government following the 2016 Brexit vote. The report details the way in which devolution is being fundamentall…

25 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the rateable value is at which businesses receive 100% small business bonus relief on non-domestic rates, and what information it has regarding how this compares with England and Wales.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The following table sets out a comparison of the non-domestic rates relief available under the Small Business Bonus Scheme in Scotland with the equivalent schemes in England (Small Business Bonus Rate Relief) and Wales (Small Business Bonus Rates Relief):  S…

25 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average household water bill is, and what information it has regarding how this compares with England and Wales.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The average household charge in Scotland is £372 in 2020-21. In 2021-22, this will rise to £382. By comparison, the average charge in England and Wales is £397 in 2020-21 and is expected to be £408 in 2021-22.

25 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the amount paid in income tax paid by people earning the UK median wage in each of the last two years, and how this compares with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Kate Forbes: According to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), median gross annual pay for all workers, both full- and part-time, in the UK was £25,780 in 2020. From this we can calculate the following tax liabilities, assuming the individual in question is in …

17 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce health inequalities.

10 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting rail services in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

16 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that care home residents who are unable to go outside can still meet friends and family.

26 Nov 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help small businesses access digital technology.

Answer · Kate Forbes: COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of digital technologies for businesses of all sizes, but in particular for small businesses. To support SMEs to take advantage of digital technologies we offer The Digital Development Loan which enables businesses to in…

23 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting social enterprises.

18 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with amateur football organisations regarding the current COVID-19 restrictions.

19 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the New Zealand Government.

23 Sep 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish information on multi-year capital budgets, and provide further clarity on future levels of public sector investment.

Answer · Kate Forbes: A Capital Spending Review Framework document will be published on the Scottish Government website today and is available here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800040946 The Framework provides the basis for publishing a full Capital Spending Review later this…

29 Jul 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its understanding of the communicability of COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The four Chief Medical Officers of the United Kingdom have reviewed evidence and analysis on the communicability of COVID-19. They have concluded there is a low risk in some cases that an individual confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be capable of t…

15 Jul 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its approach is to monitoring and responding to future outbreaks of COVID-19.

Answer · John Swinney: The latest Public Health Scotland report shows that the number of COVID cases is currently very low in Scotland. However, the virus has not gone away. It could return at any time, and it is vitality important that we all remain vigilant and all continue to fo…

6 Jul 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reported plans by UK Government Ministers to introduce new legislative measures in relation to the “UK internal market” and, in particular, the impact on devolution.

22 Jun 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the independent Advisory Group on Economic Recovery will be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Advisory Group on Economic Recovery report Towards a robust, resilient wellbeing economy for Scotland will be published on the Scottish Government's website at 11.30am on 22 June 2020.

26 May 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to each ministerial portfolio to support the policy response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government today publishes an additional Summer Budget Revision, detailing both the indicative Barnett consequentials received to date and the funding allocations Scottish Ministers have made to support the COVID-19 response (Document no SG/2020/…

23 Apr 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what costs were incurred by it as a result of the UK Government’s unlawful attempt to prorogue the UK Parliament in 2019.

Answer · Michael Russell: Given the constitutional significance of the UK Government’s actions, the Lord Advocate, representing the Scottish Government, intervened in Joanna Cherry QC MP and Others against the Advocate General for Scotland in the Inner House of the Court of Session an…

2 Mar 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle adverse childhood experiences in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

26 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it tackles poverty in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

11 Feb 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages and supports participation in local democracy, including membership of community councils.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government encourages and supports participation in local democracy and values the role of Community Councils who undertake a wide range of activities for the benefit of their community. Community councillors were among the thousands of people wh…

30 Jan 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will confirm the next local government finance settlement, including what years it will cover, and any plans for council tax flexibility.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Details of the local government finance settlement for 2020-21 will be confirmed as part of the Scottish Budget on 6 February. In coming to my decision to announce the Scottish Budget before the outcome of the UK Budget is known I listened carefully to the re…

29 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes the Scottish music sector in Europe.

22 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports regeneration in communities in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

14 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes Scottish-Irish relations.

8 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports forestry in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

18 Dec 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a detailed democratic case for a transfer of power from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament to allow for an independence referendum.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scotland’s right to choose: putting Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands will be published on the Scottish Government website today and is available at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781839604454 It makes the case for giving the people of Scotland a choice ab…