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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-37190

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what representation it has made to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the UK Government regarding (a) reported long delays for practical driving test appointments in Scotland and (b) reports that third party resellers are using bot-based technologies to capture cancelled appointments, which are then being resold at a far higher price, resulting in increased pressure on driving test centres in Scotland.

My officials met with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), an agency of the UK Government, on 5 February 2025. Topics discussed included actions being taken to alleviate driving test waiting times and issues surrounding the use of bots to book and upsell driving tests to learners.

These issues are unacceptable and I welcome the actions announced on 23 April 2025 by the Department for Transport’s Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander MP to rectify the situation.

My officials met with officials from DVSA again on 6 May 2025 to discuss further the actions announced, and will be meeting with them quarterly going forward.

Question reference: S6W-37194

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 has had on housing supply in areas where an additional council tax levy is applied.

Question reference: S6W-37192

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to conduct a review of the Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023.

The Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023, which came into effect on 1 April 2024, provide local authorities with discretionary powers to apply a Council Tax premium of up to 100% on second homes.

Council Tax is a local tax, and it is for individual councils to determine the appropriate balance of housing in their areas based on local needs. The Regulations give Councils greater fiscal empowerment, in the spirit of the Verity House Agreement. They enable Councils to charge Second Homes anywhere between a 50% discount, and up to a 100% premium. It is for Councils to take decisions about the tax treatment of second homes, including where exclusions may apply.

The Scottish Government is committed to monitoring the impact of these regulations and will consider their effects as more data becomes available. The first set of data reflecting the implementation of the premium was collected in September 2024. This data indicated a 10% decrease (2,455 properties) in the number of second homes compared to the previous year. This decline may be related to the introduction of the 100% Council Tax premium on second homes. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the impact of the Council Tax premium.

The following link sets out the Councils that introduced a second homes premium on 1 April 2024, Second homes and long term empty policies and discounts 2024-25: data

The following link provides the published data on the numbers of second and empty homes as at September 2024, Second homes and empty properties in September 2024 - gov.scot.

Question reference: S6W-37193

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered amending the Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 to make provision for means testing whether an additional charge for second homes should be applied.

Question reference: S6O-04651

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with the Lord Advocate regarding the costs of defending unsuccessful legal cases in the Supreme Court.

Question reference: S6W-36668

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the operation of temporary traffic regulation orders.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the system of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) remains effective and responsive to the needs of local communities and road users. A review of the TRO process was undertaken by Transport Scotland in 2021. While there are no immediate plans to undertake a formal review of the entire TTRO system, we continue to engage with local authorities and stakeholders to monitor its effectiveness.

Question reference: S6W-36666

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the operation of traffic regulation orders.

The Scottish Government reviewed the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process in 2021, working with key stakeholders. The review concluded that, while the process is generally effective, improvements could be made, particularly in relation to Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) and Redetermination Orders.

In response, legislative changes were introduced to streamline ETROs and clarify the use of Redetermination Orders. Transport Scotland is also considering further work, including the digitisation of TROs, to support greater accessibility and efficiency.

There are no current plans for a further formal review, but we continue to monitor feedback from local authorities and stakeholders to assess whether additional changes are needed.

Question reference: S6W-36667

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the system of temporary traffic regulation orders.

Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) formed part of the general TRO process review that was carried out in 2021. This review indicated that local authorities were content with the TTRO process already in place.

However, Transport Scotland continues to monitor the feedback from local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the system remains responsive and meets the needs of communities and road users.

Question reference: S6W-36665

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the system of traffic regulation orders.

The Scottish Government reviewed the effectiveness of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process in 2021, engaging with key stakeholders including all local authorities. The review found that, overall, local authorities were satisfied with the system but highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in relation to Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) and Redetermination Orders.

As a result of this assessment, legislative changes were introduced to streamline ETROs, enabling implementation with 7 days’ notice and a 6-month consultation period. Guidance was also issued to clarify that Redetermination Orders may not be required where a TRO sufficiently regulates access.

In addition, Transport Scotland is considering further work to support the digitisation of TROs, with a view to improving accessibility and administrative efficiency.

Question reference: S6O-04582

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its Green Industrial Strategy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of extended producer responsibility.