Seòmar agus comataidhean

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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 1327 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-43237

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the ending of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights will have on (a) Forestry Land Scotland, (b) National Trust Scotland, (c) Historic Environment Scotland, (d) NatureScot, (e) Crown Estate Scotland, (f) local authorities and (g) other public agencies that possess sporting rights.

As at 1 June 2025, and based on the Billing System Snapshot, an annual property-level data return provided to the Scottish Government by councils, it does not appear that any Small Business Bonus Scheme relief was awarded to any shootings or deer forests held by Forestry Land Scotland, National Trust Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, Crown Estate Scotland, local authorities or other public agencies. We do not therefore anticipate any material impact on these bodies from removing eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for shootings and deer forests (subject to prescribed exceptions).

Question reference: S6W-43238

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has carried out regarding the ending of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights on (a) shootings and (b) deer forests.

Question reference: S6W-43239

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out regarding what revenue it estimates will be raised by the ending of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights.

Question reference: S6W-43241

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) natural capital and (b) environment assessments it has conducted relating to the ending of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights for (i) shootings (ii) deer forests.

Question reference: S6W-43240

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out regarding what the estimated cost to local valuation boards will be of collecting revenue following the phasing out of the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief for sporting rights.

Local valuation boards have no role in collecting non-domestic rates.

The collection of non-domestic rates, including annual billing and the administration of reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme, is the responsibility of Local Authorities. Non-domestic rates bills are issued to all rated non-domestic properties, whether or not they are in receipt of relief. All non-domestic rates collected by a local authority from properties in their area are ultimately retained by them and have an important role in funding public services.

Question reference: S6W-43189

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which railway stations in Scotland (a) have and (b) do not have public Wi-Fi available.

Question reference: S6W-43072

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government after what length of time would it consider its Building a New Scotland series of papers to be out of date.

The Building a New Scotland series is intended to inform public debate on Scotland’s constitutional future, including independence. The papers will remain relevant as long as the content within them remains of relevance to the context in Scotland and in which Scotland operates.

Since the independence referendum in 2014, significant factors changed about Scotland’s place in the UK, and about the UK’s place in the world. Many of the changes do not reflect the predictions or promises made during the debate about Scottish independence, and many could not have been predicted at the time. The Scottish Government believes that the people of Scotland should have the opportunity to consider their constitutional future, and the Building a New Scotland series helps inform that consideration.

The Scottish Government will continue to keep the people of Scotland updated with the information they need to make a decision about their constitutional future.

Question reference: S6O-05479

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy will meet with campaign groups regarding the Moray FLOW-Park project proposal.

Question reference: S6W-43191

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated lifespan is of all of ScotRail’s rolling stock, broken down by class unit.

ScotRail currently operates a diverse fleet of 145 diesel trains and 203 electric trains. The typical design life of a train is around 35 years, although in practice this depends on the quality of construction and may be extended through appropriate investment in obsolescence management and effective heavy maintenance.

We are replacing ScotRail trains as they reach the end of their useful life. This is outlined in the Rail Recharged: Scotland’s Fleet Transition Strategy - Delivering a Modern Fleet for a Connected Scotland | Transport Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-43190

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is exploring the possibility of installing satellite Wi-Fi in rural railway stations that have no nearby mobile phone masts, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.