Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43355

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s analysis of its draft Budget 2026-27, as set out in its Post-Budget submission to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, that the new retail, hospitality and leisure sectors' rates relief “is less generous at every level than England’s RHL relief”, that the difference in the poundage rates is set to move from being a “gap … to become a chasm”, and overall that the relief “doesn’t match the more competitive rates regime for retailers in England being introduced from April 2026”.

The non-domestic rates liability that applies to a property depends on its rateable value, the rate that applies and any reliefs that it is in receipt of. Shops are expected to see an increase in rateable value of 6% at the 2026 revaluation in Scotland while in England the expected increase for shops is 10%.

The draft Scottish Budget 2026-27, announced on 13 January, ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by the Consumer Price Index than pre-COVID despite the number of properties on the valuation roll increasing in that time. It continues to support businesses and communities, with a strong non-domestic rates package, which decreases the Basic, Intermediate and Higher Property Rates in 2026-27, delivering the lowest Basic Property Rate since 2018.

The Budget offers more than £320 million of support through transitional relief schemes and retail hospitality and leisure relief over the next three years.

Businesses and communities will be supported with a generous non-domestic rates relief package worth an estimated £864 million in 2026-27, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme which remains the most generous scheme of its kind in the UK and is confirmed for the next three years, as well as transitional relief schemes.

Recognising the challenges faced by the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, for the next three years we will offer 15% relief for eligible properties in these sectors liable for the Basic or Intermediate Property Rates, capped at £110,000 per business per year; and extend and expand 100% relief for the next three years to retail, hospitality and leisure premises located on islands as defined by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, and in prescribed remote areas (Cape Wrath, Knoydart and Scoraig) capped at £110,000 per business per year.

We estimate that 96% of retail, hospitality and leisure properties could benefit from some form of relief in 2026-27.

Taken together around 89,000 properties (or 96%) across the three sectors could benefit from zero or reduced rates and the budget guarantees that support for the full three years of the revaluation.

Question reference: S6O-05513

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help people in homeless households into permanent accommodation.

Question reference: S6W-43149

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether national guidance is required regarding the position of councillors who are subject to criminal proceedings holding ceremonial or civic positions.

The Scottish Government recognises that councillors are elected representatives and that local authorities are independent, statutory bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, separate from the Scottish Government.

In line with the Verity House Agreement, the Scottish Government has committed to respecting local government’s democratic mandate and autonomy. Decisions about whether a councillor should hold or continue to hold ceremonial or civic roles, including in circumstances where they are subject to criminal proceedings, are therefore matters for individual councils to determine.

As stated in answer to S6W-43148 on 29 January 2026 the Scottish Government is considering consulting on amending legislation to mean councillors that are subject to criminal proceedings should be suspended from office or subject to temporary restrictions during the period in which any charges are being investigated or prosecuted. 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/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-43148

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the adequacy of existing legislation regarding serving councillors who face serious criminal charges and whether they should be suspended from office or subject to temporary restrictions during the period in which any charges are being investigated or prosecuted.

The Scottish Government is considering proposals for amendments to the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 proposed by a joint review by the Ethical Standards Commissioner and Standards Commission. As the same Act would need to be amended via primary legislation to expand statutory suspension provisions for councillors, it may be possible for this to be considered as part of any future amendments to the 2000 Act.

Given the significant implications of introducing any new statutory suspension provisions for councillors, particularly in respect of instances where an individual has been charged, but not convicted of a criminal offence, it would be essential for the Scottish Government to properly consult on this proposal. Careful consideration of the parameters of any provision would also be needed to ensure they did not interfere with the general principle of justice that people are presumed innocent until found guilty.

As amendments could not be made to the 2000 Act until the next Parliament, new Ministers will consider the potential amendments, and whether to hold a public consultation on these.

Question reference: S6W-43150

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of the current Ethical Standards Framework, in relation to local councillors, to ensure that it protects public confidence in local democracy.

The Ethical Standards Framework sets out the high standards of conduct expected of councillors while acting in that capacity, helping to underpin public confidence in local democratic decision making.

The Standards Commission for Scotland is the independent body responsible for encouraging high ethical standards in public life through the promotion and enforcement of the Codes of Conduct introduced as part of the Framework. The Commission has previously indicated that it considers the current Ethical Standards Framework to be an effective means of promoting ethical behaviour and maintaining public confidence in local democracy.

The Scottish Government keeps the operation of the Framework under review. Any changes to the Ethical Standards Framework would be considered at the request of the Standards Commission, the Ethical Standards Commissioner or local government and would be subject to appropriate consultation.

Question reference: S6O-05481

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, 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 whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made in dealing with the issue of short-formed trains on services between Fife and Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6T-02861

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the finding from UKHospitality Scotland that licensed premises face, on average, an 86% increase in non-domestic rates as a result of the current revaluation.

Question reference: S6W-42834

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments from the former chair of the Scottish Government’s Retail Industry Leadership Group, Andrew Murphy, in The Times on 22 December 2025, that if Scotland does not follow England and introduce a permanent business rate discount for all retail premises it would be “a huge mistake” and could see existing shops close and fewer new ones open.

The draft Budget ensures the estimated revenues raised from non-domestic rates in 2026-27 will be 6% lower in real terms measured by CPI than pre-COVID, despite the number of properties on the valuation roll increasing in that time, and introduces the lowest Basic Property Rate for 2026-27 since 2018-19.

Businesses and communities will be supported with a generous non-domestic rates relief package worth an estimated £864 million in 2026-27, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme which remains the most generous scheme of its kind in the UK and is confirmed for the next three years, as well as transitional relief schemes.

Recognising the challenges faced by the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, for the next three years we will offer 15% relief for eligible properties in these sectors liable for the Basic or Intermediate Property Rate, capped at £110,000 per business per year; and extend and expand 100% relief for the next three years to retail, hospitality and leisure premises located on islands as defined by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, and in prescribed remote areas (Cape Wrath, Knoydart and Scoraig) capped at £110,000 per business per year.

Around half of the properties in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors continue to be eligible for 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme relief in 2026-27. A further 37,000 properties could benefit from the new 15% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with a rateable value up to and including £100,000 and on Islands.

Taken together around 96% of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses could benefit from some form of relief in 2026-27.

Question reference: S6W-42836

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its current business and regulatory impact assessment in relation to its defence sector support policy, which was updated on 3 September 2025, including the number of any affected companies.

Question reference: S6W-42835

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what business and regulatory impact assessment was undertaken prior to the First Minister’s announcement of a new defence sector support policy on 3 September 2025, and whether it will publish this.

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