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Management Information published on 4 February shows that 99% of payments issued (to 24 January) were made in December, consistent with Winter Fuel Payment timings. Work continues to complete final payments.

Confirmed on 2 February 2026, the appointment of four members to the independent Gill Review on the valuation methodology applied to licensed hospitality premises: Alison Andrews, Bob Mowat, Hugh Munro and Graham Whyte.

The first meeting of the Review Group was held on 2 February. Invitations to join an Advisory Panel of the independent Review have also been issued to selected individuals.

The Review Group will report by the end of 2026.

Section 37 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 sets out that, when determining planning applications, planning authorities are to have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application, and to any other material considerations. The development plan consists of National Planning Framework 4 and the relevant local development plan.

It is for the relevant planning authority to identify, in each individual planning application, what material considerations apply and what weight to give to each material consideration in reaching their decision. This is a matter of planning judgement for the authority.

Each year the Scottish Government updates its online non-domestic rates calculator at Non-domestic rates calculator - mygov.scot. This will be updated in due course for 2026-27.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s forecasts of the non-domestic rates Contributable Amount (i.e. the amount that local authorities transfer to Scottish Government) are based on the draft 2026 valuation roll which was published on 30 November 2025. Forecasts in future years assume a level of buoyancy in the non-domestic tax base based on long-term trends.

The Scottish Government continues to support the development of our ports, and the potential for new direct freight and passenger ferry services linking Scotland to Europe.

Ministers and officials have met with the sponsors on a number of occasions regarding their proposal to introduce a new ferry route between Rosyth and Dunkirk.

I have personally engaged with interested parties, meeting DFDS and Ptarmigan Shipping in November 2025. Scottish Government and Transport Scotland officials continue to communicate regularly with the project sponsors.

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, and supports a package of reliefs worth an estimated £864 million, in 2026-27. We estimate that 96% of retail, hospitality and leisure properties could benefit from some form of relief in 2026-27.

The Scottish Government strives to be as helpful as possible in its responses to both parliamentary questions and to requests made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). These are important and distinct routes by which Members – and in the case of FOISA, any person – may seek information from the Scottish Government.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-43292 on 6 February 2026 which explains why a different approach was taken in the specific case he raised.

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.

The relevant Cabinet Secretary or Minister is responsible for the answer to any parliamentary question. The Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General for Scotland may also answer a written question concerning the operation of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland.

In relation to information provided by Freedom of Information requests, please see my response to S6W-43293 on 6 February 2026.

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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43271 on 6 February 2026. 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