The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6W-43370

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on billboard advertising for its We are Scotland campaign.

Question reference: S6W-43369

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on newspaper advertising for its We are Scotland campaign, broken down by newspaper.

Question reference: S6W-43371

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on promotion of its We are Scotland campaign through social media influencers.

Question reference: S6W-43135

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee on 14 January 2026, what records it holds of occasions, since 2021, on which a planning decision by a local authority was called in by the Scottish Ministers.

This table details all called in planning applications and recalled planning appeals by the Scottish Ministers since 2021.

Details of each are available here Planning Portal by searching the reference.

Reference	Called in date	Case detail	Status
PPA-230-2333	22-02-2021	Mixed Use Development Including Business And Employment Uses	Decision issued
PPA-270-2239	25-02-2021	Change Of Use And Conversion Of Steading To Form Private Dwelling	Decision issued
NA-110-002	01-03-2021	Conversion And Extension Of Garage To Form Holiday Accommodation/Laundry	Decision issued
PPA-270-2241	12-03-2021	Change Of Use From Equestrian Centre To Holiday, Leisure And Hospitality Facilities Including 13 Lodges, Cafe/Shop, Reception, Laundry And Restaurant	Decision issued
NA-280-001	05-07-2021	Residential Development To Include Access, Roads, Open Space, Landscaping, Drainage And Other Associated Works (Major)	Decision issued
NA-410-001	23-07-2021	Create Access And Erect House With Attached Garage	Decision issued
CIN-330-001	23-09-2021	Erect 6 Wind Turbines (Maximum Height 149.9 Metres, Maximum Wind Farm Capacity 50Mw) With An Indicative Capacity Of 28.8 Mw, Erect A Meteorological Mast (Maximum Height 90 Metres) And A Substation	Decision issued
NA-260-001	11-10-2021	Residential Development Of Approximately 36 Flats And Associated Infrastructure	Decision issued
NA-270-002	11-10-2021	Proposed Dwellinghouse To Replace Existing Annexe	Decision issued
PPA-230-2361	16-11-2021	Formation Of New Access Road And Active Travel Route From East Of Terminal Building To Gogar Roundabout	Decision issued
NA-350-001	16-12-2021	Variation Of Wording For Condition 3 Of Planning Permission	Decision issued
CIN-260-001	08-02-2022	Proposed Change Of Use Of Existing Vacant Offices To Form 14 Serviced Flats	Decision issued
NA-290-001	11-03-2022	Erection Of 9 Dwellinghouses, Formation Of Car Park And Associated Works	Decision issued
NA-110-003	16-03-2022	Erection Of Boundary Fence And Gates Change Of Use And Conversion, Alterations And Formation Of External Stairs Of Mill To Class 9 (Dwellinghouse)	Decision issued
CIN-390-001	18-03-2022	Mixed Use Development - Offices (Classes 2 & 4), Retail, Drive-Thru Restaurant, Car Showroom And Associated Car Parking, Infrastructure And Landscaping	Decision issued
NA-270-005	18-03-2022	Siting Of Catering Trailer	Decision issued
NA-270-007	23-05-2022	Erection Of New House	Decision issued
NA-170-001	30-05-2022	Agricultural Land To Form Mixed Use Development Comprising Of; Erection Of Boat Shed	Decision issued
NA-270-003	15-06-2022	Erection Of Commercial Storage And Office Unit	Decision issued
NA-270-004	15-06-2022	Erection Of Office/Workshop Building	Decision issued
NA-270-004	15-06-2022	Erection Of Office/Workshop Building	Decision issued
NA-270-006	15-06-2022	Erection Of Office/Workshop Building, Installation Of Storage Unit And Associated Parking Arrangements	Decision issued
NA-270-008	28-06-2022	Facilities For Tourists And Regulate The Use Of The Site For Camper Vans. Upgrade Of The Existing Toilets, The Provision Of A New Chemical Waste Disposal Point For Campers	Decision issued
PPA-400-2147	01-08-2022	Residential Development With Associated Infrastructure, Landscaping And Engineering Works.	Decision issued
NA-360-001	18-08-2022	Demolition Of An Existing Derelict Building And Erect A Dwellinghouse (Planning Permission In Principle)	Decision issued
CIN-190-001	30-08-2022	Erection Of Green Hydrogen Production Facility With Associated Temporary Laydown Area And Ancillary Infrastructure Including Substation, Various Plant And Perimeter Security Fencing	Decision issued
NA-130-005	02-11-2022	Demolition Of Five Tenement Blocks	Decision issued
PPA-170-2168	19-12-2022	Erection Of Wind Farm Comprising Seven Wind Turbines Substation, Battery Storage Associated Control Building, Formation Of Access Tracks etc	Live
NA-110-004	20-12-2022	Alterations And Extension To Dwellinghouse Including Installation Of Air Source Heat Pump	Decision issued
NA-250-001	20-12-2022	21/01770/Full \| Erection Of Holiday Accommodation (Sui Generis) \| Land Adjacent To Ferrycraigs House Ferry Road North Queensferry Fife	Decision issued
PPA-002-2020	03-02-2023	Installation Of A Marine Fish Farm And Associated Development Including Shore Base, Slipway And Pontoon And Road Upgrades	Decision issued
NA-260-002	28-02-2023	Mixed Use, Seven Storey Development Consisting Of 109 Apartments And Commercial Units, Site Bounded By Candleriggs/ Ingram Street/ Albion Street, Glasgow	Decision issued
NA-130-006	01-03-2023	Alterations To Existing Offices And Funeral Facilities At Ground Floor Level And Alterations And Change Of Use Create 4 Flats	Decision issued
PPA-320-2168	14-03-2023	Rail Freight Terminal, Distribution Centre And Office With Ancillary Buildings, Cranes And Associated Landscaping And Infrastructure (Eia Development)	Decision issued
NA-230-003	12-04-2023	Mixed-Use Development Including Built-To-Rent Homes And Student Accommodation (Comprising 393 Built-To-Rent Apartments And Student Accommodation)	Decision issued
NOD-270-002	26-04-2023	Erection Of A House	Decision issued
NA-001-001	03-05-2023	Erection Of 22 Self Catering Apartments, Shops, Hotel And Underground Parking	Decision issued
NA-350-002	23-05-2023	Erection Of Waste Tyre And Rubber Recycling And Processing Plant	Decision issued
NA-240-003	29-06-2023	Construction Of 2 No. Temporary Buildings And Changes Of Use Of Existing Ground To Form Parking And Yard Area (Part Retrospective)	Decision issued
PPA-170-2175	08-08-2023	Erection Of Wind Farm Comprising Nine Turbines, Formation Of Access Tracks, Borrow Pits, Battery Storage, Temporary Construction Compound, Substation And Associated Infrastructure	Live
NA-360-002	22-09-2023	Demolition Of Linkshouse, Mid Yell.Listed Building Consent Application	Decision issued
NA-001-002	19-10-2023	Erection Of 21 No. Dwellings At Nethy Bridge Station Yard, Nethy Bridge, Highland	Decision issued
NA-130-009	19-10-2023	Proposal: Erection Of Dwellinghouse	Decision issued
NA-140-004	09-11-2023	The Erection Of A Dwellinghouse	Decision issued
PPA-340-2156	05-01-2024	Formation Of A 49.9Mw Solar Farm Comprising Ground Mounted Solar Arrays, Inverters, Transformers, A Substation, Security Fencing, Cctv Cameras, Cabling, Access Tracks And Associated Works.	Decision issued
NA-270-010	08-02-2024	Construction Of An 18 Hole Golf Course, Practice Area, Access, Parking, Ancillary Infrastructure And The Change Of Use Of Existing Buildings To Form Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Maintenance Shed And Ancillary Facilities	Decision issued
NA-300-001	11-03-2024	Convert The Old Stable Bar To Three Holiday Let Apartments At Seaview Caravan Site, Kinloss.	Decision issued
PPA-390-2088	25-04-2024	Formation Of Golf Driving Range (Class 11) With Ancillary Uses Including, Food And Drink Café	Decision issued
NOD-190-001	25-04-2024	Erection And Operation Of A Maturation Warehousing Facility, Spirit Supply, With Adjoining Office, And All Associated Ancillary Development Including Demolition Of Existing Farm Buildings.	Decision issued
NOD-390-001	21-08-2024	Formation Of Trotting Track (Class 11 Assembly And Leisure)	Decision issued
NA-160-004	09-10-2024	Formation Of A Dwellinghouse With The Re-Establishment Of The Derelict Ferrydyke Cottage Into A Family Home,	Decision issued
PPA-380-2121	28-11-2024	Erection Of 6 No. Wind Turbines With A Maximum Height To Tip Of 149M And Associated Infrastructure	Withdrawn
NA-350-003	19-12-2024	Change Of Use Application To Create 33No. Serviced Caravan Pitches On Vacant Land. 23/0193/PP	Decision issued
PPA-002-2021	20-12-2024	Erection And Operation Of A Mixed-Use Tourism And Leisure Development Including Refurbished Tourist Information Building; Up To 60-Bedroom Apartment Hotel; Up To 32-Bedspace Budget Hotel, Up To 104 No. Self-Catering Holiday Lodges	Live
NA-330-001	27-02-2025	Erect Four Wind Turbines (Maximum Height Of 180 Metres, Maximum Generation Capacity 26.4 Mw Total), A Substation And Maintenance Building, Create An Access, And Associated Infrastructure	Decision issued
NA-260-005	15-07-2025	Sauchiehall Street Erection Of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation With Ground Floor Food Hall	Live
NA-210-001	23-07-2025	Demolition Of The Existing Building At 34 Dirleton Avenue, North Berwick And Associated PP The Erection Of 14 Flats A	Decision Issued
NA-200-004	02-09-2025	Erection Of 60 Bed Care Home With Associated Landscaping, Car Parking And Access Following Demolition Of Car Dealership.	Live
NA-270-011	13-10-2025	Change Of Use Of Land To Form Holiday Park At Former Bridgend Building Supplies Yard, Bridgend Thurso.	Live
NA-330-003	16-10-2025	Erect A Three Storey Block Of 15 Flats And Alter An Access, With Associated Car Parking, Landscaping And Infrastructure (Resubmission Of 21/266/Pp) Great Western Road Car Park (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney	Live
NA-340-008	18-11-2025	Formation Of A 30Mw Battery Energy Storage Facility Comprising Battery Storage Units, Ancillary Buildings And Equipment, Access Road And Associated Works	Live

Question reference: S6W-43310

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many retail sector properties will be subject to the (a) Basic, (b) Intermediate and (c) Higher property rates in 2026-27, broken down by local authority area.

Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026. The Scottish Government has published a report on changes in rateable values based on draft 2026 values on 13 January and will publish a further report once final valuations are available.

The draft budget will continue to support businesses and communities with a strong non-domestic rates offer for 2026-27 that decreases the Basic, Intermediate and Higher Property Rates in 2026-27.

Businesses and communities will be supported with a generous non-domestic rates relief package worth an estimated £864 million in 2026-27, including a Revaluation Transitional Relief that will protect those seeing the most significant increases in rateable values.

The following table shows the estimated number of retail properties on the non-domestic rates roll in 2026-27, broken down by rates and local authority area. This is based on draft valuations by Scottish Assessors. It is based on property classifications, as industry sector classifications are not available.

Table 1: Estimated number of retail properties in 2026-27, by rate and local authority

Local Authority Area	Basic Property Rate	Intermediate Property Rate	Higher Property Rate	Total
Aberdeen City	1771	86	137	1994
Aberdeenshire	1810	49	58	1917
Angus	1091	6	26	1123
Argyll and Bute	1145	17	19	1181
City of Edinburgh	4141	333	389	4863
Clackmannanshire	405	7	9	421
Dumfries and Galloway	1716	63	49	1828
Dundee City	1530	54	85	1669
East Ayrshire	1113	16	40	1169
East Dunbartonshire	622	15	32	669
East Lothian	694	12	20	726
East Renfrewshire	499	12	16	527
Falkirk	1220	25	47	1292
Fife	3147	104	109	3360
Glasgow City	6625	292	421	7338
Highland	2247	91	103	2441
Inverclyde	701	15	23	739
Midlothian	443	24	45	512
Moray	812	22	38	872
Na h-Eileanan Siar	290	1	4	295
North Ayrshire	1459	23	33	1515
North Lanarkshire	2360	45	105	2510
Orkney Islands	232	7	3	242
Perth and Kinross	1514	25	52	1591
Renfrewshire	1544	51	108	1703
Scottish Borders	1086	18	32	1136
Shetland Islands	219	2	2	223
South Ayrshire	1422	25	48	1495
South Lanarkshire	2268	53	104	2425
Stirling	885	36	36	957
West Dunbartonshire	733	29	33	795
West Lothian	1196	104	70	1370
Total	46940	1662	2296	50898

Source: Scottish Assessors’ Draft Valuation Roll for 2026, as at 11 December 2025

Property classifications used by the Scottish Assessors to describe the type of a property may not accurately reflect its use. For example, a property classified as a ‘shop’ may in fact be used to offer financial services.

Question reference: S6W-43283

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the statement by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde at the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry that “Pressure was applied to open the [Queen Elizabeth University] hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early. It was not ready”, and whether any Scottish Ministers applied such pressure.

As the First Minister made clear during his answer to Russell Findlay at First Minister’s Questions on 22 January, there was no pressure applied by Scottish Ministers to open the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital early.

Counsel to the Inquiry, during the last day of hearings on 23 January, stated “there was no evidence from the senior GGC people involved in opening the hospital, from Dr Armstrong down, and Mr Calderwood, about pressure, either from them or from anyone else.” He went on to further state “we didn’t detect, in the evidence, pressure in the sense of, “Open it earlier than was planned.”

Those remarks are taken from the published transcript from 23 January, which is available on the Inquiry’s website. See link provided Transcript - Closing submissions for investigations into the QEUH - 23.01.26 | Hospitals Inquiry.

Ensuring the highest standards of safety across all NHS Scotland facilities is of the utmost importance. The Scottish Government's role in major capital projects is to ensure accountability for public investment and timely delivery of services the public needs. However, patient safety must always come first. We have previously demonstrated this commitment in practice - when safety concerns were raised about the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh, we supported the decision to delay its opening until those concerns were fully resolved.

The Member will be aware that this matter relates to evidence already submitted to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. It is right that the inquiry’s independent chair Lord Brodie be given the time and space to consider all of the evidence and get to the truth for families.

Question reference: S6W-43285

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support people with Raynaud's phenomenon and other cold-related conditions; whether it provides any guidance to people affected by these conditions, and whether it has engaged with the UK Government regarding protections for medically vulnerable people in relation to energy market regulation.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with Raynaud’s phenomenon and other cold-related conditions are able to access safe, effective and person-centred healthcare and support.

We set the policy direction for health services and provide the resources that enable healthcare professionals to offer appropriate clinical care and advice. Public-facing information and guidance for people living with Raynaud’s phenomenon is available through NHS Inform Raynaud's phenomenon | NHS inform, supporting individuals to better understand and manage their condition.

Whilst energy pricing and regulation remain fully reserved to the UK Government, we continue to engage regularly with them and have consistently called for stronger protections for medically vulnerable households. This includes the introduction of an automatic, targeted energy bill discount for people with unavoidably higher costs due to medical need. Our proposals together with published modelling suggests around 155,000 households with medical need could benefit, with estimated fuel bills reduced by £1000 on average.

We also recognise the important role that warm, energy-efficient homes play in protecting health. Retrofitting measures such as loft and wall insulation can significantly reduce exposure to cold. The Scottish Government delivers a range of energy efficiency and clean heating support schemes and advice services, targeted at those most in need, to help people live in warmer, healthier homes.

Question reference: S6W-43316

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Historic Environment Scotland to engage with the interim liquidator of Ballantine Castings Ltd, Johnston Carmichael LLP, to ensure that the foundry's proprietary pattern archive of around 250,000 designs, ranging from manhole covers and bollards to ornate railings and lampposts, is safeguarded for the nation.

Scottish Government officials asked Historic Environment Scotland about Ballantine Castings Ltd and whether it had engaged on this issue.

I understand Historic Environment Scotland used its powers under the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2015 to carry out a rapid emergency photographic survey of the Ballantine Castings site shortly after liquidation proceedings began. It was essential to act quickly and capture the historically significant combination of buildings, patterns, machinery and equipment within one of Scotland’s last traditional foundry sites, before the next steps of the liquidation process were undertaken. These images will soon be made available to the public via www.trove.scot

Historic Environment Scotland also worked pro-actively with other national and local cultural heritage bodies at pace to secure what they can. Challenges around asbestos have complicated some aspects.

The Scottish Government is pleased to learn that the Ballast Trust has already secured the bulk of the business and archive records from the site in collaboration with other heritage bodies including Historic Environment Scotland, and with financial support from the National Archives Records at Risk fund.

Question reference: S6W-43258

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has relayed reported concerns to the UK Government about the timing mismatch of the proposed electricity transmission charge reform in 2029 and the next Contract for Difference round, which might take place in 2026.

The Scottish Government has been clear that the current system of transmission charging is unfit for purpose and unfairly penalises Scottish renewable energy generators, putting them at a commercial disadvantage. I and Officials regularly raise this with UK Government including most recently with Minister Shanks on 21 January at the Offshore Wind Roundtable.

We are unequivocal that the UK Government must, as a matter of urgency, set out the long-term direction of reforms to the transmission charging regime. The current charging system makes Scottish projects less competitive in Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and undermines investor confidence. We have therefore been equally clear that the UK Government must also set out measures to address the impacts of unfair transmission charges in the short to medium term.

Question reference: S6W-43257

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked the UK Government to fast-track the reform of the electricity transmission charges regime.

The Scottish Government has been clear that the current system of transmission charging is unfit for purpose and unfairly penalises Scottish renewable energy generators, putting them at a commercial disadvantage. I and Officials regularly raise this with UK Government including most recently with Minister Shanks on 21 January at the Offshore Wind Roundtable.

We are unequivocal that the UK Government must, as a matter of urgency, set out the long-term direction of reforms to the transmission charging regime. The current charging system makes Scottish projects less competitive in Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and undermines investor confidence. We have therefore been equally clear that the UK Government must also set out measures to address the impacts of unfair transmission charges in the short to medium term.

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