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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-25095

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will follow the same conformation standard for XL Bully-type dogs as that set out for England and Wales.

Yes, the definition used for an XL Bully dog will be the same as the UK Government set out for England and Wales.

Helpful and practical support and guidance has been published on the Scottish Government website to ensure owners are made aware of how to comply with the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs, with further information to be published in the coming period: https://www.gov.scot/publications/xl-bully-dog-rules/ .

Question reference: S6W-25171

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the 100% non-domestic rates relief for eligible day nurseries beyond June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-25250

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of local authorities decreasing relief on non-domestic rates for empty, listed properties.

Empty Property Relief was devolved to local authorities on 1 April 2023, and it is for individual local authorities to decide how they will tailor any support for unoccupied property, including listed buildings, to best support their local needs.

As indicated in the recommendations of the New Deal for Business Non-Domestic Rates sub-group, the Scottish Government will undertake an initial review of the devolution of Empty Property Relief before the next revaluation in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-25093

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders it plans to consult regarding any potential changes to the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

My statement to Parliament on 18 January 2024 reiterated the Scottish Government’s commitment to ‘deed not breed’, and committed to work with key stakeholders and interested parties to look at any improvements that could be made to the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 to strengthen and enhance the approach to preventative measures in the medium term.

The Scottish Government will engage with a wide range of stakeholders with an interest including, but not limited to, local authorities, the National Dog Warden Association, the Dog Control Coalition, Dogs Trust, the Scottish SPCA, Scottish Community Safety Network, COSLA and Police Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-25019

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, whether it has published any reports or analysis on the effectiveness of the previous iteration of the surtax, which was in place from 2012 to 2015.

Question reference: S6W-25213

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has been doing to prevent XL Bully-type dogs coming into Scotland from England and Wales since the Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023 came into force on 31 December 2023.

The Scottish Government previously asked the UK Government to confirm whether XL Bully dog owners who live in England and Wales would be committing the offence of sale of an XL Bully dog if a dog owner sought to do that outside of England and Wales. The UK Government were unable to give a definitive answer indicating it would be ‘unlikely’ an offence would be committed in such a situation.

As a result and in a decision not made lightly, the Scottish Government considers it necessary to introduce similar safeguards in Scotland to address growing public safety and animal welfare concerns.

The Scottish Government has worked at pace to develop regulations to introduce the first stage of new safeguards on XL Bully dogs. Subject to approval by Parliament, from 23 February 2024 it will be illegal to rehome, sell, buy, or transfer ownership of an XL Bully dog to another person.

Question reference: S6W-25092

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the capacity of divisional forces to meet the enforcement requirements for the restrictions placed on XL Bully-type dogs.

Question reference: S6W-25021

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, whether firms that are liable for the surtax would be subject to the highest non-domestic rates of any properties levied in the UK.

Question reference: S6W-24897

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will progress a feasibility study regarding the Chartered Institute of Building's proposal for a demolition levy.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to undertake a feasibility study into a Demolition Levy. Whilst the Scottish Government shares the Chartered Institute of Building’s concerns around carbon emissions from demolition and the preservation of our built environment, introducing a new fiscal measure is a lengthy and complex process. The Scottish Government believes the most expedient and appropriate solution is for the UK Government to address the VAT imbalance between new build and retrofit / refurbishment.

Question reference: S6W-25303

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it provided to Dornoch and District Christian Fellowship since 2019.