Portfolio Questions

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Finance and Local Government, Parliamentary Business and Veterans Tim Eagle S7O-00029 1. To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward proposals to reform the non-domestic rates system. Mark Griffin S7O-00030 2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the pay negotiations for 2026-27. Claire Baker S7O-00031 3. To ask the Scottish Government how it is taking forward plans to rebalance the non-domestic rates system. Jenny Young S7O-00032 4. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to warnings issued by the Institute for Fiscal Studies on 27 May 2026 that, if earnings in Scotland grow in line with the rest of the UK, Scotland could face a deficit of over £6 billion by 2030. Pauline Stafford S7O-00033 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work with West Lothian Council and other local authorities, on plans to unlock pension fund assets, including in local authority pension schemes to deliver more affordable housing. Submitting member has a registered interest. Mark Ruskell S7O-00034 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether planning authorities have adequate guidance on how to assess proposed hyperscale AI data centres. Andrew Baxter S7O-00035 7. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with COSLA and local authorities regarding how its proposed Better Surfaces Fund will be allocated. Jackie Baillie S7O-00036 8. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2026 SNP manifesto commitment of £10 billion in capital spending on health, including community health and care hubs, when it will allocate funding to build a new Dumbarton Health Centre. Clare Haughey S7O-00037 9. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting businesses on Scotland’s high streets. David Linden S7O-00038 10. [Withdrawn] Public Service Reform, Europe, External Affairs and Energy David Barratt S7O-00039 1. To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to ensure that regulatory and consenting frameworks support the deployment of low-carbon heat recovery technologies from rivers, estuaries and coastal waters. Mark Simpson S7O-00040 2. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address staffing pressures across the prison estate through its programme of public sector reform. Jamie Langan S7O-00041 3. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether farmers and producers in Scotland are better served and protected within the single market of the UK rather than when operating in the EU market. Liam Kerr S7O-00042 4. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Scotland’s energy security, including any consequent action it plans to take, in light of heightened global tensions particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine. Liam McArthur S7O-00043 5. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney. Martyn Day S7O-00044 6. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports of aviation fuel supply issues at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding future fuel security and the fuel supply chain. Jenni Minto S7O-00045 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to adopt a “tell us once” approach to grant schemes, such as Fair Work First, across its departments to reduce the burden on individuals, organisations and businesses, as part of its planned public sector reform. David Kirkwood S7O-00046 8. [Not Lodged] Gillian Mackay S7O-00047 9. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on banning the use of Prestwick airport by the US military. Collette Stevenson S7O-00048 10. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its vision for public procurement, particularly in relation to supporting small businesses, social enterprises and local supply chains.