Portfolio Questions

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Alasdair Allan S6O-03549 1. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published data from Scotland’s Census on the number of people with Gaelic language skills. Clare Adamson S6O-03550 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for improving intergovernmental relations with the UK Government. Kevin Stewart S6O-03551 3. To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to develop a Green Industrial Strategy, what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the role of hydrogen production in boosting economic growth. James Dornan S6O-03552 4. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Brexit is having on Scotland’s economy. Murdo Fraser S6O-03553 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support the retail sector. Gordon MacDonald S6O-03554 6. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. Sue Webber S6O-03555 7. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the rise in unemployment in Edinburgh as recently reported by the ONS. Colin Beattie S6O-03556 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any analysis of the potential impact that a policy to reduce net migration to the UK would have on its long-term labour market strategy. Finance and Local Government Foysol Choudhury S6O-03557 1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding any further allocation from its Budget, including for housebuilding. John Mason S6O-03558 2. To ask the Scottish Government when councillors’ pay is expected to rise. Maggie Chapman S6O-03559 3. To ask the Scottish Government how its recently published public sector pay policy will support public sector workers to cope with the cost of living. Rachael Hamilton S6O-03560 4. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its Budget and public sector finances, what assessment the finance secretary has made of how much revenue the visitor levy could generate for local authorities. Claire Baker S6O-03561 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether Fife Council will be given assistance under the Bellwin Scheme. Fergus Ewing S6O-03562 6. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the application of the principles in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, what its position is on whether the reported estimated cost of £3.56 million for refurbishment to decarbonise the Procurator Fiscal’s Office in Elgin represents value for money, in light of the property being valued at £275,000 in March 2022. Sharon Dowey S6O-03563 7. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact that replicating the non-domestic rates relief available to businesses in England would have in Ayrshire, including in relation to job creation. Maurice Golden S6O-03564 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to maximise value obtained from public sector procurement.