Portfolio Questions

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Richard Leonard 1. [Not Lodged] Tim Eagle S6O-04283 2. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to monitor the impact of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 on small- and medium-sized businesses in the local authority areas that apply it. Graham Simpson S6O-04284 3. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the board of Ferguson Marine and what was discussed. Edward Mountain S6O-04285 4. To ask the Scottish Government what the total monthly running cost of Ferguson Marine is. Foysol Choudhury S6O-04286 5. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to increase investment in Scotland’s artificial intelligence sector. Emma Harper S6O-04287 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment of the economic impact on Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders of the South Scotland Enterprise Agency, since its inception in 2019. Ben Macpherson S6O-04288 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding establishing a standalone postgraduate business school to help create more companies, attract talent and boost innovation. Sandesh Gulhane S6O-04289 8. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support and grow the night-time economy in Glasgow. Finance and Local Government Fulton MacGregor S6O-04290 1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding infrastructure investment plans for the building of new schools, in light of the recent Audit Scotland report, which noted that further borrowing will be needed to invest in these. Carol Mochan S6O-04291 2. To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to address any difficulties with recruitment and retention in local government due to the reported declining value of pay. Bob Doris S6O-04292 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reviewing the planning guidance provided to local authorities relating to issuing a call for ideas/sites when undertaking their statutory requirement to prepare a 10-year local development plan. Annabelle Ewing S6O-04293 4. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with NHS Fife regarding the revised infrastructure investment pipeline. Craig Hoy S6O-04294 5. To ask the Scottish Government what factors it considered when determining not to introduce any new bands or increase the rates of Scottish income tax for the remainder of this parliamentary session. Jackie Baillie 6. [Not Lodged] James Dornan S6O-04296 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its latest engagement with the UK Government regarding the impact of employer national insurance contributions on Scotland’s public services. Alex Rowley S6O-04297 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Accounts Commission report, Local government in Scotland: Financial bulletin 2023/24 , which was published on 28 January 2025.