Portfolio Questions

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Kevin Stewart S6O-04185 1. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey, which has suggested that business confidence has fallen to its lowest level for two years, including in Scotland, because of issues such as the UK Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions. Annabelle Ewing S6O-04186 2. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the performance of enterprise agencies in supporting business growth and inward investment. Stephen Kerr S6O-04187 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the plans for the contract for Contact Scotland BSL, which provides free services to BSL users. Maurice Golden S6O-04188 4. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to transform participation rates for women in entrepreneurship. Bob Doris S6O-04189 5. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage and maximise levels of global capital investment in Scotland, to benefit the economy and communities. Ash Regan S6O-04190 6. To ask the Scottish Government what strategy it plans to implement to grow the Scottish economy at a level that is in line with countries with similarly sized populations, such as Norway. Richard Leonard S6O-04191 7. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on the Scottish economy of the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery. Jamie Greene S6O-04192 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments made by the Auditor General for Scotland that the “future of the Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow shipyard remains uncertain". Finance and Local Government Emma Roddick S6O-04193 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it prioritised funding for affordable housing when drafting its Budget for 2025-26. Marie McNair S6O-04194 2. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support East and West Dunbartonshire councils, as part of the local government settlement for 2025-26. Humza Yousaf 3. [Not Lodged] Liz Smith S6O-04196 4. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Auditor General’s November 2024 report, Fiscal sustainability and reform in Scotland , which states that “The Scottish Government has not been sufficiently transparent with the Scottish Parliament or the public about the current fiscal situation”. Pam Gosal S6O-04197 5. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the state of local government finance. Maggie Chapman S6O-04198 6. To ask the Scottish Government how its draft Budget 2025-26 will support local authorities to better serve rural communities, such as those in Aberdeenshire and Angus council areas in the North East Scotland region. Bill Kidd S6O-04199 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it prioritised funding for its mission to tackle child poverty when drafting its Budget for 2025-2026. Patrick Harvie 8. [Not Lodged]