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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.

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Question reference: S5W-09886

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09661 by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2017, in light of it holding no information on the location of snares or animals caught, how it assesses whether the legislation is being properly implemented, and whether it will introduce a register of licensed snares.

As set out in Section 11E of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011), snaring operators must keep records of all the individual snares they have set, including the location of the snare, the date it was set/removed, and details of any animal caught in it. Snaring operators must provide this information when requested to do so by Police Scotland to ensure compliance with the legislation.

The Scottish Government does not intend to introduce a register of licensed snares.

Question reference: S5W-09866

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of horses in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-09885

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of (a) pigs, (b) sheep and (c) (i) beef and (ii) dairy cows in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-09867

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 28 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what legislation is in place to support and protect equine welfare.

The Scottish Government considers that the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 are sufficient to ensure that action can be taken if the welfare of horses is not being met. The provisions of Part 2 of the Act apply to all people responsible for animals.

In addition, The Riding Establishments Acts of 1964 and 1970 require such establishments to be licenced by a local authority following inspection by a veterinarian and consideration of the ongoing provision of health and welfare.

Question reference: S5W-09661

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, with reference to section 11E of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (As amended), what information it holds on (a) the location of snares and (b) which animals were caught, and whether such information is in the public domain.

Question reference: S5W-09136

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed improvements to the Sheriffhall Roundabout will make any provision for cyclists.

Question reference: S5W-08477

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to require an assessment of services, such as schools, public transport and medical facilities, to take place as a condition of planning consents for housing developments.

It is for individual planning authorities, in the first instance, to consider whether conditions should be attached to a permission in accordance with national guidance in Circular 4/1998. Developers should mitigate the impact of their development and Local Authorities can draw from a range of sources to support infrastructure, including the use of planning conditions and legal agreements. We have a plan led system, and Scottish Planning Policy makes clear that when identifying locations for new housing, planning authorities must take account of infrastructure requirements.

The challenge of delivering appropriate infrastructure to serve new development has been recognised in the recent consultation on the future of the Scottish planning system https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/planning-architecture/a-consultation-on-the-future-of-planning/. Responses to the consultation, which closed on 4 April, are currently being analysed and will be taken into account in preparation of a Planning Bill.

Question reference: S5W-08478

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in its forthcoming planning legislation to make it a condition of planning consents for some developments for a proportion of very sheltered social housing to be constructed as part of these.

We have no current plans to amend the requirements for developer contributions for affordable and specialist housing, the provisions for which are set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP 2014) and Planning Advice Note 2/2010: Affordable Housing and Housing Land Audits. Such measures could be considered when SPP is next revised.

The recent consultation on the planning system highlights the need to diversify housing delivery to provide a greater choice and range of housing, including supported homes for the elderly. Responses to the consultation, which closed on 4th April, are currently being analysed and will be taken into account in the preparation of a Planning Bill.

Question reference: S5W-08476

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to permit the compulsory purchase of vacant commercial premises in town centres for the purpose of redeveloping them for social housing.

Local authorities have powers to compulsorily purchase land or property under a number of Acts of Parliament. These include powers under sections nine and ten of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 for, or in connection with, the provision of housing.

We committed in our Programme for Government to support interim measures to modernise compulsory purchase orders in advance of legislation, to ensure vacant and derelict land can be brought back into use in our communities, and are currently developing proposals to deliver on this commitment.

Question reference: S5F-01079

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2017

To ask the First Minister what forward planning is in place to meet the demographic challenges of an ageing population.