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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: S4F-02321

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on Police Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit.

Question reference: S4W-22431

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Linda Fabiani on 17 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S4W-22188 by Linda Fabiani on 20 August 2014, what legal advice permitted that the definition of parliamentary complex as “the place where the parliament or any of its committees or subcommittees meets" could, without amendment to that definition, be extended to include the landscaped and paved area outside the Parliament building.

The information referred to by the Member was general guidance for the public which has now been updated, whereas the policy issued to Members was as a result of the commitment given to the Parliament by the SPCB that all SPCB resources and facilities are used impartially in the run up to the referendum and at all other times in accordance with the Parliament’s policies and legal obligations.

Question reference: S4W-22188

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Linda Fabiani on 20 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the Presiding Officer's letter of 1 July 2014 to the member for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, which advised that "SPCB resources include...all areas of the Parliamentary complex”, in light of the “Parliamentary complex” being defined on the website as being "The place where the Parliament or any of its committees or sub-committees meets”, what the basis is for the letter including the paved area outside the public entrance as part of the complex.

Under the Scotland Act 1998, as amended, the SPCB has responsibility for all property, services and staff for the Parliament. The SPCB has given an assurance to the Parliament that in the lead up to the Referendum, as at other times, it will ensure that the resources of the Parliament are used impartially at all times and circulated a document to all Members to assist Members by summarising the various relevant policies already in place about the use of parliamentary resources. The policy provides that SPCB resources include local offices, all areas of the parliamentary complex, IT, postage and stationery, all matters covered by the Members? expenses scheme and all services provided by SPCB staff. In respect of the parliamentary complex, the SPCB is clear that it must relate to all areas of the Parliament’s property which includes the landscape area and the paved area to the front of the building.

Should a Member be in any doubt about the use of resources, officials are available to provide advice and assistance.

Question reference: S4F-02251

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 August 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that an independent Scotland will not be able to support the state pension.

Question reference: S4W-20702

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Liz Smith on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will ensure that translation facilities are available to members lodging motions that require this.

The working language of the Parliament is English and, in this regard, under sections 4.1 of the Parliament’s Guidance on Motions and 1.6 of the SPCB Language Policy, if a member wishes a motion to be printed in the Business Bulletin in a language other than English, the member must provide the translation. Responsibility for the accuracy of the translation also remains with the member.

The SPCB is committed to ensuring that the work of the Parliament is open and accessible to all and this is reflected in its language policy:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/PublicInformationdocuments/Lang_Policy2013.pdf

The SPCB has also been extending the services available for members to enable them to communicate with constituents whose first language is not English. Since 2013, the Parliament has been involved in the Happy to Translate scheme, a national initiative developed to promote equal access to services by overcoming language barriers:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/help/65911.aspx

Question reference: S4O-03081

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what facilities are available for the showing of documentary films.

Question reference: S4W-19245

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its questionnaire consulting on the possible mandatory microchipping of dogs and other measures does not include a question on (a) the awareness of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and (b) what other legislation exists regarding the sale and breeding of dogs.

We are aware that there are a wide range of other concerns surrounding responsible dog ownership, and have used the consultation as an opportunity to gather initial views on other potential new measures. This includes posing an open question on the promotion of responsible dog ownership under which we can take account of any comments on how existing legislation is operating. This process will continue, both through the forthcoming summit on dangerous dogs this spring, and through other separate investigations.

Question reference: S4W-19277

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many snaring training courses have been delivered since 11 March 2010 by (a) Borders College, (b) the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited, (c) Elmwood College, (d) the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, (e) North Highland College, (f) the Scottish Agricultural College, (g) the Scottish Association for Country Sports and (h) the Scottish Gamekeepers Association Charitable Trust, and how many participants there were on each.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) voluntarily administers a central register that holds all details of the snare training courses which are run by the following approved bodies: GWCT, Borders College, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited, Elmwood College, North Highland College, the Scottish Agricultural College, the Scottish Association for Country Sports and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association Charitable Trust. GWCT advise that because of the administrative costs involved, they are unable to provide information on the number of training courses and participants on each course run by the respective training providers.

Question reference: S4W-19275

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-12369 and S4W-16395 by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2013 and 25 July 2013 respectively, how many snare users attended the training required to qualify for an identification number for the purpose of setting snares by 1 January 2014.

Question reference: S4W-19276

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16396 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 July 2013, how many snare users, having attended the required training, had obtained an identification number from the chief constable of their local police force or from Police Scotland by 1 January 2014.