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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: S4W-23126

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Linda Fabiani on 26 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many full-time or full-time equivalent staff have been employed in the Events and Exhibitions Team in each year since 1999.

A dedicated Events and Exhibitions Team was established in 2007 to support all events and exhibitions in the Parliament. The figures broken down by year are as follows:

Year	Staff Numbers
2007-08	7
2008-09	7
2009-10	10
2010-11	10
2011-12	10
2012-13	9
2013-14	11

(Figures correct as at 31 December each year for 2007-2013)

The Events and Exhibitions Team currently deliver over 440 events and exhibitions annually.

Question reference: S4W-22977

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19276 by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2014, how many snare users, having attended the required training, had obtained an identification number from their local police force or from Police Scotland by 1 October 2014.

Question reference: S4W-22992

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure the welfare of lions and tigers being kept at the Circus High School in Aberdeenshire, and whether the animals remain exempt from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

The Scottish Government is in close contact with Aberdeenshire Council, the local authority responsible. Both the welfare of the big cats and public safety have been considered and continue to be of paramount importance. A number of visits have been made by the council to inspect the facilities being used to house the animals and all welfare requirements have been met and recommendations followed.

The animals are not exempt from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 as they are not currently attached to a circus. The Circus High School applied for a licence under the Act as soon as the requirement for the current arrangements became apparent. The licence was issued on 11 November 2014 after a short delay due to planning considerations.

Question reference: S4O-03694

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to commemorating and celebrating the contribution of Margo MacDonald to the Parliament.

Question reference: S4F-02343

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2014

To ask the First Minister what resources the Scottish Government has in place to assist service personnel and their families who have been affected by the conflict in Afghanistan.

Question reference: S4W-22841

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17160 by Kenny MacAskill on 25 September 2013, how many (a) investigations have been carried out and (b) control notices have been issued by each local authority under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 since 26 February 2013.

The information is contained in the following table:

Investigations

Dog control notices

Local authority	27 Feb 2011 to 26 Feb 2012	27 Feb 2012 to 26 Feb 2013	27 Feb 2013 to 26 Feb 2014	27 Feb 2011 to 26 Feb 2012	27 Feb 2012 to 26 Feb 2013	27 Feb 2013 to 26 Feb 2014
Aberdeen City	207	317	412	4	4	5
Aberdeenshire	89	198	107	3	14	10
Angus	27	80	144	0	0	2
Argyll and Bute	28	43	68	7	5	9
Clackmannanshire	30	51	46	0	0	0
Dumfries and Galloway	24	17	41	2	4	14
Dundee City	97	136	174	0	0	4
East Ayrshire	24	17	19	8	9	4
East Dunbartonshire	24	20	22	10	0	5
East Lothian	14	5	58	12	4	17
East Renfrewshire	1	1	1	0	0	0
Edinburgh City	32	164	228	0	4	5
Falkirk	33	82	150	0	4	14
Fife	55	159	195	10	37	48
Glasgow City	12	5	56	1	1	0
Highland	16	38	97	2	8	14
Inverclyde	0	3	0	0	1	0
Midlothian	24	39	52	1	1	4
Moray	36	99	119	0	0	2
North Ayrshire	29	24	18	1	1	2
North Lanarkshire	18	13	18	0	0	0
Orkney	3	1	6	0	0	1
Perth and Kinross	40	36	19	0	1	10
Renfrewshire	36	89	107	0	9	26
Scottish Borders	16	35	79	4	8	10
Shetland Islands	32	9	4	4	2	0
South Ayrshire	3	21	29	0	0	0
South Lanarkshire	43	48	79	0	4	3
Stirling	19	8	15	1	1	6
West Dunbartonshire	41	55	57	0	7	0
West Lothian	159	206	213	18	22	26
Western Isles	1	53	21	0	0	3
Total	1213	2072	2654	88	151	244

Overall figures for the period 27 Feb 2011-26 Feb 2014

5939

483

This table contains the most up-to-date figures provided by local authorities. Please note that some of the figures contained in the table for the years 2011-12 and 2012-13 may vary from those provided in previous parliamentary questions as a result of updated information being provided to the Scottish Government by individual local authorities.

Question reference: S4W-22696

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been (a) made and (b) granted each year under the community sex offender disclosure scheme, Keeping Children Safe.

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.