Chamber and committees

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-32877

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by David Stewart MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate B on 11 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will reconsider the policy of permitting Members' offices four mobile devices only, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic leading to an increase in the number of staff who are working from home and who require their own office device to be in contact with constituents who might not have internet access.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body recognises that, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, MSP staff working from home will be required to contact constituents in a variety of different ways. As such, the SPCB has agreed to provide basic mobile phones to MSP staff should they be required. These basic mobile phones will be supplied in addition to the current policy limits for mobile devices such as smartphones and are provided to help facilitate telephone contact with constituents who might not have internet access.

Question reference: S5W-32795

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to prevent training days organised by dog trainers that involve the use of electric shock collars from taking place.

Question reference: S5T-02484

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of England entering lockdown and the Scottish Borders being placed at level 2 restrictions, what measures are being considered to ensure that only essential cross-border journeys take place.

Question reference: S5W-32794

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government which animal welfare organisations it has had meetings with in the last two years regarding electric shock collars.

Question reference: S5O-04695

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with the UK Government regarding extending the furlough scheme.

Question reference: S5W-31689

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend COVID-19 regulations in Scotland to include fines for breaching gathering regulations by organising these in a similar way to those under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions on Holding of Gatherings and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020.

A specific offence of attending a party in a private dwelling was included in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirement) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 to address the specific risks posed by large gatherings. Ensuring police have the powers to enter and disperse large house parties is another important tool in suppressing the virus.

Any breaches of the requirements in the regulations may be subject to enforcement action, including issuing a fixed penalty notice or consideration of prosecution in court.

They are temporary powers and will be kept under review, and strengthened if the evidence suggests this is necessary.

Question reference: S5O-04605

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will pursue establishing an account to allow for the costs of COVID-19-related requirements at local offices to be paid directly by the Parliament.

Question reference: S5O-04584

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns regarding the term "likely" in relation to hatred being stirred up in Section 3 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, whether it is reviewing that phrase.

Question reference: S5W-31415

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the scientific evidence that restricts distancing in bingo halls to two metres but to one metre in public houses and restaurants.

Scottish Government advice is to stay two metres away from other people. On 9 July the First Minister advised Parliament that in a limited number of sectors, we will allow an exception to be made to the requirement for two metre physical distancing. However that will be subject to strict conditions that are tailored to the circumstances of each sector. With every restriction that we lift, the risk increases, especially as we start to permit more indoor activity.

There is a process in place to consider any requests for an exemption to be made, with an assessment against the four harms including, broader health, economic and social effects. Officials have discussed this process with the Bingo Association. Exemptions are considered by the First Minister who also considers the need to manage the risk of cumulative exceptions eroding the general requirement of two metres, with a consequential increased risk of transmission more generally.

Question reference: S5W-31310

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with Transport Scotland regarding the reopening of the A68 following the recent collapse of part of the road due to bad weather, and what the timescale is for the reopening.