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: S5O-04791

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances it would consider blended learning or a complete closure of a school or schools within a local authority.

Question reference: S5F-04574

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will consider putting travel restrictions into regulations, in light of reports that COVID-19 transmission rates are not slowing down sufficiently and, in some areas, are increasing again.

Question reference: S5O-04771

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what difference it anticipates Joe Biden taking over the Presidency from Donald Trump will make to its relationship with the United States and Europe.

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.