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-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-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.

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: S5F-04336

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2020

To ask the First Minister, in light of the approach of colder weather, reports of an increase in the COVID-19 transmission rate and concerns regarding some people not wearing face coverings in shops and public transport, how many fines have been issued for failing to comply with the face covering rules since they became mandatory and enforceable by the police.

Question reference: S5W-31229

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an indicative timeline for resumption of (a) outdoor and (b) indoor pipe band practice.

Outdoor activities, including rehearsals and seated live events, are allowed to re-commence from 24 August in accordance with physical distancing and hygiene guidance for events – available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-events-sector-guidance/ - and for performing arts, available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-performing-arts-and-venues-sector/ . Professional band players only may now rehearse indoors following the performing arts guidance. The restrictions on non-professional playing indoors will be reviewed next on 10 September.

Question reference: S5W-30899

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of mountain hare culling restarting on 1 August 2020, when the licensing scheme in compliance with the Animal and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 will be enforceable.

Question reference: S5O-04423

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the economic impact on retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, what discussions the economy secretary has had with the UK Government regarding the £51,000 rateable value ceiling on eligibility for the £25,000 support grant.

Question reference: S5F-04198

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2020

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide a weekly breakdown by local authority of the R number for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-27833

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing driver awareness courses as an alternative to penalty points for motoring offences at the lower end of culpability.

The decision to divert any case from prosecution is a matter for the relevant public prosecutor. In relation to certain road traffic offences Procurators Fiscal have discretion to refer an individual to the National Driver Alertness Course (NDAC) or the Rider Intervention Development Experience (RIDE) as a means of addressing the underlying causes of alleged road traffic offending when this is deemed the most appropriate course of action.

The NDAC and RIDE schemes are intensive, single day courses, paid for by the offender. The course addresses the reasons for the offender’s road traffic offending behaviour and if successfully completed the offender will not be prosecuted for that specific incident of offending. If the offender fails to complete the course, the Procurator Fiscal can consider raising criminal proceedings against the offender.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) are currently engaged with Criminal Justice partners including Transport Scotland, the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service to explore the introduction of further diversionary driving courses, including a Speed Awareness Course, as an alternative to prosecution.

Question reference: S5W-27324

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15655 by Fergus Ewing on 1 May 2018, how many of the (a) cattle, (b) sheep, (c) pigs and (d) goats that were exported in 2018 for (i) slaughter, (ii) breeding and (iii) fattening/production had (A) Northern Ireland, (B) the Republic of Ireland, (C) France, (D) Belgium, (E) Spain, (F) Italy, (G) Germany and (H) the Netherlands as their final destination.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of transported animals seriously, whether within the United Kingdom or for export purposes. Animals should be exported only in line with strict welfare standards, which ensure freedom from harm and sufficient rest and nourishment, and ensure that transport welfare rules are fully complied with.

The following tables set out the number of animals exported to the requested destinations in 2018 and 2019, based on information supplied by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Number of Animals Exported 2018

Northern Ireland	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	1,564	1,321	185	0
Breeding	856	7,913	0	10
Fattening/Production	58	0	0	0

Republic of Ireland	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	98	4,587	0	0
Breeding	314	46	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	6,129	0	0

France	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	177	0	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	2

Belgium	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	50	22	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Spain	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	43	3	0	0
Fattening/Production	5,728	0	0	0

Italy	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	2	15	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Germany	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	91	45	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Netherlands	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	121	10	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Number of Animals Exported 2019

Northern Ireland	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	3,184	31	273	0
Breeding	1,147	5,428	3	0
Fattening/Production	163	0	0	0

Republic of Ireland	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	1,559	0	0
Breeding	138	505	4	0
Fattening/Production	0	8,679	0	0

France	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	184	9	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Belgium	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	10	11	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Spain	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	22	18	1,805	0
Fattening/Production	2,802	0	0	0

Italy	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	2	27	460	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Germany	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	36	49	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0

Netherlands	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
Slaughter	0	0	0	0
Breeding	135	37	0	0
Fattening/Production	0	0	0	0