Christine Grahame

19 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government agreeing an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act’s market access principles regarding the sale of rodent glue traps, what plans it has to implement a ban on the sale of glue traps.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37794 on 29 May 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…

19 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects sections 1 to 5 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 to be implemented.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government requires an exemption from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2000 (IMA) from the UK Government (UKG) before we can effectively implement sections 1 to 5 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.The UKG have agre…

23 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders about extending the Hospital at Home provision throughout the Borders.

21 Apr 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the reported issues arising from proposed rural nursery closures or mothballing, including the potential impact on the sustainability of rural communities and the operation of primary schools, whether the Scottish Government will review the relevant legislation and the guidance o…

14 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change its policy position in relation to an independent Scotland seeking to rejoin the EU, in light of the potential impact of US tariffs on the UK and the EU.

19 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget to fund applications to the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund, including from housing associations where there have been housing stock transfers from a local authority.

10 Mar 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, regarding any potential impact on planning legislation in Scotland, what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that the UK Government has proposed giving people living near power infrastructure hundreds of pounds off their bills each year.

10 Feb 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has recently completed into the efficacy and standardisation of the presumption of inclusion in mainstream education.

20 Jan 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President, and the reported prospect of import tariffs, what sectors of Scottish business it anticipates may be most affected.

6 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government transport secretary regarding the £5 million contribution that the previous administration made towards a feasibility study into the extension of the Borders railway.

16 Dec 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will encourage the public not to buy puppies or dogs during the festive period, in light of the reported possibility that these may be the product of irresponsible breeders, including illegal puppy farms.

10 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any specific impact on tenant farmers in Scotland of the announced changes to agricultural property relief on inheritance tax.

3 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions on Scotland’s economy.

27 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the provision of support for children with additional support needs, what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported delays to ADHD assessments for children on their education.

6 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is any means by which the owner of an XL bully dog can obtain a court order authorising a late application for inclusion on the Index of Exempted Dogs, other than following seizure of the dog and a conviction under section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, as amended by …

Answer · Siobhian Brown: XL Bully owners in Scotland had from 1 April 2024 to 31 July 2024 to apply to the Scottish Government for a Certificate of Exemption for their XL Bully dog, to allow them to legally keep their dog. Under the relevant legislation that set these dates, the time…

6 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many suspected XL bully type dogs have been seized since 1 August 2024, and, of these, how many (a) have been euthanised, (b) have been returned to their owners following an assessment that they are not of the XL bully type and (c) are currently in kennels awaiting a decision regardi…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not have any role to play in operational matters that fall to Police Scotland and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) when considering allegations of criminal offences under dangerous dogs legislation. In addition, …

6 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made for the potential situation in which an XL bully type dog was too young to have been microchipped prior to closure of applications for inclusion on the Index of Exempted Dogs on 31 July 2024.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Dogs need to be over 8 weeks old to be microchipped.Where an XL Bully dog was too young – under 8 weeks – as at the date of application for exemption to be microchipped, the owner was given additional time to provide evidence of microchipping havi…

6 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is any provision for the interim liberation of a dog of a prohibited type, where court proceedings are pending or in progress under section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, as amended by the Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (Scotland) Order 2024.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: There is no provision for the interim liberation of a prohibited type dog in Scotland as there is no interim exemption scheme available that would permit such dogs to be released pending the consideration and outcome of court proceedings.

6 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-28648 and S6W-29091 by Siobhian Brown on 2 August and 22 August 2024, how many applications for XL bully dogs to be added to the Index of Exempted Dogs have been unsuccessful, and how many dogs were euthanised as a result.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: XL Bully dog owners had from 1 April 2024 to 31 July 2024 to apply to the Scottish Government for a certificate of exemption for their dog, to allow them to continue to legally own the dog.The Scottish Government continues to work through a small number of ca…

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26106 by Jim Fairlie on 19 March 2024, what (a) discussions it has had with the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) progress has been made regarding a UK-wide single point of search portal for dog microchipping i…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Government officials continue to engage and contribute to the Microchipping Devolved Administration Working Group and on 11 October I wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE, MP expressing th…

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has given consideration to calls to introduce a mandatory and permanent field on a dog's microchip to record the breeder to improve traceability.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government continues to discuss with the other devolved administrations as part the Microchipping Devolved Administration Working Group ways to improve traceability of breeders.With regards to current requirements to record breeder information, a…

7 Oct 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported concerns that the UK Labour administration has not affirmed the commitment, which was signed in March 2021 by the UK and Scottish governments under the Borderlands Growth deal, to allocate £5 million towards a feasibility study…

25 Sep 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on public services of an increased population in areas such as Midlothian.

9 Sep 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent reported dog attack in Aberdeenshire, what effect the restrictions on XL Bully-type dogs have had on the incidence of dog attacks.

28 Aug 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on mitigating any UK Government reductions to UK-wide benefits since 2019.

22 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, since the new rules came into effect on 23February 2024, how many XL bully-type dogs have been (a) found abandoned orhanded in to animal welfare charities and (b) euthanised under the ScottishGovernment scheme.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Information on the number of suspected XL Bully dogs that have been abandoned or handed in to animal welfare charities is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.XL Bully owners who have taken the decision to have their dog euthanised can claim up to &p…

22 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, based on the most recent data it holds, which 10 breeds of dogs have been most responsible for seriously injuring or killing people, ranked in order.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24486 on 24 January 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…

3 Jun 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will review the impact of the short-term let licensing legislation, in light of the upcoming summer tourist season. 

13 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had and will have with rural communities, such as residents and businesses in the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency, regarding the restrictions on the installation of wood burning stoves.

25 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing legislation in Scotland similar to the UK Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government, at this time, does not have plans to introduce legislation similar to the UK Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023. The Scottish Government remains committed to improving animal welfare and will carefully consider DEFRA’s…