Christine Grahame

22 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the extension of the Borders Railway south to Carlisle.

25 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, further to the regulations relating to XL Bully-type dogs coming into force, to whom a dog owner can apply for advice on whether their dog fits the conformation of the XL Bully-type, in light of reports that a substantial number of dog owners in England are now applying to deregister their d…

11 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25875 by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2024, in light of it being two years since its discussions with the UK Government on a UK-wide dog microchipping database, whether it will revisit this issue.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Government officials are due to hold further discussions in the coming weeks with the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to establish their current position with regards to microchip databases, and plans to progr…

27 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that there are 15 separate dog microchipping databases that are compliant with the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and that every dog in the UK must be microchipped once they are eight weeks old, what discussions it has had w…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of having a single point of access to microchipping data to aid with the identifying and reuniting owners and their pets and Scottish Ministers remain committed to working jointly with other administrations wher…

14 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the support and benefits that are available to older people in Scotland, in light of the reported calls for a publicity campaign to address low uptake of Pension Credit and the potential impact of any such low uptake on accessing other devol…

22 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to assist in the establishing of a small museum or exhibition centre in Galashiels to celebrate the life and times of Robert Coltart, the author of the children’s song, Ally Bally Bee.

15 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken on the impact of changing demographics on NHS services.

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publicise what it considers to be the definition of an XL bully dog, in order to assist the public, particularly dog owners, in determining whether they may potentially be required to register their dog.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24481 on 24 January 2023. 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-committ…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues it raised with the UK Government regarding the potential displacement of XL bully dogs to Scotland from England and Wales in the event that legislation that exists in England and Wales were not to be replicated in Scotland, and when it raised any such issues.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I wrote to the then UK Government Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs, The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, on 14 November 2023 seeking clarity from the UK Government on whether XL Bully dog owners would be committing the offence of sale of an XL Bully dog …

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that it will, in essence, replicate in Scotland the legislation that exists in England and Wales on XL bully dogs, how it will monitor the efficacy of any proposed regulations.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government keeps all dog legislation under review, and I can confirm to the member that I will be planning to engage with key stakeholders going forward to help understand the impact of the regulations that will introduce new safeguards on XL Bul…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the principles of the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill to introduce a code of practice specifically aimed at prospective owners of dogs, which would place various duties on them to increase responsible ownership by educating and requiring them to sign a certificate…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Government takes animal welfare very seriously and is committed to the highest possible welfare standards. We welcome Ms Grahame’s effort with the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill and support the general principles of the Bill. We need to emphasise to peop…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings its ministers have had with organisations or campaign groups regarding the consideration of replicating in Scotland the UK Government’s legislation on XL bully dogs; on what date any such meetings took place; what organisations were involved, and what views were express…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I can confirm I have met with a range of stakeholders over the winter period to discuss XL Bully dogs and the restrictions in England and Wales. I met with: The Scottish SPCA and the Dogs Trust on 21 November 2023 The National Dog Warden Association on 21 …

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that it will, in essence, replicate in Scotland the legislation that exists in England and Wales on XL bully dogs, what discussions it has had with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) Scottish Branch regarding any imp…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The British Veterinary Association are members of the Dog Control Coalition and I met with members of Dog Control Coalition on 22 November 2023. This was prior to the Scottish Government announcement on 11 January 2024. During the meeting, concerns were expr…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that it will, in essence, replicate in Scotland the legislation that exists in England and Wales on XL bully dogs, what alternative protections it considered in order to address the potential displacement of XL bully dogs …

Answer · Siobhian Brown: In light of the UK Government failing to ensure English and Welsh XL Bully dog owners cannot evade the new safeguards through selling or otherwise disposing of their dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government has been left with little choice to decide to repli…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who it expects would be responsible for the enforcement of any regulations in Scotland regarding XL bully dogs.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The new safeguards to be introduced will include a number of criminal offences for breaching certain requirements. In line with normal process, it is for Police Scotland to investigate any alleged offences and for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Servic…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that it will, in essence, replicate in Scotland the legislation that exists in England and Wales on XL bully dogs, whether it has decided not to proceed to amend the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 as an alternative me…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24485 on 24 January 2023. 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-committ…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the introduction in England and Wales of restrictions on XL bully dogs, and the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that it will, in essence, replicate in Scotland the legislation that exists in England and Wales on XL bully dogs, when any scheme will be operati…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Replicating the approach taken in England and Wales, it will be possible for owners of XL Bully dogs to retain their dogs by applying for an exemption. Details of how this can be done will be published as the scheme is launched and practical and helpful suppo…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not yet established a publicly accessible national database of dog control notices under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, which would allow the tracking of dogs Scotland-wide whose behaviour gives cause for concern.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government introduced a national dog control notice database in February 2022 which is helping local authorities and Police Scotland access information on dog owners where notices have been issued. The national database brought together the dog …

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the XL bully dog breed having been added to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, what evidence it is aware of that adding a dog breed to this list has reduced dog attacks, and whether it will provide details of all dog attacks reported in Scotland since…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: In light of the UK Government failing to ensure English and Welsh XL Bully dog owners cannot evade the new safeguards through selling or otherwise disposing of their dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government has been left with little choice to decide to repli…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase the penalties that can be imposed on (a) breeders who are found to be breeding dogs to be aggressive and (b) owners who are found to knowingly fail to keep their dog(s) under control.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Dog breeding is regulated under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. The penalties for offences committed under these regulations were increased in 2020 when the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protectio…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be the defined characteristics of an XL bully dog.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: We will provide details of the defined characteristics of an XL Bully dog as the relevant legislation introducing the new safeguards for XL Bully dogs is developed and published. Practical and helpful guidance and support will be provided to XL Bully dog owne…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it made of how many XL bully dogs there were in Scotland before (a) the UK Government’s announcement on 31 October 2023 of the changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act that ban XL bully dogs in England and Wales and (b) the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that t…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The number of XL Bully dogs in the UK and Scotland is unknown and estimates vary significantly. During the House of Commons scrutiny of the new safeguards in England and Wales, many expert witnesses highlighted the challenges of estimating numbers as XL Bull…

10 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential future devolution of Vehicle Excise Duty. 

28 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve the support for school-age children on the autism spectrum.

13 Nov 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has in place to reduce disruption to public services due to severe winter weather.

24 Oct 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on rates of winter admissions to accident and emergency as a result of winter falls, since October 2020.

26 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission independent analysis of the impact that its interventions, including the Scottish Child Payment, Carer’s Allowance Supplement and the Baby Box, have had on social justice.

25 Sep 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to some members of the judiciary expressing opposition to juryless rape trials.

6 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the measures in its Programme for Government 2023-24 will support the rural economy in the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency.

28 Aug 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact recent public sector pay settlements are having on the provision of services.