Christine Grahame

14 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22841 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2014, how many (a) investigations have been carried out and (b) control notices have been issued by each local authority under the Control of Dogs (Scotland ) Act 2010 since 27 February 2013.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Information on the number of dog control notices issued by local authorities is contained in the following table. Information on the number of investigations is not held centrally. USE OF THE CONTROL OF DOGS (S) ACT 2010 BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES Local Authority…

14 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26149 by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 July 2015, how many dog wardens there are, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The information provided in S4W-26149 is the most recent information held by the Scottish Government in relation to the number of dog wardens broken down by local authority.

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when regulations for the use of electric shock collars for dogs will be introduced.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government are currently in discussion with stakeholders from the veterinary profession, pet industry, animal training and animal welfare sectors with a view to bringing in tough new regulations on the use of electronic training collars for anima…

17 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its consultation on the ban on tail docking, which closed on 3 May 2016.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government's intention to change legislation to permit the shortening of the tails of Spaniel and Hunt Point Retriever puppies where a vet believes they are likely to be used as a working dog and risk serious tail injury in later life was announc…

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06015 by John Swinney on 13 January 2017, whether it will review the schedule to the regulations to extend the exceptions to class size maximum to include Primary 4-7, in light of reports that the current provisions discriminate against older siblin…

Answer · John Swinney: There are currently no plans to review the schedule.

10 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, with the exception of children with additional support needs, there is any discretion to permit a local authority, other than changing existing class composition, to allow a child in a rural community to be placed in the local community school when class numbers, including compo…

Answer · John Swinney: Yes, the Schedule to The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 permits a child to be placed in a Primary 1-Primary 3 class outwith the normal placing round without counting towards the class size maximum. Details of these provision…

10 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13851 by Michael Russell on 16 April 2013, whether the Schedule to the Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 has been updated and, if not, whether it is under review.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans at present to update or review the Schedule to the Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. We remain fully committed to maintaining teacher numbers nationally, specifically the pupil teacher rati…

5 Dec 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government can take in light of Age Scotland’s campaign to tackle loneliness during the festive season.

29 Nov 2016 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it decided to reduce the number of exhibition spaces to three, and for what reason.

Answer · Liam McArthur : The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body can confirm that there have only ever been two spaces for Member-sponsored exhibitions – one in the Garden Lobby and one in the Members’ Lobby.

29 Nov 2016 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of all exhibition spaces being booked out and it not being until April 2017 that applications can be made for the September-December 2017 period, whether it will consider opening an additional space in the Garden Lobby for exhibition purposes.

Answer · Liam McArthur : The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body can confirm that, apart from the existing spaces, there are no other suitable spaces or resources available to support an additional Member-sponsored exhibition space. Member-sponsored exhibitions are very popular. Wh…

10 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce legislation to make it an offence to park on pavements.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government remains committed to bringing forward a Transport Bill which will include provisions to enforce responsible parking in Scotland. To ensure that any legislation is fit for purpose and will command public confidence and support, we agree…

9 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to expediting the roll-out of superfast broadband to residents in areas with a commercial presence but whose individual premises are considered not commercially viable for delivery due to being too far from cabinets, and whether such residents can expect i…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to extending superfast broadband access to all premises in Scotland that will not be served commercially. The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme is currently delivering investment to improve coverage in …

31 Oct 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take following the recent report on the performance of the Borders Railway.

19 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09882 by Michael Matheson on 23 October 2012, what advice is available to construction companies operating in Scotland, and their workers, regarding the health dangers of crystalline silica dust.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Regulation of workplace health and safety is an issue reserved to the UK Government. The Health and Safety Executive has produced a range of guidance on controlling exposure to silica dust, use of respiratory protective equipment and health surveillance for t…

19 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09882 by Michael Matheson on 23 October 2012, what legislation there is that protects construction workers from the health risks of crystalline silica dust.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Regulation of workplace health and safety is reserved to the UK Government who have responsibility for relevant legislation and statutory regulations. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) addresses statutory duties in relati…

19 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09882 by Michael Matheson on 23 October 2012, whether it will provide an update on the figures showing annual deaths from silicosis and related diseases, setting out what those related diseases are.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The information requested is given in the following table. For the purpose of producing statistics on causes of death, deaths registered in Scotland are classified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Ten…

6 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of NHS patients who require a complex optical prescription lens is entitled to funding towards the cost of their prescription.

Answer · Shona Robison: Under General Ophthalmic Services regulations, all patients who require a complex prescription lens of either plus or minus 10 dioptres or more are entitled to help towards the cost of their prescription.

6 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider funding in full complex optical prescription lenses through the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are currently no plans for patients to be given full funding towards the cost of complex prescription lenses. However, children, those under 19 who are still in full time education and adults who are in receipt of certain state benefits are entitled to …

28 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a working group to examine the impact of incidental cetacean entanglement on (a) the whale population and (b) fishing communities.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to establish a working group to examine the impact of incidental cetacean bycatch. We will continue to monitor fishing operations and bycatch reporting through the established UK bycatch monitoring programme a…

28 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing with fishing communities to minimise the equipment damage and animal injury caused by incidental catches of cetaceans in nets.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has worked closely with the other UK Fisheries Administrations and nature conservation agencies in establishing the UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy. This strategy identifies measures, including the use of acoustic deterrent…

28 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to minimise occurrences of the incidental entanglement of cetaceans in fishing nets and to promote effective disentanglement that protects both the animal and fishing equipment where this occurs.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: All cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are protected in the UK under the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) and the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 2007 (as amended), which make it an of…

4 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01495 by Derek Mackay on 3 August 2016, whether the insertion by paragraph 6 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2013 (SSI 2013 No. 37) at 4(e) and (f) of “and the person entitled to possession of the la…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Two of the conditions for rates relief under regulation 4 of The Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 1994, referred to as 'Fresh Start', are submission of an application to the rating authority, and that for a continuous period of…

14 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, under the Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2013 (SSI 2013 No. 37) paragraph 6, which inserts “Lands and Heritages to be treated as unoccupied” at 4 (f), it is mandatory that an application has been submitted, in particular that failure b…

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is for the Local Authority to determine whether the conditions in the regulation are met.

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which cabinet secretary has responsibility for animal welfare issues.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I lead on welfare issues affecting wild animals, domestic pets and animals kept in captivity and have responsibility for overarching animal welfare issues. My colleague Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, leads on th…

25 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revisit the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and, in particular, whether it is effective in dealing with anti-social neighbours.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 provides a wide range of measures for dealing with anti-social neighbours. Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) can be used to prevent persons from engaging in antisocial behaviours which cause alarm or distres…

7 Mar 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that the rehousing provisions for victims of domestic abuse are satisfactory.

30 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on microchipping cats.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government encourages all owners to microchip their pets as the best way of being reunited with them should they be separated. This recommendation is included in the Scottish Government Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats approved by the Sco…

30 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which sections of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 have yet to come into force and when.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 that are yet to come into force are section 52 insofar as introducing paragraphs 6, 9(b), (d) (insofar as not already in force), (h) to (l), (n) and (p) of schedule 2 to that Act. These relat…

11 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of paragraphs 61 to 63 of the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders in Scotland, which deal with out-of-area placements and exceptional circumstances, on how many occasions in each of the last four years sex offenders have been relocated outwith their local area.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government does not collect this information. The National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders (NASSO) explains that the responsibility for making the necessary arrangements for an out of area placement lies with the placing local authority.…

7 Sep 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what benefits it considers there will be for Midlothian and the Borders from the Borders Railway.