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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 31 October 2024
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Displaying 1137 contributions

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Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Christine Grahame

As the cabinet secretary is aware, there are more than 1 million Scottish residents aged over 65, and that number is increasing. Living longer can be a plus, but with age, regrettably, come more demands, as well as specific demands on the NHS. Does the weighting of the NHS Scotland’s resource allocation committee—NRAC—formula, which allocates resources to NHS boards, need to be reviewed in the light of the increasing number of older people?

Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 24 January 2024

Christine Grahame

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken on the impact of changing demographics on national health service services. (S6O-03005)

Meeting of the Parliament

XL Bully Dogs

Meeting date: 18 January 2024

Christine Grahame

I remain convinced, as I have been from the start, that the proposed regulations are ill considered and unjust to decent owners. Demonising a breed is not the answer. The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, which began as a member’s bill in my name, introduced the concept of a “deed, not breed” approach. I say to Russell Findlay that if he could just switch off the sensationalism for a moment he would see that only 2 per cent of issued dog control notices apply to XL bully-type breeds.

I am pleased to hear voices around the chamber seeking a review of and amendments to the 2010 act. I hope that those are done urgently. I hope, too, that the 2010 act is given the publicity that it deserves. The public are not aware of it, and neither are some professionals.

My final request is that we have a national dog microchipping database, because there are various databases at the moment. That way we could track both the dogs and any irresponsible owners.

Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Christine Grahame

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the potential future devolution of vehicle excise duty. (S6O-02968)

Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Christine Grahame

The recent RAC survey of potholes across the UK estimated that there are at least 1 million potholes UK wide, yet the UK Government collected around £7.3 billion in 2022-23 in vehicle excise duty—better known as road tax. That money is completely swallowed up by the Treasury. Does the minister agree that it would be far fairer if Scotland collected its own road tax and used it appropriately—for example, by ring fencing it? Some of the money in the 2022-23 figures would provide Scotland with £700 million per annum, not simply to plug potholes but to maintain the network.

Meeting of the Parliament

Topical Question Time

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Christine Grahame

As everyone is, I am appalled by dog attacks. However, the answer does not lie in adopting such hasty and simplistic regulations. In the same way, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 has not worked. Will the minister therefore consider amending the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, which I introduced and which intervenes early when there are behavioural problems with any breed of dog, to make it more effective, as it places the blame and responsibility where they lie—on the breeder and the owner, not the dog?

Meeting of the Parliament

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Christine Grahame

Apart from the two existing spaces, there are currently no other suitable spaces in the busy parliamentary campus or available resources to support an additional member-sponsored exhibition space. However, the SPCB is sympathetic to the issue and we are happy to explore it as part of future work on the use of the building.

Although there is a lot of demand for member-sponsored exhibitions, most can be accommodated within the current arrangements. When that is not possible, parliamentary officials will always seek to offer an alternative date to accommodate the exhibition or, where appropriate, offer organisers a member-sponsored event instead.

Meeting of the Parliament

General Question Time

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Christine Grahame

I have a feeling that the subject of my supplementary question is not within the cabinet secretary’s portfolio, but I will ask it anyway.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale are mainly rural areas. Keeping the road network clear is crucial to all the services that the cabinet secretary has mentioned. How is road grit allocated to local authorities? If necessary, can a local authority access additional road clearing assistance?

Meeting of the Parliament

General Question Time

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Christine Grahame

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has in place to reduce disruption to public services due to severe winter weather. (S6O-02774)

Meeting of the Parliament

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time

Meeting date: 23 November 2023

Christine Grahame

It is not simply a matter of space; it is to do with resources, the equipment that is required, the staffing and so on.

As I said, the SPCB is sympathetic to the issue, and we will see whether another space can be found as we explore future work on the use of the building, especially as the use of the building has changed following the Covid pandemic.