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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-02266

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the action by Scottish Borders Council at Peebles High and Priorsford Primary schools, what its position is on replacing school librarians with senior pupils or volunteers.

This Government is clear that a good quality school library service, supported by highly skilled library staff, can make a strong contribution to our ambition to raise attainment for all our young people. That is why I intend to publish a national strategy for school libraries and why we are investing £1 million over three years in improving school libraries.

It is incumbent on local authorities to make best use of the funds available and delivery models across Scotland will vary. There is a role for pupils, parents, and volunteers to play in supporting school library services – indeed, pupils can gain a great deal from getting involved – but they will only add value as part of a managed appropriately staffed service.

Question reference: S5W-17183

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Scottish Borders Council is substituting senior pupils for school librarians at Peebles High School, including concerns that these pupils might be asked to (a) enforce discipline and (b) access other pupils' personal data, and who will be legally liable for the senior pupils taking such action.

A good quality school library service can make a strong contribution to our ambition to raise attainment for all our young people. That is why a national strategy for school libraries will be published this summer, and it is why we are investing £1 million over three years in improving school libraries. Pupils can gain a great deal from getting involved in their school libraries, but as part of a managed service.

Local authorities are responsible for discipline in schools and for ensuring that any personal information held by them is processed in accordance with rules and legislation related to Data Protection Information and Security.

Question reference: S5O-02232

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Transport Bill will make provision for discretion as to whether bus services should be council run, using the Lothian Buses model, or allow commercial operators to continue delivery.

The Transport Bill was published earlier this week. The Bill ensures that local transport authorities have viable and flexible options to improve bus services in their areas. It provides them with a range of options to meet local needs and circumstances, including partnership working with operators, local franchising, or running their own buses in certain circumstances. It will also improve the information available to passengers so that bus travel is more accessible and attractive.

Question reference: S5O-02237

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide staff to assist cross party groups set up equipment at meetings held in the Parliament after 6pm.

Question reference: S5O-02184

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 6 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to promote tourist attractions in the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency such as the National Mining Museum, Abbotsford, Melrose Abbey and the Great Polish Map of Scotland.

Question reference: S5F-02410

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on suggestions by the RBS Chief Executive that post offices are the "best solution" to replace local banks that have closed.

Question reference: S5W-16528

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw on 23 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will give consideration to providing funding to Members whose Bill is passed by the Parliament to publicise it when it becomes law.

The SPCB has no plans to provide funding to Members whose Bills are passed by the Parliament to publicise them when they become law. The SPCB’s funding responsibility is limited to the Parliamentary scrutiny process from introduction of the Bill through to the end of the process, when the Bill is either passed, rejected, withdrawn or falls. Once a Bill is passed, it becomes the responsibility of the Scottish Government to implement its provisions, including publicity, where appropriate.

Question reference: S5W-16333

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 17 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what funding and assistance is in place for people under 65 who have advanced Alzheimer’s.

The Scottish Government will extend free personal and nursing care to everyone under 65 - including those with all forms of dementia including Alzheimer's - in 2019.

In line with our national HEAT Standard, everyone newly diagnosed with dementia , including those diagnosed under the age of 65, is entitled to be offered a minimum of a year of post-diagnostic support coordinated by a named and appropriately trained Link Worker. This service offer applies to individuals diagnosed at all stages of dementia.

The post-diagnostic support is designed to help the person with dementia and their family adjust to the diagnosis, connect more effectively to the range of services and supports available, both in localities, nationally and online, and make plans for further care options. It is a person-centred service, built around the specific needs of the person with dementia and for people with advanced dementia it will respond to advanced symptoms and care needs. The provision and funding of dementia post-diagnostic services is the responsibility of Integration Joint Boards.

NHS Health Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland provide free resources aimed at people with young onset dementia. NHS Health Scotland’s report Dementia and equality – meeting the challenge in Scotland includes an assessment of the potential barriers to a dementia diagnosis and to services for individuals under 65, with a number of recommendations flowing from that assessment, focussing on areas such as improving service pathways and the skills and knowledge of the workforce. As part of The Scottish Government's 2017-2020 National Dementia Strategy, there is a specific commitment to support implementation of the NHS Health report.

Question reference: S5O-02053

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ban the export of live animals for slaughter.

As I stated in the response to your oral question of 6 February 2018 there is currently no export of live animals to continental Europe for the purpose of slaughter from Scotland. And as I have also made clear previously, the Scottish Government is committed to the welfare of all animals during transport, 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.

The UK Government has issued a call for evidence on this issue and we have supported that call but reiterated and reserved our position of not making any changes to current EU legislation that could disadvantage Scottish agriculture.

Question reference: S5O-02084

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent issues regarding TSB's online banking service and further branch closures, including by Santander, whether it will carry out an assessment of their impact on businesses and people who find it difficult to access or use online or telephone banking.