STAFF working at the Scottish Parliament have been issued with a questionnaire on sexual harassment.

The 13 page document has been sent to everyone working at Holyrood and staff in MSPs constituency and regional offices.

The parliament acted after allegations of sexual harassment were made at Westminster and Holyrood in recent months.

The confidential and anonymous questionnaire asks a series of questions on whether someone has been a victim, has witnessed or is aware of incidents of sexual harassment.

Questions include have you experienced “comments looks or leers of a sexual nature” or “unwanted texts e-mails or other communication of a sexual nature”.

It asks about “unwanted physical contact” and “unwanted persistent attention to form an intimate relationship”.

Respondents are asked how often this has happened and the status of the alleged perpetrator, including MSP, staff, contractor and media.

The incidents can be reported going as far back as 1999 when the Scottish Parliament was convened after devolution.

It has also asked if the incidents were reported to anyone and what action was taken.

The parliament set up a confidential helpline in October for anyone at the parliament to report sexual harassment.

So far the Parliament authorities have said the number of reports are in single figures.

The purpose of the survey is to “establish the extent to which sexual harassment and sexist behaviour is encountered by people working at the Scottish Parliament or in a constituency or regional office. It also seeks to establish whether there are any barriers to reporting such behaviour.”

Following the allegations which led to the resignation of children’s minister, Mark McDonald, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said the problem was the behaviour of men.

He said: "It is up to men to make these changes, and men must examine their own behaviour. Sexual harassment or abuse in the workplace or anywhere else is completely unacceptable and must stop, just as the underlying attitudes and inequalities that perpetuate it must also stop.

"No-one, staff or member of parliament, woman or man, should ever have to put up with harassment or abuse."