Asked by: Mochan, Carol (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities, (b) Police Scotland and (c) animal welfare organisations regarding promoting responsible dog ownership and reducing problems arising from irresponsible ownership in communities and public spaces.
Answered by Oswald, Kirsten - Minister for Victims and Community Safety
The Scottish Government hosted a ‘Responsible Dog Ownership’ Summit in September 2024. The summit was an opportunity to bring together experts from a range of organisations, including Police Scotland, local authorities, animal welfare organisations, public health and third sector organisations to consider how dog control and public safety can be improved upon.
The Summit Report is available on the Scottish Government website: Responsible dog ownership summit: report - gov.scot
The Scottish Government subsequently established an Expert Advisory Group to look at the various issues raised at the Summit to help determine what steps can be progressed in the short, medium, and long term. For example, this includes what positive action can be taken that does not require legislation through, say, improvement to how laws are enforced.
Members of the expert advisory group include bodies such as Police Scotland, COSLA, Scottish SPCA, Dogs Trust and the National Dog Warden Association.
A number of sub-groups of the Expert Advisory Group have also been set up. The sub-groups are currently looking at specific areas of work, covering issues such as enforcement of dog control laws and dog welfare.
That work is ongoing, and the Scottish Government looks forward to seeing the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group in due course.
General laws in relation to dog control are also kept under review to help ensure they continue to help keep communities safe.
Asked by: Langan, Jamie (Reform UK - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of proposals in Northern Ireland, which would require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens under six months of age, to register with their local council, and what consideration it has given to establishing such a requirement in Scotland.
Answered by Fairlie, Jim - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (the 2021 Regulations) introduced an updated, modern framework for animal-related activities, including the breeding and selling of puppies and kittens. The 2021 Regulations already require that those breeding more than 3 litters of puppies or kittens or selling animals as pets in the course of a business be licensed by the appropriate licensing authority.
The Scottish Government has not made any assessment of proposals in Northern Ireland, which would require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens under six months of age, to register with their local council, nor given consideration to establishing such a requirement in Scotland. However, Scottish Government officials meet regularly with officials from the UK Government and other devolved administrations to discuss issues relating to the wider pet trade.
Asked by: MacDougall, Julie (Reform UK - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a full review of the economic impact of recent policies relating to short-term lets, including the Short Term Lets licensing scheme and Visitor Levy.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing
The Scottish Government monitors tourism sector performance through a range of data sources and stakeholder intelligence. The tourism sector is performing strongly in many areas, including short-term let accommodation - with the number of Scottish short-term let listings in March 2026 10% higher than in March 2025 and 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Guest nights booked in short-term lets also increased by 11% in 2025 compared with 2024, and were 4% higher in June 2026. This compares favourably with the UK as a whole, where demand declined slightly (down 1%). Short-term let occupancy rates in June 2026 (57%) remained stable compared with the previous year and continued to exceed the UK average (47%).
Business and regulatory considerations were one of the impact assessments undertaken during development of the licensing scheme. Since short-term let licensing commenced in 2022, we have already provided written and verbal updates to Parliament in 2023 and 2025, as well as a report published in 2024. In addition, licensing authorities will conduct their own impact assessments as they periodically review, consult and update their policy statements.
The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 requires Scottish Ministers to review and report on the operation of the Act, as soon as reasonably practicable 3 years after the first levy scheme comes into effect. The report must set out an assessment of the impact of visitor levy schemes on businesses and communities.
Asked by: Eagle, Tim (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many drivers have been (a) charged and (b) prosecuted for driving while using a mobile phone, in each year since 2021.
Answered by None
The following table has been produced in answer to the above question. It should be noted that these figures relate to charges reported to COPFS, rather than individual drivers. COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies throughout Scotland. It is designed to meet business needs in the processing of criminal cases, rather than for statistical analysis and the information within it is structured accordingly.
The database has been searched for charges received by COPFS under the Scottish Government classification as mobile phone driving offences. This covers offences under S41D(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
During the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2026 the following charges were reported to COPFS in each financial year (1 April to 31 March).
Financial Year reported | |||||
2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
Charges reported | 832 | 1210 | 1461 | 1420 | 1846 |
Charges prosecuted | 567 | 730 | 1090 | 1062 | 1236 |
This data includes all charges under this classification with a first substantive marking for court action.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been provided with a business case for the integration of the database systems used by the Scottish Prison Service, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government received a collaborative application from a range of Justice partners, including Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, through the invest to save initiative, for funding to support the development of a system-wide business case and roadmap for long-term digital and service modernisation across the criminal justice system.
While that application did not prove successful, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform and I have recently met and discussed the proposal with the Chief Executive of Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service, who led on this work, and the Crown Agent. In recognising the importance of the challenge outlined within the bid, we have invited the development of a further justice system proposal, out with the invest to save structure.
Asked by: MacDougall, Julie (Reform UK - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many police officers are deployed on street patrols at any given time and whether it considers the current number to be appropriate for the volume and types of crimes committed across all areas of Scotland.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
Asked by: Lennon, Monica (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Fair Work Oversight Group last met and whether any future meetings are planned.
Answered by Arthur, Tom - Minister for Business and Fair Work
The Fair Work Oversight Group last met on 8 January 2026.
At that meeting, members reflected on progress made through the Fair Work Action Plan towards the Scottish Government vision for Scotland to be a leading Fair Work nation and discussed the future of Fair Work policy in Scotland.
The final Fair Work Action Plan Report was published on 7 October 2026.
Asked by: Linden, David (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland’s report published on 19 January 2026, Inspection of Court Custody Provision Glasgow Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, what assessment it has made of the statement on page six that it would not be possible for a disabled individual in custody to defecate without intimate assistance from Court Custody Unit (CCU) staff, due to inadequate toilet facilities.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
Asked by: Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Scottish Liberal Democrats - Edinburgh Northern)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its updated Wildfire Strategic Action Plan and what additional measures the plan will contain to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government and key partners are currently reviewing the Wildfire Strategic Action Plan to ensure it continues to reflect the increasing wildfire risk, and to identify if further measures are required.
The review is being undertaken alongside continued delivery of the existing action plan and a number of priority areas, including aerial firefighting support, public awareness and prevention communications activity, wildfire danger assessments, and strengthened multi-agency communication and operational arrangements have been identified for increased focus.
It is expected that progress will be delivered on a number of the priority areas ahead of the 2027 wildfire season, with further updates to be provided as the review progresses.
Asked by: Sweeney, Paul (Scottish Labour - Glasgow)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role that the 851 civil nuclear workers at Torness play in supporting Scotland’s energy security.
Answered by Gethins, Stephen - Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that the skilled workforce at Torness has made and continues to make. The Scottish Government has not made a separate assessment of the figure cited.
Security of electricity supply is reserved to the UK Government and is managed on a Great Britain-wide basis by the National Energy System Operator.