Current status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 29 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to amend the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 to grant local authority Trading Standards services closure powers for commercial premises equivalent to those available under section 80(5) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in England and Wales.
The Scottish Government has no current plans to amend the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 in this way. Closure orders under Part 4 of the Act, including which bodies may initiate the closure process and the grounds on which a sheriff may close premises, are within the scope of the legislative review of the Act announced in December 2025. The review is being taken forward in close consultation with local authorities, Police Scotland and other delivery partners, and its evidence base includes the operation of the equivalent powers in England and Wales under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Decisions on whether legislative change is needed will be informed by the review's findings.
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01665 on 29 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.