Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-04597

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure everyone living and working in Scotland lives in accommodation that meets an adequate standard.

Question reference: S6W-36695

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its responsible dog ownership summit on 20 September 2024.

The Scottish Government is grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the Responsible Dog Ownership Summit held in Edinburgh on 20 September 2024.

The Summit brought together attendees from a wide range of organisations.

The Summit was jointly chaired by myself and the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP.

The Summit Report is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/report-scottish-government-responsible-dog-ownership-summit-discussions-key-stakeholders-approaches-dog-control-dog-welfare-20-september-2024/

The Summit Report contains key outputs and recommendations from the Summit.

Question reference: S6W-36696

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the short life working group on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 last met.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36005 on 1 April 2025.

The Short Life Working Group was set up by the Scottish Government to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”).

The last meeting of the Short Life Working Group to review the 1991 Act was held on 1 June 2023.

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

Question reference: S6W-36697

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what representation it had at the responsible dog ownership summit on 20 September 2024.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36695 on 16 April 2025.

The Summit Report is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/report-scottish-government-responsible-dog-ownership-summit-discussions-key-stakeholders-approaches-dog-control-dog-welfare-20-september-2024/

The Summit Report contains key outputs and recommendations from the Summit, as well as the list of attendees.

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

Question reference: S6W-35958

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 2 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have been referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service each year under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 for making underpayments to migrant workers, also broken down by how many were subsequently (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted.

Question reference: S6W-35769

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding ScotRail trains entering service without a functioning accessible toilet.

Question reference: S6W-35768

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding ScotRail trains entering service without a functioning toilet onboard.

Question reference: S6W-35770

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances a ScotRail train could enter service without a functioning accessible toilet.

Question reference: S6W-35767

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for each period since April 2022 how many ScotRail train services were (a) planned, (b) operated with at least one non-functioning toilet, (c) operated with no functioning toilet and (d) operated with no functioning accessible toilet.

Question reference: S6W-36005

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is proposing to take, in light of the work of its short-life working group on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

The Scottish Government keeps all dog control legislation under review and that includes the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”).

A Scottish Government led Short Life Working Group was established in 2022 to assist with taking forward our commitment to review the 1991 Act.

The focus of the review was on the criminal offence in the 1991 Act of a dog being dangerously out of control.

The working group has undertaken this review, and the Scottish Government is continuing to consider the wide range of views offered to determine what may be appropriate as next steps. The Minutes of the group meetings can be found on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/groups/dangerous-dogs-act-short-life-working-group/

In the meantime the Scottish Government has taken action to introduce new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs. The XL Bully dog has now been added to the list of prohibited dog breeds under the 1991 Act.

The Scottish Government also hosted a ‘Responsible Dog Ownership’ Summit on 20 September 2024. The summit brought together attendees from a range of organisations, including the police, local authorities, veterinary bodies, public health, third sector organisations and the Communication Workers Union to consider how dog control and dog welfare can be improved upon.

Chamber and committees