Chamber and committees

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: S6W-24580

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many online clicks its paper, Social security in an independent Scotland, received in its first month following publication, broken down by (a) main paper, (b) easy read version, (c) each individual language version and (d) audio version.

We have previously answered two FOIs on website visits to the Building a New Scotland Papers:

Paper title: Social security in an independent Scotland

Main paper URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-independent-scotland/

Main paper publish date: 6-12-2023

Main paper views in first month (all pages): 4,670

Easy read URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-social-security-independent-scotland-easy-read-version/

Easy read publish date: 6-12-2023

Easy read views or download link clicks in first month: 269

Audio URL: https://soundcloud.com/scotgov/building-a-new-scotland-social-security-in-an-independent-scotland/s-XUJSNClgEUv

Audio publish date: 6-12-2023

Audio link clicks in first month: 7

Community language landing pageURL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-independent-scotland/documents/

Translation publish date: 6-12-2023

Translation downloads in first month:

Arabic: 2

Bengalii: 0

Bulgarian: 1

Cantonese: 0

French: 4

Gaelic: 0

Hindi: 0

Italian: 0

Mandarin: 0

Polish: 0

Punjabi: 0

Romanian: 0

Russian: 0

Spanish: 2

Ukrainian: 0

Urdu: 2

BSL YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnYAdwlHIXE

Date BSL Version Published:6-12-2023

Views in first 30 days: 8

Question reference: S6W-24569

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many online clicks its paper, Our marine sector in an independent Scotland, received in its first month following publication, broken down by (a) main paper, (b) easy read version, (c) each individual language version and (d) audio version.

We have previously answered two FOIs on website visits to the Building a New Scotland Papers:

Paper title: Building a New Scotland: Our marine sector in an independent Scotland

Main paper URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-marine-sector-independent-scotland/

Main paper publish date: 21-11-2023

Main paper views in first month (all pages): 2,775

Easy read URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-marine-sector-independent-scotland-easy-read-version/

Easy read publish date: 21-11-2023

Easy read views or download link clicks in first month: 298

Audio URL: https://on.soundcloud.com/5VJaA

Audio publish date: 21-11-2023

Audio link clicks in first month: 9

Community language landing pageURL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-marine-sector-independent-scotland/documents/

Translation publish date: 21-11-2023

Translation downloads in first month:

Arabic: 1

Bengalii: 1

Bulgarian: 0

Cantonese: 0

French: 4

Gaelic: 1

Hindi: 0

Italian: 3

Mandarin: 0

Polish: 1

Punjabi:1

Romanian: 0

Russian: 0

Spanish: 0

Ukrainian: 1

Urdu: 3

BSL YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDdIcputSSg

Date BSL Version Published: 21-11-2023

Views in first 30 days: 4

Question reference: S6W-24479

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it made of how many XL bully dogs there were in Scotland before (a) the UK Government’s announcement on 31 October 2023 of the changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act that ban XL bully dogs in England and Wales and (b) the First Minister’s announcement on 11 January 2024 that the Scottish Government it will, in essence, replicate in Scotland the legislation that exists in England and Wales.

The number of XL Bully dogs in the UK and Scotland is unknown and estimates vary significantly.

During the House of Commons scrutiny of the new safeguards in England and Wales, many expert witnesses highlighted the challenges of estimating numbers as XL Bully dogs are not a recognised breed of dog. Those witnesses were concerned about how many of these dogs may be registered as crossbreeds on veterinary practice management systems and pointed towards seeing various estimates of the number of XL Bully dogs, ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 in England and Wales.

If there were 50,000 XL Bully dogs in England and Wales, this may suggest an estimated population of 5,000 XL Bully dogs in Scotland. This figure carries a considerable degree of uncertainty.

Question reference: S6W-24481

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be the defined characteristics of an XL bully dog.

Question reference: S6W-24506

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether retailers liable for the any new levy could also be subject to a workplace parking levy if their local authority has introduced such a measure.

Question reference: S6W-24544

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on what the projected income would have been if the public health supplement had continued in each of the years since it was discontinued in 2015.

Question reference: S6W-24486

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the XL bully dog breed having been added to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, what evidence it is aware of that adding a dog breed to this list has reduced dog attacks, and whether it will provide details of all dog attacks reported in Scotland since January 2004 to date, including (a) whether any resulted in a fatality and (b) the breed or cross breed of the dog(s) involved.

In light of the UK Government failing to ensure English and Welsh XL Bully dog owners cannot evade the new safeguards through selling or otherwise disposing of their dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government has been left with little choice to decide to replicate the new safeguards in Scotland. Through replicating the new regime, this will ensure owners have no ability to evade the new controls.

More generally on the effectiveness of breed specific legislation, there is no central database within Scotland or the UK that provides available data on breakdown by breed or crossbreed dogs, involved in dog attacks.

However, National Records Scotland collects data in relation to ‘Deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog in Scotland’. There have been three deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog in Scotland between 2004 and 2022. Information for 2023 is not yet available. Data on the breed or type of dogs involved is not recorded.

In addition, Public Health Scotland collects data on the number of inpatient and day case admissions to hospital where a diagnosis of dog attack (bite or strike) was recorded. The available data from 2004 to 2022 is included in the following table:

Calendar year	Admissions
2004	340
2005	399
2006	431
2007	421
2008	492
2009	501
2010	487
2011	559
2012	608
2013	598
2014	676
2015	706
2016	776
2017	765
2018	834
2019	905
2020	765
2021	854
2022	933

These figures are based solely on admissions to hospital for acute care as an inpatient or day case. Care should be taken when interpreting these figures as dog attacks can be treated also in other healthcare settings which are not included here, such as accident and emergency department, out of hours, outpatient or general practice services.

Question reference: S6W-24489

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not yet established a publicly accessible national database of dog control notices under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, which would allow the tracking of dogs Scotland-wide whose behaviour gives cause for concern.

The Scottish Government introduced a national dog control notice database in February 2022 which is helping local authorities and Police Scotland access information on dog owners where notices have been issued.

The national database brought together the dog control notice records of all local authorities into a centralised database that is accessible by all 32 local authorities and Police Scotland.

Where a person subject to a dog control notice moves from one local authority to another, the national database is a valuable tool in helping to enforce that notice.

The 2010 Act already allows for and requires local authorities to co-operate with the police and other local authorities in all matters relating to the control of dogs arising under or by virtue of this Act, the Dogs Act 1906 or the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. It is for local authorities to assess how and when information can be shared more widely and in so doing, local authorities will carefully consider data protection under GDPR.

Question reference: S6W-24293

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that (a) due to funding and personnel difficulties between NHS board property management departments and estates teams, there are currently no leases being taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in accordance with The National Code of Practice for GP premises, forcing GP contractors to take out new third-party leases and (b) this is a Scotland-wide problem.

NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises.

The NHSScotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:

Oversight of the implementation of the Code of Practice for GP Premises.
Implementation of GP Sustainability Loans.
Consideration and review of available guidance.
Consideration of appropriate schedules of accommodation within Primary Care premises, and specifically that of General Practice occupied areas and how this may affect reimbursement.
Provide a platform for the Scottish Government to present papers/proposals to the group.
Provide a platform for the BMA to present papers to the group.
Provide a platform for the NHS Boards to present papers to the group.
Ensure the Rent Review Process is consistent and supports the intent of the GP contract where required.
Standardise approaches, e.g. standardise leases across Scotland.

Health Boards are represented on a regional basis alongside the BMA, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-24546

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to re-introduce the public health supplement for large retailers that sell alcohol, for the purposes of funding drug and alcohol prevention measures.

The Scottish Government is determined to do all we can to reduce alcohol-related harm and is working closely with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and the third sector to do so. In 2022-23, £106 million was made available to ADPs, increasing to £112 million in 2023-24. This funding is used to ensure that local services meet the needs of people who experience alcohol and drugs harms.

The announcement in the Scottish Budget 2024-25 signalled the Scottish Government’s intent to explore the reintroduction of a Public Health Supplement. The exploratory work will include considering options for the design of any such supplement.