The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-04183

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service regarding identifying and responding to legal threats planned to compel survivors into retracting allegations or withdrawing statements.

Question reference: S7W-04168

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it received from Alexander Dennis regarding the anticipated impact of replacing the additional ScotZEB2 funding with ScotZEB3 on its order book and Scottish manufacturing operations, and on what dates these were received.

Question reference: S7W-04184

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what access to urgent legal advice and civil legal aid is available to people facing suspected strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), including where proceedings have been threatened but not raised.

Question reference: S7W-04180

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons anti-strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) legislation was not included in its Programme for Government.

Question reference: S7W-04149

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed Public Service Renewal Bill will include provision to enable the merger of local authorities.

Question reference: S7W-03873

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 9 October 2026

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.

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.

Question reference: S7W-03750

Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 9 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds regarding the number of licences granted by licensing boards permitting the sale of alcohol at professional football matches since January 2025, and whether it will publish this information.

The Scottish Government publishes ‘Scottish Liquor Licensing Statistics’ on alcohol premises and personal licences that are in force, applications for such licences and reviews/proceedings relating to such licences. These statistics relate to administration of licensing under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and the information published is provided to the Scottish Government by individual licensing boards. This publication does not contain detail as to the nature of the premises being licensed and does not therefore include information as requested by the question.

The Scottish Government more generally does not collect the information sought and the member may wish to engage direct with Licensing Boards to obtain information on premises licences granted to football clubs. However, we understand from information provided to the Scottish Government by the SPFL that licences were granted in relation to the following matches:

12 July 2025 Arbroath vs St Mirren

12 July 2025 Stirling Albion vs Hamilton Academical

15 July 2025 Partick Thistle vs Stranraer

15 July 2025 Queen of the South vs Edinburgh City

19 July 2025 Queen of the South vs Ross County

22 July 2025 Partick Thistle vs Queen of the South

22 July 2025 Arbroath vs Annan Athletic

26 July 2025 Dunfermline Athletic vs Stirling Albion

27 July 2025 St Mirren vs Ayr United

15 November 2025 St Johnstone vs Queen’s Park

22 November 2025 Dunfermline Athletic vs Greenock Morton

22 November 2025 Kilmarnock vs Motherwell

06 December 2025 Dunfermline Athletic vs Arbroath

14 December 2025 Aberdeen vs Kilmarnock

20 December 2025 St Johnstone vs Greenock Morton

20 December 2025 Motherwell vs Dundee

20 December 2025 St Mirren vs Livingston

20 December 2025 Kilmarnock vs Falkirk

24 January 2026 Aberdeen vs Livingston

24 January 2026 Motherwell vs Kilmarnock

28 March 2026 Scotland vs Japan

30 May 2026 Scotland vs Curacao

There is specific law relating to alcohol at football matches in Part 2 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. This is separate from licensing law under the 2005 Act and whilst all premises including in football grounds that wish to sell alcohol require a premises licence, it is for Police Scotland to enforce the specific law relating to alcohol being sold at football grounds under the 1995 Act provisions and licensing boards have no direct role in this area.

Question reference: S7W-03751

Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 9 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what national guidance is available to licensing boards regarding how the objective of protecting and improving public health should be weighed against commercial and operational considerations when determining applications for the sale of alcohol at football grounds.

The Scottish Government published national statutory guidance to Licensing Boards under section 142 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 https://www.gov.scot/publications/licensing-scotland-act-2005-section-142-guidance-licensing-boards/

The purpose of the statutory guidance is to assist Licensing Boards in carrying out their functions under the 2005 Act. There are 5 licensing objectives in the 2005 Act:

Preventing crime and disorder;
Securing public safety;
Preventing public nuisance;
Protecting and improving public health; and
Protecting children and young persons from harm.

Licensing Boards are required to have regard to these 5 objectives when carrying out their functions under the 2005 Act. The statutory guidance does not provide detail of how licensing boards should approach consideration of the protection and improving public health objective in determining applications for premise licences for the sale of alcohol at football grounds.

There is specific law relating to alcohol at football matches in Part 2 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. This is separate from licensing law under the 2005 Act and whilst all premises including in football grounds that wish to sell alcohol require a premises licence, it is for Police Scotland to enforce the specific law relating to alcohol being sold at football grounds under the 1995 Act provisions and licensing boards have no direct role in this area.

Question reference: S7W-03687

Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 9 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered what further support it or local authorities could provide to community groups immediately following the completion of a Community Asset Transfer, to assist with the initial establishment and ongoing management of community-owned assets.

Ownership and control of land is a powerful tool for communities to drive change and can help to develop local economies, provide activities and services, and boost community identity. The Scottish Government provides support for communities through the Scottish Land Fund, which offers grants of up to £1 million to help communities take ownership of land and assets that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop projects. Over 1.6 million people across Scotland now live in communities where assets have been acquired with funding from the Scottish Land Fund.

In addition, the Scottish Government funds the Community Ownership Support Service, who provide expert advice and support for communities and relevant authorities. This specialised assistance includes support to community bodies with feasibility, business planning, financial planning and obtaining funding.

Community bodies are required to demonstrate relevant information about their ability to deliver within their application. This includes identifying costs and appropriate and realistic sources of funding post-transfer. These elements must be considered by relevant authorities when making their decision. This provides assurance that the initial and ongoing costs of asset ownership have been identified and can be appropriately supported before the asset transfer is agreed.

Ongoing support is available to groups via the Community Ownership Support Service and Scottish Land Fund even after that the asset is transferred.

Question reference: S7W-04142

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the recruitment of additional multidisciplinary staff to take up posts in expanded services for the treatment of energy-limiting conditions.

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Question reference: S7W-04183

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