Chamber and committees

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:

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.

Local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of flood protection schemes. The Scottish Government has made available the following amounts to local authorities for flood protection scheme and other actions.

The Scottish Government continues to keep fares comparatively lower on average than across the rest of Great Britain, as we have done for over a decade. ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper provide fares offers throughout the year. For example cheaper advance fares, ‘Kids for a quid’, and Highland Railcard which offers residents 50% reduction on specified routes.

We know that any increase is unwelcome for passengers, but it comes against the backdrop of real constraints in the total block grant from the UK Government. If we did not implement this increase, we would need to consider alternatives such as reducing services and cutting back on investment in the railway and its people.

The increase has been delayed from the traditional January increase until April, follows a below inflation increase last summer and a period fare freezes for flexi-pass and season tickets.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. 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 .

Replicating the approach taken in England and Wales, it will be possible for owners of XL Bully dogs to retain their dogs by applying for an exemption. Details of how this can be done will be published as the scheme is launched and practical and helpful support will be provided by the Scottish Government for XL Bully dog owners.

The effect of an exemption being granted will be that an XL Bully dog will be added to the already operating index of exempt dogs. This index has operated since the 1990s and it is operated on a day-to-day basis by the UK Government for Scotland (this reflects the fact that the exemption index was established prior to devolution). There are currently no plans to change how the index operates.

Making the index publicly available would require consideration of a number of issues including data protection. The Scottish Government would be happy to raise this issue with the operator of the index as part of the process of delivering the new XL Bully dogs safeguards in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24485 on 24 January 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 .

The new safeguards to be introduced will include a number of criminal offences for breaching certain requirements. In line with normal process, it is for Police Scotland to investigate any alleged offences and for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to consider reports of alleged crimes with a view to deciding on appropriate prosecutorial action.