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The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”) introduced the Dog Control Notice (DCN) regime. This regime is operated by independent local authorities under the terms of the 2010 Act.

Local authorities are required to appoint at least one officer for the purposes of the 2010 Act. Local authority ‘authorised officers’ i.e. dog wardens, will be permitted to serve a written DCN on dog owners (if the owner is not yet 16 years of age, a person who has parental responsibilities would be served) who do not keep their dogs under proper control.

It is for local authorities to determine the best approach for enforcement for their areas.

Action taken by the Scottish Government to facilitate the use of the 2010 Act powers includes updated Scottish Government guidance for local authorities in relation to the exercise of their functions and the functions of authorised officers under the 2010 Act (published in 2020): https://www.gov.scot/publications/updated-guidance-control-dogs-scotland-act-2010/

The Scottish Government also led discussions between Police Scotland and local authorities to update the non-statutory Joint Protocol agreement between these enforcement agencies. The intention of the Joint Protocol is to aid local authorities and the police with the decision making process when considering how best to deal with complaints relating to irresponsible dog ownership. The updated Joint Protocol was published September 2021: https://www.safercommunitiesscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Joint-Protocol-REVISED-10.09.2021-Control-of-Dogs-pdf.pdf

The Scottish Government has also established a national DCN database. The database went live in early February 2022. The national database brings together the DCN records of all local authorities into a centralised database accessible by all local authorities and Police Scotland. Where a person subject to a DCN moves from one local authority to another, the national database will be a valuable tool in helping to enforce that notice.

The Scottish Government has also recently funded the development and delivery of dog warden training, successfully delivered by Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland (REHIS).

The Scottish Government has invested in digital technologies within the cultural sector through direct funding, programmes and sponsorship of public bodies such as Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland. Therefore, what follows is not an exhaustive list.

Digital technologies are vital to all businesses in realising their ambitions and supporting the growth of the Scottish economy. Through our Digital Development Grant and Digital Development Loan, £7.1 million of funding went directly to over 500 businesses that recorded themselves to be within the Culture sector over the last five years.

In March 2021, the Scottish Government launched the Creative Digital Initiative (CDI), a £1 million digital support programme for creative and cultural businesses. It was developed in partnership with Creative Scotland, the Enterprise agencies and Skills Development Scotland. CDI supported creative and cultural businesses to develop their digital capabilities, improve their digital skills in and enhance their creative opportunities as they responded to the challenges imposed by COVID-19.

During Covid-19, the Museums and Galleries Scotland Digital Resilience Fund supported adoption of digital technologies within the culture sector and was administered by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). This funding provided much needed support for the sector to support the purchase of equipment necessary to enable work from home and provision of digital access to museum collections and activity. It paid out £110,806 to 67 museums in 2020.

Digital and digital engagement is also a key area of work for Creative Scotland. An overview of projects funded with a focus on digital activity is compiled in their Annual Reviews. Creative Scotland is currently finalising the review for 2021-22 and it is due to be published shortly.

In 2020-21, Creative Scotland funded 188 projects with a focus on digital activity, with a total award of £5.2 million. This is an increase on 2019-20 – when 21 projects with a focus on digital activity were funded, to a total of £847,993.

In 2018-19, Creative Scotland funded 36 projects with a focus on digital activity, with a total of £935,471.

In 2017/18, Creative Scotland made 40 awards through our Open and Targeted Funding programmes to the value of £1.2 million, with one third of those focussed on work with children and young people using digital tools creatively.

These awards are a mix of both Scottish Government Grant in Aid funding and The National Lottery.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland. As Historic Environment Scotland’s spending on digital technology for the historic environment is an operational matter for them, I would invite the member to write to HES Chief Executives Office at chiefexecutive@hes.scot to request the information.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

As the Deposit Return Scheme regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is required to publish a list of all producers registered with the scheme before the scheme launches in August.

This list will be searchable by producer name, business address, date registered, registration number, and brand information in cases where the producer does not use their name and address on their packaging.

The Scottish Government has invested a total of £14,751,739 since 2018 to support the delivery of specific Welfare Advice Services in Scotland. The amount for each year is as follows:

I met with Councillor Maureen Chalmers, the COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing on 22 March. We had a productive meeting and discussed how good practice in providing rapid help for people living with MND can be shared across local authorities. I will also follow up directly with MND Scotland with a meeting currently being arranged. Additionally, I can confirm that MND Scotland is a member of our recently formed Accessible Housing and Independent Living Stakeholder group. The group had their first meeting at the end of 2022, giving constructive feedback to our Housing for Varying Needs review. My officials are arranging further meetings of this group to seek views and opinions on housing and independent living issues including the adaptations review and the new Scottish Accessible Homes Standard.

The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets during this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to events and outdoor venues.

We have already published a Changing Places Toilets: Planning Guide to support communities to develop their initial plans and funding will be provided during this parliamentary term.

The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 provided powers for local authorities to respond to incidents of dog owners allowing their dogs to be out of control in public places by imposing Dog Control Notices (DCNs).

The Scottish Government updated operational guidance for the 2010 Act in December 2020. This reflected the first decade of use of the 2010 Act and built on best practice to assist local authorities in discharging their responsibilities. This guidance is available at: Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010: guidance - updated - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

A further review of this aspect of the 2010 Act is not planned at this time.

The Scottish Government has also introduced a national DCN database which is helping independent enforcement agencies (local authorities and Police Scotland) access information on dog owners who allow their dogs to be out of control.

The Scottish Government carried out a marketing campaign on dog control with the Scottish SPCA in 2021. This campaign has since been re-run on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on a number of occasions and directs the public to information about ‘The law on controlling your dog’ on the mygov.scot website at: Controlling your dog in public - mygov.scot

This website makes clear that dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dog, and the sets out potential penalties for failing to control dogs.

Local authorities can also consider byelaw making powers to address a specific problem.

Scottish Government’s Palliative and End of Life Strategy is being developed with an overarching aim that everyone in Scotland receives well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around death and bereavement support based on their needs and preferences including support for families and carers.

We will develop a strategy that reflects what matters to people experiencing serious illness, dying and bereavement. We are reviewing the information and evidence we have about people’s experiences of palliative and end of life care, and bereavement, in order to inform our strategy going forward.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on how many occasions a Litter Abatement Order has been issued in each year since 2007. This information can be obtained by contacting relevant public bodies.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of children placed in unregulated accommodation.