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The statutory minimum walking distances set out in legislation are a long-standing feature of our education system and there are no plans to change them. The Scottish Government published guidance for local authorities regarding home to school transport in 2021.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with representative bodies for local government on education related matters. However, no requests have been made to discuss local authorities’ obligations under section 42 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 in the last 12 months. The provision of home to school transport is responsibility of local authorities and decisions about changes to eligibility for free school transport are for local authorities to make, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.

The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 provides for how the exemption scheme for XL Bully dogs will operate. This includes details on neutering.

The Scottish Government’s policy on neutering was developed and informed through direct engagement with key animal welfare stakeholders.

In order for an XL Bully dog owner to continue to be able to legally own their dog from 1 August 2024 onwards, a valid Certificate of Exemption is required. As a condition of receiving and retaining a valid exemption, the owner of the XL Bully must arrange to have their dog neutered. Male dogs must be castrated and female dogs must be spayed.

For dogs 18 months or older as at 31 July 2024, evidence of neutering having occurred must be provided to the Scottish Government by 31 January 2025.

For dogs younger than 18 months as at 31 July 2024, evidence of neutering having occurred must be provided to the Scottish Government by 31 January 2025 or within one month of the dog reaching the age of 18 months, whichever is later.

This approach for dogs aged younger than 18 months as at 31 July 2024 provides discretion for an owner to ensure their dog is at least 18 months old before being neutered. This reflects guidance on an appropriate age for health reasons as to when XL Bully dogs can safely be neutered.

It can be noted the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs operate independently of any Dog Control Notices (DCNs) that may have been imposed on individual XL Bully dogs. A dog can both be subject to the safeguards required through being a XL Bully and subject to conditions imposed in a DCN as a result of being assessed as a dog that was previously out of control.

Within this context, the operation of the DCN regime, as set out in the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”), is entirely a matter for local authorities. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to intervene in such operational matters.

The 2010 Act places a duty on local authorities to monitor the effectiveness of and enforce all DCNs issued by local authority appointed officers.

The Scottish Government is committed to keeping the 2010 Act statutory guidance document under review and will work with local authorities and the National Dog Warden Association to consider any specific updates that may be required in light of the introduction of the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs.

The confirmation standard developed by the UK Government is being used to ensure consistency of approach in Scotland. The details of the confirmation standard are available on the Mygov.scot website: https://www.mygov.scot/xl-bully-dogs

In the first instance, it will be for owners to assess if they own an XL Bully dog. If in doubt, we recommend a precautionary approach by adhering to the new requirements to avoid any possibility of breaching the new legal requirements

The Scottish Government is continuing to engage with Police Scotland, local authorities and animal welfare organisations in relation to the new safeguards and this includes in relation to how XL Bully dogs can be identified.

Where a potential breach of the new legal requirements is prosecuted in court, it will be for the court to determine whether an offence has been committed and that may, in certain circumstances, require evidence relating to whether a dog is in fact an XL Bully dog. While a matter for the independent court, they will use the confirmation standard and may wish to hear as needed expert evidence on the question of identification of a dog as an XL Bully dog in a given case.

Consumer protection awards are not a matter for the Scottish Government. Consumer assurance in relation to food produced and packaged in Scotland comes from the comprehensive system of food law we have in Scotland that all food businesses must comply with, which covers food and feed safety, food standards and labelling, and any claims related to health or provenance. Compliance with food law is verified through food business inspections and routine sampling and monitoring of food products placed on the market.

The Scottish Government is tackling marine litter, which often ends up on our beaches, with actions detailed in our Marine Litter Strategy. The Strategy aims to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment, to achieve ecological, economic and social benefits. Our Strategy and action plan was refreshed in September 2022 and focuses on the most problematic types of marine litter including fishing and aquaculture gear, sewage-related debris, and plastic pellets. The Strategy will drive forward our work up to 2027 and co-ordinate the efforts of our stakeholders and partners, working at a national and international level to help tackle this global problem.

The Strategy covers a wide range of actions, which include: improving the management of end of life fishing and aquaculture gear to reduce litter and improve recycling rates, contributing to our circular economy; working with the UK Government and Devolved Governments to put an end to pollution caused by wet wipes containing plastic, with a UK-wide consultation on a ban on the sale of these items held in Autumn 2023; and developing international solutions to prevent plastic pellet pollution, which can be found on our beaches and risk the health of our marine wildlife. In addition to preventative actions, we support removal of beach litter through funding the work of Local Coastal Partnerships and The Scottish Islands Federation, organisations that support and co-ordinate beach cleans and local community engagement. We also fund litter removal offshore through KIMO’s Fishing for Litter scheme, and at our rivers with Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Upstream Battle project, preventing litter travelling downstream and ultimately reaching our seas and beaches.

The Scottish Government expects all women, at all times, to receive high-quality, person-centred maternity care, tailored to their needs, with quality and safety for mothers and babies central to decision-making. We recognise that every woman’s experience of pregnancy and birth is different and that, for a variety of reasons, some women may require support related to trauma.

We continue to participate in four UK-wide audits and confidential enquiries, including the MBRRACE-UK programme, to highlight quality and safety of maternity and neonatal care and where that can be improved. The Scottish Government considers the findings of all data reports and reviews carefully and expects all NHS Boards to do the same locally. Where areas for improvement are identified, the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) Perinatal arm provides support and guidance for NHS Boards to undertake focused quality improvement activity.

We are also committed to supporting the development of perinatal and infant mental health services across Scotland. We are working with NHS Boards to develop specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health services to provide assessment and care for women with moderate to severe mental illness, including psychological impact following the birth of a baby. All pregnant women in Scotland are provided with a copy of Ready, Steady, Baby! , a guide to pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood, during their routine antenatal care. This provides information for women on mental health and wellbeing in pregnancy and after birth, including signposting to other resources such as the Birth Trauma Association.

All frontline staff have monthly call reviews and one-to-one meetings with their line manager, real time clinical supervision and coaching with debrief sessions at the end of each shift. This is in addition to mandatory e-learning and personal development plans.

The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons provides free travel on local registered bus services and long distance bus services throughout Scotland. Dedicated school transport services do not fall within the definition of eligible services set out in the legislation as they are generally not registered as local bus services or available to members of the public. Local authorities receive funding via the local government block grant to enable them to meet their statutory obligations, including the provision of home to school transport.

Public Health Scotland (PHS), through the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP), is responsible for oversight and leadership of vaccine delivery in Scotland. The Scottish Government is part of SVIP and is working closely with PHS and NHS Boards to promote and encourage uptake of all childhood immunisations.

It is important that all parents and carers ensure that children attend their routine scheduled childhood vaccinations when invited to give them the best protection possible against vaccine preventable diseases.

The NHS Inform website provides details of how to arrange an appointment for anyone who has not had two doses of the free MMR vaccine.

The most recent childhood immunisation uptake statistics, which were published on 19 December 2023 for the quarter ending 30 September 2023, can be found on the PHS website: Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland - Quarter ending 30 September 2023 - Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland