Siobhian Brown
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“However, because their grandparents were advised by the local authority to care for them under a section 11 order rather than a section 17(6) order, they are not eligible for the payment, as the minister pointed out. In my view, that is a technicality.”
“The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that, to be eligible for the care leaver payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have left care or continuing care on or after 1 April 2026.”
“Young people who are subject to an order under section 11 of the 1995 act are not looked after for the purposes of section 17(6) and are therefore not eligible for the payment. Duncan Dunlop: I thank the minister for that clarification. I would like to raise a specific example.”
“More broadly, however, we have to recognise the vital role that kinship carers play in caring for children and young people. That is why, earlier this year, we published “Scotland’s vision for kinship care: our offer of support for families”, following the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026, and int…”
“My personal favourite— The Presiding Officer: This is great, but it is general question time, and we need questions. Kate Campbell: Sorry. It is for the children, Presiding Officer. Being less tired was another good reason.”
“Kate Campbell: Last week, I was at Sanderson’s Wynd primary school to speak to the primary 5s and 6s, who are doing a module on democracy and decision making. I got the notification that I had been selected to ask a general question just as I was heading off to the school.”
The complete record
Every one of 364 lines we hold for Siobhian Brown, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 8.
“Local authorities now have the powers to introduce firework control zones to tackle the misuse of fireworks, and I am pleased that, this year, they were in place in Glasgow for the first time and in Edinburgh for the second time. I also welcome the overall significant reduction in disorder across Scotland over the bonfire night period. Firework control zones played a role as part of a wider package of measures that were delivered by our partners, and I thank them all for the dedication and commitment that they have shown to keeping our communities safe. We will bring partners together to identify learnings from this year that will help to inform our approach to bonfire night in 2026. Maurice Golden: I associate myself with the minister’s comments.”
“This is not a decision for the Scottish Government, and it is appropriate that decisions on fire appliances are best placed with the service. As I have outlined, an independent analysis of the responses to the consultation will inform the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s final decisions. Any changes that the service introduces will be made over the next five years. I meet the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service frequently, and it has confirmed to me that no decisions have been made.”
“Annabelle Ewing: In fact, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has refused to confirm whether, given the overwhelming support in local consultation responses for the retention of two appliances at Lochgelly fire station, it will act accordingly and keep both appliances. Therefore, for the benefit of my constituents and the chamber, can the minister clarify the purpose of the consultation? Surely such equivocation risks the entire process being viewed simply as a sham. Siobhian Brown: As I have said, I believe that it is for the chief fire officer and his commanders across the service to make the decisions that are best for the service, in order to protect communities across the country and respond to the changing nature of risk.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received more than 3,500 responses to its review consultation and held more than 40 public meetings. The review was in reaction to the changing nature of emergencies that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responds to. For example, as I have already noted, dwelling fires have reduced by 20 per cent since 2013, and incidents such as flooding and wildfires have increased significantly. Therefore, it is right for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to carefully consider how to adapt to the changing risks, in order to remain effective and efficient, with firefighters in the right place at the right time.”
“The chief fire officer has said publicly that, if he had all the resources that he needed, he would still be considering the changes. I met Mr Leonard in 2023 to discuss these issues. I will ask for an update on the situation, and I am happy to meet him again to discuss the IT issues.”
“Richard Leonard: Two years ago, the minister admitted to me that the Scottish Government had handed over £1.7 million of public money to the French company Systel to set up a single command and control system, but it was botched. Now, Motorola, which was given the contract 12 months ago, is already running behind and, within six months, was £10 million over budget. When will the minister get a grip of this latest information technology disaster at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, instead of threatening to cut the number of fire appliances, cut the number of front-line firefighters and cut fire and safety emergency cover at fire stations and in communities across Scotland? Siobhian Brown: I have to be clear that the primary driver for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s proposed changes is not financial.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has conducted a public consultation on its service delivery review to consider how its services should best be configured to ensure that firefighters are in the right place at the right time. The responses are being independently analysed and will inform final decisions of the SFRS board. The SFRS plans to redeploy resources that are freed up by any changes that it makes to provide a greater resource to its prevention and protection function, and to boost training provision to ensure firefighters can continue to keep all our communities safe from the changing risks that they need to respond to, while also investing in fire station facilities.”
“Across Scotland, police have seized 816 e-bikes and scooters in the past year, mainly on account of the rider having no licence or insurance. As I said, enforcement is a matter for Police Scotland, and local policing teams are best placed to identify misuse and work to prevent future incidents. The road policing function of Police Scotland is leading on the development of new guidance on the organisation’s approach to the returning of confiscated vehicles. I am keen to work with all interested MSPs to determine potential opportunities for further Government action, including approaches to the”
“As the minister noted, the one tangible outcome was the summer safety awareness campaign that I had called for. However, many concerns remain, including my own that, when Police Scotland confiscates off-road vehicles and e-bikes for misuse—which often causes danger and damage and contributes to antisocial behaviour—vehicles are often returned with little consequence. That must change. Will the Scottish Government review provisions in that area? Will the minister again meet me and colleagues to continue to progress the matter and a range of other matters, and so keep that partnership working alive? Siobhian Brown: I will be happy—I am sure that Jim Fairlie will be, too—to meet members to keep the conversation alive. We support Police Scotland and its partners in dealing with the misuse of vehicles.”
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with local authorities and Police Scotland through the road safety framework strategic partnership board. Earlier this year, I met several members of the Scottish Parliament to discuss concerns, which led to a summer safety awareness campaign. Enforcement is a matter for Police Scotland, whose local teams are best placed to identify misuse and prevent future incidents. It is undertaking initiatives, including work with delivery companies. Police funding has increased to a record £1.62 billion this year. We will continue to engage with the United Kingdom Government, which holds reserved powers over off-road vehicles, including licensing and regulation. Bob Doris: I thank the minister for acknowledging meeting me and other colleagues on two occasions to explore the matter further.”
“The member might be aware of the United Kingdom-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill that is currently progressing through the parliamentary process. If passed, the legislation will introduce a range of restrictions—on age of sale, advertising, free distribution and retail register—that will also apply to such products.”
“When will we see, instead of prevarication, evidence such as bank statements being used to take immediate action? Siobhian Brown: I have had huge concerns about youth vaping and nicotine products over many years. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the ban on single-use vapes. Trading standards officers have power to issue fixed- penalty notices of up to £800 for non-compliance. The Scottish Government provided £300,000 in additional funding to support local authorities in tackling that specific issue after the implementation of the ban on single-use vapes. In line with the principles of the Verity house agreement, that funding is not ring fenced. However, it is up to local authorities to determine how best to prioritise that work in line with local needs.”
“Daniel Johnson: I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. The reality is that those powers are simply not being used to the degree that we would expect. In 2023-24, there were just 128 vapour product age- of-sale contraventions. That is an average of just 2.6 per local authority, and in the past two years there have been only seven applications for the court orders that the minister described. Any member who looks at their mailbag will know that such sales are a scourge in our communities that needs to be clamped down on. I recently spoke to a constituent who had bank receipts and statements showing that her children had been buying vapes from a local shop. What we need is action. What will the Government do to shut down shops and use those powers to stop such sales?”
“A range of age- restricted products exists in Scotland, with legislation specific to each of them. In relation to tobacco and vapes, local authorities have powers to issue fixed-penalty notices to retailers and individuals who commit offences relating to the age of sale. Where premises are subject to more than three enforcement actions in a two-year period, the local authority may apply to court for an order banning the sale of tobacco and vaping products from those premises for up to 24 months. Last year, trading standards officers with young volunteers attempted 662 test purchases of vapes and 251 test purchases of tobacco at premises across the whole of Scotland. In the 2024-25 financial year, 56 fixed-penalty notices issues were issued for tobacco products and 217 for nicotine vapour products.”
“That said, as part of the discussions around the criteria for a new traineeship fund, my officials are currently exploring whether there is a need to be specific in targeting geographical areas or types of case.”
“What steps is the Scottish Government taking to address barriers to access outside the central belt and, in particular, in rural areas? Siobhian Brown: The legal aid system is generally effective in delivering help to those who need it. However, we recognise that there are some challenges in relation to certain types of case and certain locations. Although civil solicitors are mainly based in city centres, near to the courts, they have always covered a wide geographical area. I can reassure the member that solicitors in all parts of Scotland are able to access funding for work that is carried out under the legal assistance schemes, and those schemes are flexible enough to allow solicitors to travel to any part of the country to carry out work, should it not be possible to instruct a local agent.”
“The Scottish Government continues to work closely with stakeholders to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse to get the support that they need. In addition to the current judicare system, under which all eligible costs are met, we provide grant funding to the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre of £230,000 a year. We also fund public legal services through the Civil Legal Assistance Office and the Public Defence Solicitors Office, which can operate across a wide geographical area. We are actively reviewing the legal aid framework to ensure that it is fair, accessible and responsive to the needs of vulnerable individuals. Evelyn Tweed: Domestic abuse survivors in my constituency report great difficulty in finding legal aid solicitors.”
“The bill recognises that it is not the monetary value of a stolen pet that matters to an owner, nor the breed or pedigree, but the loss of a family member to theft. By recognising the statutory offence that the bill will introduce, we all accept, as the committee does, that dogs are sentient beings, that their theft has an emotional impact on their owner and that there is also an impact on the welfare of the dog. I look forward to continuing to work with Mr Golden to ensure that the necessary changes are made to the bill so that the Scottish Government’s support for its general principles can lead to continued support at stage 3. 15:46”
“Although I am against the provision as it stands, I have offered Mr Golden support on developing a deliverable and appropriate reporting requirement, rather than a recurring annual statutory requirement. There is also a provision requiring the Scottish Government to review the act. Committees of this Parliament are free to consider any post-legislative scrutiny. For a member’s bill, I consider it appropriate for Parliament to decide on a review, not Government. Therefore, I do not support that provision. I congratulate Mr Golden on his bill. I know that dog theft is a topic close to his heart, and I know that members across the chamber recognise, just as wider society does, the importance of dogs in our families. As we know, there is fierce competition among MSPs to win the Kennel Club’s dog of the year competition every year.”
“Members will be aware that only two weeks ago we dealt with the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, and we extended the use of victim impact statements to all solemn cases. We remain of the view that that is appropriate but that it should not be expanded to summary cases at this point. Therefore, our support for the bill is predicated on that aspect of the bill being removed. I turn to the provision in the bill that would require Scottish ministers to prepare and publish annual reports on the operation of the act, covering extensive detail, including information that is unavailable or difficult to obtain, which makes it operationally impossible. More important, producing an annual report would present significant resourcing challenges that would be disproportionate to what such a report would provide.”
“The report states: “The Committee recognises that the theft of an assistance dog would have a serious, life-changing, impact on its owner, both in terms of the emotional distress it would bring and the impact on their independence and ability to perform everyday tasks.” The Scottish Government supports the aggravation and will engage with Mr Golden on how best to ensure that all dogs that provide support and assistance are recognised in the aggravation, reflecting an ask that was made in the committee’s stage 1 report. The bill provides for victim impact statements to be available for all dog-theft cases. We do not support that provision, and neither did the committee.”
“I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government will be willing to provide support to help with amendments. The bill also provides that the offence of dog theft will be aggravated if the dog that is taken is an assistance dog, regardless of whether the dog is working when it is stolen. The aggravation makes the charge more serious and ensures that the court is required to consider whether to make the sentence more severe.”
“I am therefore pleased to say that the Scottish Government is able to support the key component of the bill, which is to make dog theft a statutory offence, as I confirmed to Mr Golden and to the committee earlier this week. However, like the committee, I cannot agree with all the proposals in the bill. Therefore, the Scottish Government’s support for the general principles of the bill is conditional on Mr Golden making changes to the bill at stage 2, to reflect concerns that have also been raised by the committee in its stage 1 report. If those changes are made, the Scottish Government will be content to support the bill at stage 3; given that the changes are also recommended in the committee’s report, I am sure that Mr Golden will be responding to them anyway.”
“I thank Maurice Golden for his constructive engagement on the bill and the non-Government bills unit for all its continuing work on it. I also thank the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for its stage 1 report and its recommendations, the vast majority of which I agree with. As a dog lover and a dog owner myself, I recognise and understand the emotional impact that dogs have on our lives. Our dogs are members of our family and to lose a much-loved pet to theft is a harrowing experience. We are all aware that dog theft is an emotive issue that can have serious consequences for dogs and their owners. The Scottish Government is well aware of the impact on any owner who has had their dog stolen and, of course, we are also concerned about the wellbeing and welfare of the dogs that have been stolen.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which has been a single national service since 2013, is one of Scotland’s success stories. We have a successful emergency service of dedicated firefighters that we should all be proud of, and I thank each and every one of the staff at the SFRS for their commitment to and their work on keeping our communities safe every day. The vast majority of the reduction in firefighter numbers that the motion cites can be attributed to the reduction in duplication and layers of management that resulted from this significant public service reform.”
“The muirburn licensing scheme that the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity is introducing has not been brought into effect yet. We are working with practitioners to ensure that it will be a workable scheme, especially in relation to wildfire prevention. With regard to the equipment for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, I have regular meetings with the SFRS and it has not brought that up as an issue. If the member has any specific concerns, I am happy for him to write to me and I will look into them for him.”
“That, of course, follows the bungle in May 2023 over expensive all-terrain vehicles that were not, in fact, fit for purpose. Will the Scottish Government review the muirburn changes, as some gamekeepers are asking it to do? Will it also engage with landowners and gamekeepers, to ensure that the people of Scotland are protected by equipment that actually works? Siobhian Brown: Muirburn is just one way of addressing the increasing wildfire risks in Scotland and should not be seen as a silver bullet. I appreciate that not everybody agrees with the science on muirburn on peatlands, but that was thoroughly consulted on and debated during the lead-up to and passage of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.”
“Siobhian Brown: I note the concerns that the member has raised, which all ministers in the Government share. We would like to extend our sympathies to all those who were affected by the wildfires that occurred in late June and early July. I am grateful to the SFRS, gamekeepers, land managers, volunteers, partners, landowners, extended local communities, the wider land management sector and, indeed, everyone who played a major role in getting this spring and summer’s wildfires under control. As I said in my opening answer, in October we will hold a summit at which we will work with everybody to find the best way of moving forward. Tim Eagle: Given the rise in wildfires this session, rural organisations have expressed concerns that the new muirburn licensing arrangements will make fuel management even harder.”
“We continue to work with the SFRS to support full implementation of its wildfire strategy, which will continued to be rolled out this year, with new equipment, vehicles and personal protection equipment, to be backed by £1.6 million of funding over three years. Tim Eagle: Scotland has witnessed more than 1,500 wildfires in the past decade, but the recent fires at Carrbridge and Dava were the worst and the biggest ever recorded. It is clear that a new approach is needed before someone, or even an entire community, is seriously affected. What consideration is the Scottish Government giving to establishing a dedicated wildfire response unit, to ensure that communities in my area of the Highlands and Islands, and across Scotland, are protected?”
“Climate change is contributing to warmer and drier conditions, which increase the likelihood and the intensity of wildfires. Shifts in weather patterns, such as those that led to last week’s wildfire danger warning and this week’s yellow warning for rain, reinforce the climate challenges that we currently face. Although there have been no significant wildfires during the latest wildfire warning period, we have seen significant fires this year. I commend the SFRS and its partners in the rural and land management sectors, which ably assisted in dealing with those fires. In October, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity and I will host a wildfire summit to discuss with our partners how we can improve our wildfire preparedness, prevention and response in the future.”
“In saying that, it is important that we engage with the people who are protesting in order to hear their concerns and understand the reasons that are driving them to protest. I know that Police Scotland continues to engage with protesters through liaison officers, and the Scottish Government has funded the Centre for Good Relations to work with those who are protesting to hear their concerns.”
“Siobhian Brown: I am deeply concerned about some of the rhetoric that we are seeing across the United Kingdom, which should have no place in our society. It is therefore vital that factual information is also placed in the public domain. As elected members across the UK—as democratically elected representatives with a platform—we have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that we call out any dangerous misinformation, and certainly that we do not perpetrate it. In a democracy, people have the right of peaceful protest, but the protests outside the hotels go far beyond what is acceptable in our country, which has historically had a humane approach, and one that we should be proud of, to those fleeing conflict and persecution. The protests are creating a sense of real fear and alarm for those who have already gone through so much.”
“Maggie Chapman: In the north-east, we have seen anti-immigration protests in Peterhead, Westhill, Aberdeen and Dundee. The Stobswell forum in Dundee issued a statement highlighting the fear and alarm that were caused by these so- called protesters following their actions in a public park. The same protesters marched in an unorganised way over the A90 Kingsway and held an intimidating and hate-filled protest outside the homes of asylum seekers. They spread false anti- immigration information online, causing fear and alarm among parents of young children, and they hurled stones and other missiles at anti-fascists. What proactive action is being taken to respond to the far-right influence on these protests and the intimidation that they cause to residents and local communities?”
“Scottish ministers have regular discussions with Police Scotland on a range of issues including the policing of protests. Operational policing is a matter for Police Scotland, and it has confirmed that it has the appropriate resources to ensure the safety of those who are in attendance and to mitigate disruption to the wider community. Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and it is committed to facilitating peaceful protests and counter- demonstrations to allow those who are seeking to protest to exercise their human rights. However, let me be clear: there is no place for criminality or hate crime on our streets, and I fully support Police Scotland taking the appropriate and proportionate action in response to such behaviour.”
“Will the member give way? The Deputy Presiding Officer: No. Finlay Carson: I once again put on record my heartfelt thanks to Galloway Mountain Rescue Team, the Glentrool Hive volunteers and the many local farmers and businesses who gave of their time to protect lives and livestock. I— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Carson. I call Emma Harper, who has up to four minutes. 13:02”
“We will continue to support local authorities and the police to work in multi-agency partnerships and with communities and businesses to prevent and tackle antisocial behaviour. It is a complex issue that is brought up time and again, but the Scottish Government is committed to tackling antisocial behaviour.”
“Claire Baker: Fife Council had to shell out on a repair bill of close to £900,000 for 2,856 incidents of vandalism to public buildings and parks between 2022 and 2024. Last year, a new play park that was opened in Levenmouth had to close less than six months later because it was vandalised, with a repair bill to the council of thousands of pounds. What is the Scottish Government doing not only to better support local authorities and the police, to ensure that they have adequate resources to meet the bills resulting from the incidents, but to actively reduce the number of such incidents? Siobhian Brown: I recognise the impact that such behaviour has on communities and local authorities.”
“I recognise the impact that antisocial behaviour can have on local communities in all areas of Scotland. That is why we have increased police funding to a record £1.62 billion this year, and it is why funding to local government has increased in real terms by 5.5 per cent. Local authorities and Police Scotland have a range of options and powers available to prevent and tackle antisocial behaviour, taking local needs into account. Moreover, since 2008, our cashback for communities programme has provided £154 million to support young people who are most at risk of being involved in violence, antisocial behaviour and crime. The most recent cashback bidding round has just closed.”
“Since 2017-18, there have been substantial year-on-year increases in funding to support the SFRS, and the current annual budget is more than £97 million higher than the equivalent budget in 2017-18.”
“How can firefighters and the communities that they keep safe have confidence that the necessary funding, training and equipment will be provided for existing services and any future role expansion? Siobhian Brown: As I said in my opening comments, it is an ambition for the Government to broaden the role of firefighters. The Scottish Government is currently conducting a spending review, which will set indicative budgets for the next three years for resource and four years for capital. In the context of the spending review, I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs met the SFRS chair and chief officer, and the emergency medical response element of the broad role was discussed.”
“Maggie Chapman: Two years ago, the Fire Brigades Union published “Firestorm: a report into the future of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service”, which said clearly of role expansion that firefighters are willing to take on additional responsibilities such as emergency medical response and terrorist activity response. That could be transformational for our emergency services, saving money and time elsewhere and benefiting other public services, but it must be supported with proper training and sustained investment. There are already pressures on existing training provision, and there are significant concerns about job security, staffing levels, capacity and response times.”
“Modernisation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, including broadening the role of firefighters, remains an ambition for this Government. I recognise that there is potential for firefighters to do more to protect communities through a broadened role, and I am aware of the outline agreement between the SFRS and the Fire Brigades Union, which is dependent on additional funding. Although the proposal so far has been unaffordable, I regularly meet the SFRS chair and chief officer, and we will continue to work closely with them in considering future budgets in the context of delivering public sector reform.”
“I will keep members informed as further information becomes available, and I would also be happy to facilitate discussions with Police Scotland, where that would be helpful.”
“Do you not agree that it is time that we got tough on this sort of crime, and that we should provide the police with real resources to tackle it? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Siobhian Brown: I am aware that the member feels passionately, and I am aware of the issues that are happening throughout Scotland. I disagree that Police Scotland is not doing anything. As I said, underlying work has been going on for several months now, and I know that Police Scotland is keeping its approach to the illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters under review. That complements wider efforts to engage with communities and partners to prevent and tackle the issue, which I know is being done through Glasgow division’s collaboration with hospitals and food delivery companies.”
“We will continue to engage with the United Kingdom Government, which has reserved powers relating to off-road vehicles, including vehicle licensing. Sue Webber: I acknowledge that I was at that meeting on 29 May. Antisocial behaviour is up 5 per cent in the past year, and e-bikes and e-scooters are playing a huge role in encouraging it. Trail bikes and souped-up e-bikes and e-scooters are tearing around the streets, often in a very dangerous manner, and are repeatedly being used to facilitate home break-ins, shoplifting and car thefts. My constituents are fed up. Meanwhile, the police are powerless. They do not give chase, and they lack the required resources to stop them. If the bikes are seized, they are more often than not handed back. Minister, enough is enough.”
“The Scottish Government supports Police Scotland and its partners in dealing with the misuse of vehicles. In May, I, along with my colleague Minister Fairlie, met a number of MSPs to discuss their concerns. Action since has included the development of a campaign involving Crimestoppers and fearless, which got close to 7 million impressions. Enforcement is a matter for Police Scotland, and local policing teams are best placed to identify misuse and to work to prevent future incidents. We have increased police funding to a record £1.62 billion this year to support the work that they do. Additionally, I understand that Police Scotland is undertaking a range of initiatives, including working with delivery companies, which is an issue that the member raised with me previously.”
“Siobhian Brown: I note the concerns that Liam McArthur has raised, which I am happy to look into on his behalf. I also note that the member has previously asked whether it would be possible to lodge an amendment on that to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, and I understand that the cabinet secretary in charge of the bill would be happy to discuss that further with him in order to identify concerns and appropriate means of dealing with the issue. Off-road Bikes, E-bikes and E-scooters 5.”
“Liam McArthur: Over the past year, misleading ads for land sales in Orkney and across the Highlands and Islands have caused concern, both for buyers and for the communities affected. I welcome steps taken by operators such as Rightmove to review their listings and reinforce to sellers that any information that is advertised must be wholly accurate. However, as I have seen, unscrupulous sellers move on to find other avenues to exploit. Buyers must have confidence that their rights will be protected, and communities deserve better than the misleading marketing of land for housing and development. Will the Scottish Government take steps to raise public awareness of such scams, and will the minister explore, perhaps with United Kingdom counterparts, ways to close existing loopholes and reinforce consumer protections?”
“Any prospective purchaser who intends to buy property at an auction house should ensure that they have all the necessary information. Buyers can request certain information from the selling agent or undertake their own searches. Any concerns about auction houses not providing full disclosure of the state of land or property should be reported to the local trading standards office. Anyone who believes that they have been subjected to misleading advertising practices should contact Advice Direct Scotland to discuss their concerns. The Scottish Legal Aid Board provides information on the nearest solicitors who offer help through legal aid or other advice providers.”
“Sharon Dowey: I seek clarification on amendment 68, which imposes a test whereby ministers will decide whether information about the release of an offender should be given directly to a child, and “have regard to” their “age and maturity” in doing so. Can you clarify whether there are any circumstances in which a 17-year-old would request that information but would be denied it?”