Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 December 2025 [Draft]
16 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill
This small but important piece of legislation is about animal rights and animal welfare, but it is also about human rights. It is about our values, our principles—it is about our very moral philosophy.
As representatives of the people, we must be advocates of the people—and they are clear. The people are clear: they unequivocally want us to pass this law today. So, today it is about us and it is about our responsibility to the people.
Let me start on a positive note. It is welcome that the bill now provides for a broader definition of the kind of dog theft that qualifies for an aggravated offence to that of a “helper dog”, but I regret that some other elements of the original version of the bill have been dropped completely.
There should be a victim statement, even though we are talking of summary, not solemn, cases.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20167, in the name of Maurice Golden, on the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. I invite those members...
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am grateful to all those who have assisted with the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill to get it to the point at which the Parliament will vote on it at decision ti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Siobhian Brown to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Government. 15:22
The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Siobhian Brown)
SNP
I thank Maurice Golden for his constructive engagement throughout the bill’s parliamentary journey, and I thank the non-Government bills unit for its work an...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Tim Eagle to open on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 15:26
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I do not intend to speak for very long today, but I begin by thanking Maurice Golden, whose dedication in introducing this member’s bill and steering it thro...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Maurice Golden on introducing the bill; it is not easy to bring a member’s bill to this stage. I thank committee staff and those working in t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Ariane Burgess to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Greens. 15:32
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I am grateful to Maurice Golden—and the officials who have supported him—for the work that he has put into this member’s bill, and for introducing legislatio...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. 15:35
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to speak in this debate in support of my colleague Maurice Golden’s bill, and not only because I was the additional member in charge of the bi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We now move to closing speeches. 15:39
Ariane Burgess
Green
As we close this debate, I want to return to the human impact. When a dog is stolen, it is not just a theft. A family member is taken, routines are shattered...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
This small but important piece of legislation is about animal rights and animal welfare, but it is also about human rights. It is about our values, our princ...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?
Richard Leonard
Lab
I happen to think that it is a useful component in any legal proceedings, because it helps to inform sentencing decisions and brings to our legal system some...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the member give way?
Richard Leonard
Lab
But I understand that Government support for the bill was conditional on this being dropped, and Maurice Golden is hemmed in by those dreaded words: “politic...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the member give way?
Richard Leonard
Lab
Yeah, ok.
Christine Grahame
SNP
That was a bit graceless, Mr Leonard. I am happy to be corrected, but I do not think that a victim statement influences the penalty at the end of the day. I...
Richard Leonard
Lab
For me, it is about a principle—about whether the impact on the victim is a matter of record. I think that it should be and it should be taken into account. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Jamie Halcro Johnston to close on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 15:49
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I had the opportunity back in October to speak in support of the bill and in recognition of the hard work of my colleague Maurice Golden and others at stage ...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
I thank all members for their contributions to the debate. As I made clear in my opening remarks, I have welcomed the constructive and helpful meetings tha...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Made a request to intervene.
Siobhian Brown
SNP
Can I get the time back, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
If the intervention is brief.
Christine Grahame
SNP
I honestly do not know the answer to this question. As I understand it, a victim impact statement does not do anything to the sentencing at the end of the da...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
Leonard.