Latest information which I have which is current up to the 5th March 2012.
Since the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 came into force on 26th February 2011 there have been in total 1,114 investigations carried out and 92 Dog Control Notices served by the 32 local unitary authorities.
Since the Act came into force well over a year ago, 16 out of the 32 local unitary authorities in Scotland have not served any Dog Control Notices.
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Scotland - Served Dog Control Notices
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brothermagrew
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Scotland - Served Dog Control Notices
"Today’s workplace has become heartless and soulless. Employees are seen as units of labour, automatons, functionaries, objects for achieving designated tasks, and as costs to be minimised."
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brothermagrew
- Posts: 3015
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Re: Scotland - Served Dog Control Notices
Scottish Executive Question Time 15th March 2012.
General Questions
11:39
Dogs (Compulsory Microchipping)
1. Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the compulsory microchipping of dogs. (S4O-00789).
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead): The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of microchipping in helping to reunite dogs with owners when dogs have been lost or stolen, which is why it is recommended as best practice in the “Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs”, which was published in 2010. In addition, we have ensured that the owners of dangerous or out-of-control dogs can be required to microchip their dogs by the issue of a dog control notice under the relevant legislation. However, there are currently no plans to introduce compulsory microchipping more widely.
Dennis Robertson: The cabinet secretary is probably aware that Northern Ireland will introduce compulsory microchipping in April and that the National Assembly for Wales is considering the issue. Would he welcome dialogue with the Kennel Club on how we can best progress such a scheme in Scotland?
Richard Lochhead: Yes. I am always happy to have dialogue with the Kennel Club and, indeed, with Dennis Robertson. If he wishes to put a case to me, I will certainly sit down with him and discuss the relevant issues. If he wished to contact me to set up a meeting with the Kennel Club and himself, I would be happy to take that forward.
There are a number of issues that we should be conscious of. Enforcing a widespread requirement for compulsory microchipping could be costly for local authorities, and a scheme could of course be costly for owners, since any registration system and database would have to be self-sustaining financially. We are concerned about a number of issues, but I would be happy to sit down with Dennis Robertson and the Kennel Club, if that is what he desires.
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP): Does the Scottish Government believe that the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 is strong enough to ensure responsible dog ownership?
Richard Lochhead: We supported the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which Christine Grahame introduced. Indeed, I believe that all parties in the Parliament supported it. The new powers for local authorities under the 2010 act have been in force since February 2011 and, since then, local authorities have undertaken more than 1,000 investigations and issued 92 dog control notices to irresponsible dog owners. That means, of course, that 92 dogs have been microchipped and that local authorities are monitoring under the 2010 act those dogs’ behaviour and that of their owners. I hope that the legislation is making a good difference. We will of course continue to monitor it to ensure that that is the case.
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): Has the minister had any discussions with his United Kingdom counterparts on the compulsory microchipping of dogs? Does he agree that any consultation on the issue should be UK-wide?
Richard Lochhead: I have had no direct conversations on the issue with UK counterparts. I indicated in my previous answer that we will pay close attention to developments in Northern Ireland and in England and Wales, should they, too, decide to proceed with compulsory microchipping.
On consultation, clearly Northern Ireland has taken its own decision and England and Wales will take their own decision, so here in Scotland we will take our own decision. However, I assure the member that we will pay close attention to what happens elsewhere in these islands.
General Questions
11:39
Dogs (Compulsory Microchipping)
1. Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the compulsory microchipping of dogs. (S4O-00789).
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead): The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of microchipping in helping to reunite dogs with owners when dogs have been lost or stolen, which is why it is recommended as best practice in the “Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs”, which was published in 2010. In addition, we have ensured that the owners of dangerous or out-of-control dogs can be required to microchip their dogs by the issue of a dog control notice under the relevant legislation. However, there are currently no plans to introduce compulsory microchipping more widely.
Dennis Robertson: The cabinet secretary is probably aware that Northern Ireland will introduce compulsory microchipping in April and that the National Assembly for Wales is considering the issue. Would he welcome dialogue with the Kennel Club on how we can best progress such a scheme in Scotland?
Richard Lochhead: Yes. I am always happy to have dialogue with the Kennel Club and, indeed, with Dennis Robertson. If he wishes to put a case to me, I will certainly sit down with him and discuss the relevant issues. If he wished to contact me to set up a meeting with the Kennel Club and himself, I would be happy to take that forward.
There are a number of issues that we should be conscious of. Enforcing a widespread requirement for compulsory microchipping could be costly for local authorities, and a scheme could of course be costly for owners, since any registration system and database would have to be self-sustaining financially. We are concerned about a number of issues, but I would be happy to sit down with Dennis Robertson and the Kennel Club, if that is what he desires.
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP): Does the Scottish Government believe that the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 is strong enough to ensure responsible dog ownership?
Richard Lochhead: We supported the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which Christine Grahame introduced. Indeed, I believe that all parties in the Parliament supported it. The new powers for local authorities under the 2010 act have been in force since February 2011 and, since then, local authorities have undertaken more than 1,000 investigations and issued 92 dog control notices to irresponsible dog owners. That means, of course, that 92 dogs have been microchipped and that local authorities are monitoring under the 2010 act those dogs’ behaviour and that of their owners. I hope that the legislation is making a good difference. We will of course continue to monitor it to ensure that that is the case.
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): Has the minister had any discussions with his United Kingdom counterparts on the compulsory microchipping of dogs? Does he agree that any consultation on the issue should be UK-wide?
Richard Lochhead: I have had no direct conversations on the issue with UK counterparts. I indicated in my previous answer that we will pay close attention to developments in Northern Ireland and in England and Wales, should they, too, decide to proceed with compulsory microchipping.
On consultation, clearly Northern Ireland has taken its own decision and England and Wales will take their own decision, so here in Scotland we will take our own decision. However, I assure the member that we will pay close attention to what happens elsewhere in these islands.
"Today’s workplace has become heartless and soulless. Employees are seen as units of labour, automatons, functionaries, objects for achieving designated tasks, and as costs to be minimised."