Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 January 2019
09 Jan 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Animal Welfare
Livestock worrying is being carefully considered by Emma Harper, who is considering introducing a member’s bill on the matter. It is an important issue, on which the Government is looking to launch a survey in the coming months.
Work that we do on that will not be affected by the establishment of the animal welfare commission. I completely understand the need for urgency, and the Scottish Government is keen to establish the commission as soon as is feasible. That is why we want to consider setting up an interim commission, while we wait for changes to be made to secondary legislation. It is vital that we have independent expert advice to hand when it comes to issues to do with domestic and wild animals.
I emphasise that we also seek and rely on advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Committee, which operates across the UK. We do not want to duplicate the advice that it offers; we would want what we create in Scotland to supplement it. There is a need for expert, independent advice, so we are keen to establish the commission as soon as possible.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Mairi Gougeon on improving animal welfare. The minister will take questions at the end of her statement. 14:42
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
I want to update the Parliament on the Scottish Government’s work to improve animal welfare. The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to the highest ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move now to questions.
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for early sight of her statement. The Scottish Conservatives are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and I welcome the ...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I thank Maurice Golden for his comments. I am keen to work with him, as well as with other parties across the chamber, because I see the issues as being abou...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Mairi Gougeon for advance sight of her statement. I refer members to the voluntary part of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which says...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
On the timescales, as I outlined in my answer to the previous question, I realise how important the issue is, which is why I specifically took the time to co...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I declare an interest as an honorary member of the British Veterinary Association. There is much to welcome in the statement and it shows that the Governmen...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Absolutely. I give that assurance to Mark Ruskell. Given the scale and incredible number of the issues that I have had to look at and deal with since I assum...
Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The Liberal Democrats want to see a ban on the third-party sale of dogs and a ban on the sale of dogs under eight weeks of age. Will those measures be includ...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I recently held a meeting with vet Marc Abraham, who has been leading the campaign for a ban on third-party sale of puppies—also known as Lucy’s law. I am aw...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the minister’s announcement on introducing legislation on fox hunting and I acknowledge the minister’s point that action on fox hunting should not ...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I want to emphasise the point that I made in my response to Colin Smyth. This is not about creating a loophole; rather, it is about the possibility of regula...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I welcome the minister’s announcement that current legislation will be amended, in particular to increase maximum sentences and to permit inspection bodies t...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Livestock worrying is being carefully considered by Emma Harper, who is considering introducing a member’s bill on the matter. It is an important issue, on w...
Gail Ross (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the minister for this very welcome statement. I note from the “Introduction of Compulsory Closed Circuit TV Recording of Slaughter at Abattoirs in Sc...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Gail Ross’s question highlights a very particular problem that we could well face if there is a problem with regard to EU citizens’ rights to live and work i...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Although the statement is welcome, will the minister tell the chamber what the Scottish Government intends to do about consulting on banning snaring, hare cu...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
There were quite a few questions within that question. If I miss answering any of them, I would be happy to write to Claudia Beamish with more information or...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the commitment to consult on the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Will the minister consider proposals that would open up the possibi...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I thank Stuart McMillan for that question and I would be happy to consider the matter, discuss it with my officials and keep Mr McMillan informed.
Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, as a farmer. I welcome the introduction of mandatory CCTV coverage in abattoirs. Many s...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I thank Peter Chapman for that question. He is right that we have encouraged abattoirs to install CCTV voluntarily and that 86 per cent currently have it ins...
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the minister for all her work in this area. I particularly welcome the increased sentencing options for those who abuse animals. The minister may hav...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
The Scottish Government is grateful for the animal welfare work carried out by local authority and Scottish SPCA inspectors under the Animal Health and Welfa...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I remain convinced that we should have a ban on electric shock collars for dogs and other animals and I welcome the minister’s statement in that regard. What...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
On the timing of the proposals that I mentioned in my statement, as I have mentioned in previous responses, Brexit is the overhanging issue; it has a huge im...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
There is much to welcome in the statement and I know that the minister means what she says about animal welfare. However, on fox hunting, she referred to “p...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I simply reiterate what I have already talked about: this is not about creating potential loopholes. I am willing to work with anybody, across the chamber, t...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to hear the minister confirm that Finn’s law is progressing. Can she give me any firm indication of the timescales? It is vital to get that on...