Question reference: S6W-25526
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 13 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what analysis it has undertaken of the effectiveness of the (a) Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and (b) Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, and what conclusions it has arrived at as a result of any such analysis.
Answer
A Scottish Government led Short Life Working Group was established in 2022 to assist with taking forward the commitment to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The focus of the review was on the criminal offence in the 1991 Act of a dog being dangerously out of control. However, views on prohibited breeds legislation were also offered. The working group has undertaken this review, and we are now considering the wide range of views offered to determine what may be appropriate as next steps. The Minutes of all working group meetings have been published on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/groups/dangerous-dogs-act-short-life-working-group/
The Scottish Government previously consulted on practical measures to improve the operational effectiveness of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”). The views offered in response to this consultation are helping to shape and inform policy development decisions.
Scottish Government officials also meet regularly with stakeholders to discuss issues in relation to dog control policy.
As I made clear during my Ministerial Statement on 18 January 2024, the Scottish Government is committed to working with key stakeholders and interested parties to look at any improvements that could be made to the 2010 Act to strengthen and enhance the approach to preventative measures in the medium term.