Question reference: S6W-04547
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 November 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 December 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a mechanism for members of the public to make representations regarding licensing applications under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not believe there is a need to establish a mechanism for members of the public to make representations on applications submitted under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. Whilst no formal mechanism exists, members of the public can at any time raise concerns with a local authority about persons engaged in or seeking to engage in any statutory licensable activity covered by the aforementioned legislation and local authorities can, if they consider such action to be warranted, investigate or take into consideration any representations made. The 2021 Regulations place a duty on the local authority to consider as part of the application process whether any applicant for a licence is a fit and proper person to hold a licence.