About the Bill
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (“the Bill”) was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by the Member in Charge, Emma Harper MSP, on 14 May 2020.
The Bill amends the existing law on what is called “livestock worrying”, which is where a dog chases, attacks or kills farmed animals.
Read the Bill and its accompanying documents
Stage 1
The Committee agreed its approach to the Bill at Stage 1 on 24 June 2020. The Committee took evidence on the Bill at the following meetings -
Evidence
A call for evidence was published on 26 June 2020 which closed on Friday 28 August 2020. The Committee is no longer accepting written submissions to the inquiry.
Read submissions received
Correspondence
- Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment on the Scottish Government’s initial views on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, 29 July 2020 (321 KB pdf)
- Letter from the Non-Government Bills Unit,which is supporting Emma Harper MSP on this Bill, regarding Equality Impact Assessment on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, 17 August 2020 (133 KB pdf)
- Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment regarding, the evidence session on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill on 23 September 2020, also provides further information about the option of using the Scottish Rural University College (SRUC) vets in a statutory role under the Bill, 19 October 2020 (153 KB pdf)
- Letter from Emma Harper, the member in charge of the Bill, as follow up to her evidence session with the Committee on 28 October 2020, 5 November 2020 (186 KB pdf)
- Letter from Emma Harper, the member in charge of the Bill, Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, response to the Committee’s Stage 1 report, 8 January 2021 (283 KB pdf)
- Letter from Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment to the Convener of the REC committee regarding, the Scottish Government response on the Stage 1 Report on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, 14 January 2021 (206 KB pdf)
Work by other Committees
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published a report on the Bill.
Report
The Committee published its report on the Bill on 14 December 2020.
Stage 1 Report on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill