Post-legislative Scrutiny: Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010

About the inquiry

A debate was held in the Chamber on 8 May 2018 relating to how local authorities use the powers given to them under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

On 10 May 2018 the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs wrote to the Committee attaching a copy of a letter that had been issued to all local authorities seeking information on the operation of the 2010 Act.

Local Authority responses can be found here

The Committee agreed at its meeting on the 28 of June 2018 to undertake Post-legislative scrutiny on the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

General Correspondence

Call for Evidence

Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 - Call for Evidence

The Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee launched a call for written views as part of its post-legislative scrutiny of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act). The call for views launched on the 3 July 2018. The deadline for responses was on 5 October 2018.

A summary of the written responses received is available.

SPICe summary of written responses (156KB pf)

Public engagement meetings

The Committee held three public engagement meetings, the notes of which can be found below:

Oral evidence session 21 February 2019

The Committee took evidence in a roundtable format from Claire Booth, Dr Alasdair Corfield, Natalie Crawford, Dr Judy Evans, Lisa Grady and John and Veronica Lynch.

The Committee then took evidence in a roundtable format from Gemma Cooper NFU Scotland, Melissa Donald BVA Scotland Branch, Mike Flynn SSPCA, Dave Joyce CWU and Alison Robertson NADW.

Please read the Official Report for 21 February 2019

Meeting papers for 21 February 2019

Minutes of meeting 21 February 2019

SPICe Briefing paper - Overview of Existing Legislation (248KB pdf)

Correspondence and follow-up

Oral evidence session 7 March 2019

The Committee took evidence from Argyll and Bute Council, East Ayrshire Council, Glasgow City Council, North Lanarkshire Council and Fife Council, followed by Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Please read the Official Report for 7 March 2019

Meeting papers for 7 March 2019

Minutes of meeting 7 March 2019

Correspondence and follow-up

Letter from J Sanderson 12 March 2019 (55KB pdf)

Letter from V Fullarton 15 March 2019 (69KB pdf)

Letter from Information Commissioner to Convener 14 March 2019 (92KB pdf)

Letter from the Scottish Kennel Club, 15 March 2019 (148KB pdf)

Letter from Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to Convener 21 March 2019 (2.22MB pdf)

Oral evidence session 21 March 2019

The Committee took evidence from Christine Grahame MSP, followed by the Minister for Communiy Safety and Philip Lamont, Criminal Justice Division, the Scottish Government.

Please read the Official Report for 21 March 2019.

Meeting papers for 21 March 2019

Minutes of meeting 21 March 2019