§ 52. Mr. Buchanan-SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out a review of measures for control of dogs in Scotland and, in particular, of the powers and financial resources of local authorities in this respect; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSuch an exercise is already in hand as part of a general review of the provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 upon which we intend to consult later this year. There is, however, a range of powers relating to the control of dogs already available to local authorities.
§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the statutory powers under which local authorities have power to control dogs; and if he will indicate which authorities are empowered to act.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information is as follows.
The Dogs Act 1906, as amended by the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, empowers the police and proper officers of district and islands councils to seize, detain and dispose of stray dogs, and prescribes procedures for dealing with dogs so detained. The Control of Dogs Order 1930, made under powers consolidated in the Animal Health Act 1981, requires dogs to wear identity discs bearing the name and address of their owner when in a public place and enables district or islands councils to make curfew regulations to control dogs. The Pet Animals Act 1951 provides for the inspection and licensing by district or islands councils of pet shops and the attachment of conditions to the licence. The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 provides for the inspection and licensing of boarding establishments for dogs and cats by district or islands councils and for the attachment of conditions to the licence. The Road Traffic Act 1972 makes it an offence for a dog to be on a designated road without being held on a lead. The regulations prescribing the procedure involved in designation by regional or islands councils are contained in the Control of Dogs on Roads Order (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1962. The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 provides for the inspection and licensing by district or islands councils of dog breeding establishments and for the attachment of conditions to the licence. The Guard Dogs Act 1975 lays down requirements for the supervision of guard dogs and the licensing of guard dog kennels by district or islands councils.
There are, in addition, indirect powers such as the power conferred by section 112 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, whereby any local authority may make management rules which could include rules relating to dogs while on land or premises owned, occupied or managed by the authority.
§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from community groups or statutory organisations about the problems posed by lack of control of dogs; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the 185W Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the National Farmers Union, Scotland as well as from hon. Members and individuals about the problems posed by dogs. Most of these have urged tighter legislative controls and the introduction of a dog registration scheme. Replies to these representations have indicated that we are not convinced that registration would be an effective answer to the range of problems associated with dogs but that we intend to publish later this year a consultation paper in which other options for improving existing measures for more effective control of dogs will be explored.