- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with animal welfare organisations regarding its plans to increase prison sentences for animal cruelty offences.
Answer
The Scottish Government has regular contact with its major animal welfare stakeholders. Scottish Government officials have discussed, and corresponded on, an increase to the penalties for animal cruelty offences with a number of animal welfare organisations, including the Scottish SPCA, and a number of representatives from Scottish local authorities.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on rolling out the drug, Orkambi, routinely for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
Answer
I wrote to Vertex Pharmaceuticals last year to encourage them to take forward discussions with National Procurement colleagues in NHS National Services Scotland (NSS). National Procurement have advised that these confidential talks are ongoing and we hope that, as a result of those discussions, the manufacturer will re-submit an application for Orkambi® to the Scottish Medicines Consortium for their consideration at a price that is fair, transparent and represents best value.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage with the Energy UK consultation on industry infrastructure standards for smart charging of battery-powered vehicles.
Answer
As a national Government we would not typically respond to such consultations. The Scottish Government agrees that smart charging and related technologies will help ensure that we capture in full the benefits of ultra-low emission vehicles. We are taking a coordinated “whole system” approach, involving our existing transport sector and its suppliers, electricity network owners and generators, and consumers. This will help us to understand and tackle these opportunities and challenges in the best way possible.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15046 by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 March 2018, how much plastic, by weight, is disposed of by farmers using drum incinerators.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to identify instances of localised damage to beech trees by beavers.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not take action specifically to identify instances of localised damage to beech trees by beavers.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made or plans of the impact of beavers on the Atlantic salmon population.
Answer
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) commissioned two detailed reviews of the interactions between beavers and fish species, undertaken by the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory in 1997 and the University of Southampton in 2010. These reviews informed the work of the Beaver-Salmonid Working Group (BSWG) which was established in 2009 (as a sub-group of the National Species Reintroduction Forum) to consider the potential impacts of beaver activity on salmonids (Atlantic salmon and brown trout).
The BSWG reported in 2015. The findings of the report were included in SNH’s 2015 ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report to the Scottish Government, which contained sections on beaver interactions with fish (including salmonids) and fisheries.
A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) was carried out in 2017, following the decision on the future of beavers in Scotland announced by the Scottish Government in November 2016. The HRA involves assessments of the expected impacts of beavers on Natura sites, including those with Atlantic salmon as a qualifying feature.
It is anticipated that future research will look at further negative and positive beaver-salmonid interactions (including for Atlantic salmon), to help further refine monitoring methods and management guidance. SNH is currently investigating, with the University of Exeter, whether modelling tools can help identify river stretches where damming is most likely. This could be linked to salmon presence to help target future management.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its preferred method is for managing the interaction of beaver and high-density deer populations in riparian woodland areas.
Answer
There is no preferred method of managing the interaction of beaver and deer populations in riparian woodland areas and all available tools should be utilised.
It is the Scottish Government’s intention to ensure that high-density deer populations, where they exist, are managed through the delivery of ‘Scotland’s Wild Deer: A National Approach’ (WDNA). The WDNA and close working between Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage will seek to ensure, insofar as is possible, that biodiversity and other public benefits from the presence of beavers in relation to valuable riparian woodland are realised.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed ban on electric shock collars for dogs will be extended to apply to other animals and, if so, which.
Answer
At present, the draft guidance issued under section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 is being developed for dogs, since they are the animals most commonly affected by the use of electronic collars; however we are already considering whether similar guidance is required for the use of devices sometimes used for cats.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what devices will be covered by the proposed ban on electric shock collars for dogs.
Answer
The draft guidance issued under section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006) is intended to cover the use of any training devices that administer unpleasant stimuli or physical punishment. This may include the use of electronic collars that administer an electric shock; anti-bark collars, which may mask or aggravate underlying behavioural or health issues; and any device that squirts noxious oils or other chemicals that interfere with a dog’s acute sense of smell. The content of the guidance will remain under review.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the proposed ban on electric shock collars for dogs will be introduced as guidance and not through secondary legislation; what the legal status of this guidance will be, and how it will be enforced.
Answer
The Scottish Government had previously intended to only allow the use of electronic training collars under the supervision of properly qualified dog trainers. As laid out to Parliament on 25 January 2018, the continuing concerns expressed about that proposed approach led to the proposal being reviewed. That is why it was decided not to pursue the initial plan and officials were instead asked to prepare clear Scottish Government guidance emphasising that any physical punishment of dogs that causes unnecessary suffering is not acceptable in Scotland and may be an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. This includes the use of electronic collars that administer an electric shock, anti-bark collars and any device that squirts noxious oils or other chemicals or substances into a dog’s face.
In contrast to secondary legislation under section 26 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, we believe it is more appropriate to issue guidance under section 38 of the 2006 Act on the use of electronic collars and similar devices as this can be done quickly.
The guidance will provide an advisory aid to those involved in the enforcement of animal welfare legislation. Those persons may refer to the guidance when issuing advice, warning letters or care notices under the 2006 Act or when presenting evidence for potential prosecutions under section 24 or section 19 of the 2006 Act.
