Chamber and committees

I will share some statistics on dog control notices to give a little bit of context. Fife Council, for example, has 188 dogs under dog control notices; Aberdeen City Council has 56. Local authorities are therefore using dog control notices.

I understand Russell Findlay’s point about local authorities, but we have set up an implementation forum. We will be discussing this with local authorities, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Police Scotland to consider any enforcement and operational issues that arise from the legislation. That will help to inform our consideration of any requests for additional funding.

No, I do not agree.

That concern has been raised with me by all stakeholders. The definition that was determined by DEFRA is that the male has to be 20 inches in height and the female has to be 19 inches. Therefore, an XL bully that was 16 or 17 inches would not have to wear a muzzle and lead. That caused quite a lot of confusion down south when the UK Government’s order was implemented, and it advised that anyone who has any doubts should register their dog.

We have also found, through the correspondence that I have received and that Jim Wilson has received, that there is confusion among the general public. We are keen to learn lessons on how we can do things better in our legislation in respect of the issues that have been raised. We have until 31 July. We will put on the Scottish Government website some support and help for people to determine whether they have an XL bully.

I do not know whether Jim Wilson has anything to add.

Jim knows the timescale. It will not be until later in the year.

It is on the Scottish Government website.

No, I do not believe that the Scottish Government finding that out via BBC News is the right way for the UK Government to treat devolved nations in respect of such decisions.

Yes, in a way. I do not know whether it was totally intentional or the UK Government just disregarded telling the Scottish Government, but it would have been ideal if there had been communication prior to the announcement.

I do not believe so. I should also say that we found out on 31 October about the UK Government’s publicly announcing the timescale and the detail, but I was not made aware of that formally until a letter was sent on 9 November.

I will bring in Jim Wilson, as there are so many organisations. Concerns have been raised; the provisions have not formally been opposed.

As Ms Grahame knows, this has not been an easy decision or one that has been made lightly. I do not like to go away from the “deed, not breed” approach, which the Scottish Government supports, but we find ourselves in a unique position in which we must take this action because of community safety and the loophole that has been created by the legislation. I have met Ms Grahame and, once the legislation before us has gone through, I am keen for us to work together to see how we can reform and strengthen her Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.