Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4O-01577

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what new responsibilities are outlined in the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill for Scottish Water relating to sewage treatment plants.

Question reference: S4W-10158

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-00789 by Richard Lochhead on 15 March 2012 (Official Report, c. 7344) what further consideration it has given to the compulsory microchipping of dogs.

In answer to S4O-00789, the Scottish Government replied that: “The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of microchipping in helping to re-unite dogs with owners where dogs have been lost or stolen, which is why it is recommended as best practice in the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs (published in 2010). In addition, we have ensured that the owners of dangerous or out of control dogs can be required to microchip their dogs by the issue of a Dog Control Notice under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Acts 2010. However, there are currently no plans to introduce compulsory microchipping more widely.” This position has not changed although we continue to monitor the development of proposals for compulsory microchipping in England and Wales with interest.

The Official Report can be viewed at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=7173&i=65264&c=1334363&s=microchipping%20in%20helping%20to%20reunite%20dogs

Question reference: S4W-10160

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of a dog licence would be under a system requiring the compulsory microchipping of dogs.

Question reference: S4W-10159

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what it would cost to establish and maintain a national database of dogs.

Question reference: S4W-10161

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has investigated working with other organisations to reduce the cost for owners of the cost of microchipping dogs and, if so, what effect this would have on the cost of introducing compulsory microchipping.

Dogs are only required to be microchipped in Scotland if they are the subject of a notice issued under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 or under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. If the Scottish Government were to bring forward proposals on the introduction of compulsory microchipping for all dogs, the need to ensure this was as cost effective for owners as possible would be considered further.

Question reference: S4W-10157

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce dog welfare legislation.

The welfare of dogs is covered by the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Other relevant legislation includes the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991 and the Licensing of Animal Dealers (Young Cats and Young Dogs) Regulations 2009. The Scottish Government intends to review the legislation relevant to the sale and breeding of dogs, although it is not possible to give a timetable for this at present.

Question reference: S4W-10162

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with stakeholders regarding the compulsory microchipping of dogs and when these took place.

Question reference: S4W-10659

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposals in the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill will ensure that there are safeguards so that the impact of water shortage orders affect domestic and non-domestic users equally.

Question reference: S4W-10657

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill proposes that Scottish Water be given responsibility for monitoring raw water.

Scottish Water is responsible for supplying wholesome drinking water and treats raw water in order to do this. Part 4 of the Bill will enable Scottish Water to enter premises for the purposes of monitoring raw water quality or finding the source of pollution, so that action can be taken. If raw water quality is being affected illegally (i.e. in breach of the applicable environmental protection legislation) Scottish Water can alert SEPA, who will take action as the environmental regulator in Scotland. If raw water quality is being affected by lawful activities, the Bill gives Scottish Water the option of entering into a voluntary agreement with the relevant landowner or occupier to protect or improve raw water quality. The purpose of the provisions on monitoring raw water quality is accordingly to allow Scottish Water to gather information so that it can address quality issues in the most cost effective manner.

Question reference: S4W-10652

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposals in the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill will allow (a) Scottish Water's services to be privatised and (b) the water sector to be organised on a regional basis.