Chamber and committees

We are unable to determine an accurate estimate for the time to clear the current bridge maintenance backlog because the calculation is dependent on a number of unknown variables, such as future funding levels, deterioration rates and network availability. We will continue to use well-developed asset management practices to ensure the areas of most need are prioritised to keep the trunk road network safe and available for use.

No bridges are out of use as a result of requiring repairs. There has been one bridge in the last 5 years out of use due to requiring repairs. This was the Forth Road Bridge, due to the Truss End Link failure.

There are 1,720 bridges with defects requiring repairs.

The current backlog of bridge repairs is estimated at £570 million.

The Public Performance Measure (PPM) for each sector as at the start of franchise commencement is set out on the following table.

The reference to prong collars was removed from the final published Guidance on Dog Training Aids as it was felt that it's inclusion might divert attention away from the main intended focus on electronic collars. Unlike in the case of electronic collars, the Scottish Government has received no expert advice or opinion on prong collars. We therefore have no firm evidence-based view on their use, but would ask any dog owner contemplating using a prong collar, or any other aversive dog training aid, to pay close attention to the Scottish Government Guidance on Dog Training Aids. Causing unnecessary suffering, including through the use of inappropriate training aids, is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006.

The Scottish Government has noted the findings of the Dogs Trust report, Puppy Smuggling: When will this cruel trade end? and the recommendations contained therein.

The Scottish Government is committed to ending illegal and irresponsible trade in puppies and wider abuses of the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This is why our Programme for Government for 2017-18 included a commitment to work with charities and enforcement agencies to take forward the recommendations of research that we commissioned on illegal importation and sales from puppy farms. This work includes the delivery of an innovative communications campaign highlighting the risks of buying puppies advertised online to make it harder for dealers to sell illegally imported dogs to unwitting buyers. We have worked closely with the Dogs Trust and other animal welfare groups on this campaign, which has been recently launched.

As far as border checks are concerned, every pet travelling with its owner on an approved route is checked for compliance with the pet travel regime and the Border Force carry out a wide range of checks on animals arriving in the UK. Stringent penalties already exist for those found breaking the law by smuggling animals and/or using false documentation.

Scottish Government officials have had various discussions with counterparts in Defra regarding these issues over recent years.

The commitment made to Parliament in January 2018 was to issue guidance on electronic training aids under Section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. This commitment was fulfilled on 15th October and the guidance has been welcomed by the Kennel Club, Dogs Trust and other groups that had been campaigning for a ban. The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament have also noted their support for the guidance.

The legality of the use of electronic training aids will depend on the circumstances in which they are used. The inappropriate use of any such training aids may give rise to prosecution for causing unnecessary suffering as an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 depending upon the circumstances of the case. The person would commit such an offence if they knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the act would cause suffering or be likely to do so.