This Member’s Bill was introduced by Christine Grahame MSP. It proposes to improve the welfare of puppies and dogs by:
This is a Member's bill
The Bill fell on 4 May 2021 at Stage 1
This Bill fell at Stage 1 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
This Member’s Bill was introduced by Christine Grahame MSP. It proposes to improve the welfare of puppies and dogs by:
The Bill requires the Scottish Government to make changes to the system for licensing dog breeding. The result will be that more breeders will need to have a licence.
The Bill also makes the Scottish Government set up a puppy litter register. Any litters that are not born under a dog breeding licence, but which the litter owner wishes to sell or give away, must be registered. Registration must be done before puppies can be advertised, sold or given away. The Bill sets out what a person must do to register a litter of puppies. It will be an offence not to comply with the registration system.
There will be some flexibility for Scottish Ministers to decide how to set up and operate the register.
The Bill also requires the Scottish Government to make and publish a code of practice. It sets out what the content of the code should be. The code should describe the process that is to be followed by:
Christine Grahame’s aim for the Bill is to improve the health and welfare of dogs. She believes that bringing more breeders into the licensing regime and introducing a registration process for unlicensed litters will help achieve this.
The member’s view is that buying a puppy or dog in a responsible way can also make a difference to the welfare of the animals, and to the nature of the puppy trade. This is the aim of the code of practice. The member believes the code will help to influence the behaviour of those getting a puppy or dog and improve responsible dog ownership.
Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill as introduced (284KB, pdf) posted 01 June 2020
Explanatory Notes (173KB, pdf) posted 01 June 2020
Policy Memorandum (335KB, pdf) posted 01 June 2020
Financial Memorandum (280KB, pdf) posted 01 June 2020
Delegated Powers Memorandum (209KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2020
Statements on legislative competence (90KB, pdf) posted 02 June 2020
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
Emma Harper MSP is the additional member in charge for the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill.
The Member who introduces the Bill is also, in the first instance, the ‘Member in charge’ of it. They may choose to name an ‘additional Member in charge’. This gives the Member in charge an assurance that any necessary procedural steps can still be taken if they are unavailable for a period or on a particular occasion.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Bill was introduced on 1 June 2020
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Bill fell at the dissolution of Parliament on 4 May 2021.
If MSPs do not agree with what a Bill is trying to do, they can vote against it at the end of Stage 1 or at Stage 3. If a majority of MSPs vote against a Bill then it will not pass and it ‘falls’.
Bills can also fall if they have not completed Stage 3 by the end of a Parliamentary session. These Bills can be reintroduced in the next session and the process would begin again from the start.