Written Question · S3W-19073 · Session 3
Which agencies or voluntary organisations are designated as inspection agencies for the purpose of animal welfare legislation and whether c…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies or voluntary organisations are designated as inspection agencies for the purpose of animal welfare legislation and whether consideration has been given to extending the number of designated inspection agencies.
The answer
Section 49(2) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 defines an inspector in the context of any particular provision under part 2 of the act (the animal welfare part) as a person:
(a) appointed as an inspector by the Scottish ministers, or authorised by them, for the purpose of the provision, or
(b) appointed as an inspector by a local authority for the purpose of the provision.
Veterinary advisors employed by the Scottish Government are automatically appointed as inspectors under this section. Scottish ministers have appointed the veterinary staff of the Animal Health agency (formally the State Veterinary Service) as inspectors and have authorised named inspectors of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) to be inspectors under the act. Local authorities appoint their Animal Health and Welfare Officers as inspectors under the provision of this section.
Officials employed by the Animal Health agency and the Scottish SPCA are appointed or authorised as inspectors on an individual basis, rather than the organisations being designated as an inspection agency. Local authorities have the power to appoint their own inspectors.
We have no plans to extend the authorisation to individuals employed by other organisations.
(a) appointed as an inspector by the Scottish ministers, or authorised by them, for the purpose of the provision, or
(b) appointed as an inspector by a local authority for the purpose of the provision.
Veterinary advisors employed by the Scottish Government are automatically appointed as inspectors under this section. Scottish ministers have appointed the veterinary staff of the Animal Health agency (formally the State Veterinary Service) as inspectors and have authorised named inspectors of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) to be inspectors under the act. Local authorities appoint their Animal Health and Welfare Officers as inspectors under the provision of this section.
Officials employed by the Animal Health agency and the Scottish SPCA are appointed or authorised as inspectors on an individual basis, rather than the organisations being designated as an inspection agency. Local authorities have the power to appoint their own inspectors.
We have no plans to extend the authorisation to individuals employed by other organisations.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-19073 by reference.