Scottish Steering Committee
A-LAW’s Scottish Steering Committee injects much needed legal advocacy into the political and law-making process in Scotland. Our Committee members include recognised experts in animal welfare law. With your support, we provide legal advocacy for animals, identify opportunities to strengthen the law, and work with law and policy makers to ensure that animal interests are represented.
We welcome the creation of a Scottish Animal Welfare Commission by the Scottish Government. We support the work of the Commission by identifying issues concerning animals and feeding into the political process, providing much needed political representation for animals.
About animal law in Scotland
The power to make laws about animal welfare has been largely devolved to Scotland, with some exceptions. International treaties are entered into by the UK Government and the regulation of animals in research is reserved to Westminster.
The Scottish Government has an Animal Health and Welfare Division, which administers animal welfare policy. This Division is part of the Directorate for Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities. Find out more here.
The enforcement of animal welfare law is the responsibility of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The SSPCA investigates animal cruelty cases, but unlike the RSPCA, which operates in England and Wales, it does not bring prosecutions.
Local authorities are responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws in their district. There is an agreed Memorandum of Understanding between the SSPCA and local authorities as to their respective operations, which helps to avoid duplication of effort. If there is a prosecution it will be brought by the Procurator Fiscal and put before the Scottish courts.
Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC)
The Scottish Government set up an independent body to provide scientific and ethical advice to the Government about animal welfare. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission is chaired by Professor Cathy Dwyer and considers how the needs of sentient animals (capable of experiencing feelings) are being met by Scottish policies, what can be done to further protect the welfare of sentient animals and to provide research for future policy development.
SAWC is concerned with policies relating to wild and companion animals. In relation to farming and zoos, there already exists the UK Animal Welfare Committee and a UK Zoo Expert Committee. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission will limit itself in these areas to matters that fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Scottish Parliament Information Centre subject profile on animal health and welfare
The subject profile is an excellent source of information about the law in Scotland relating to animals and the legal and policy landscape, including current policy initiatives. The document sets out key legislation, roles and responsibilities across areas relating to both domesticated animals and wildlife. Access the subject profile here.
Members of our Scottish Steering Committee
- Libby Anderson
- Mike Radford OBE
- Scott Blair
- Sophie Mills
- Alison Burns
- Hannah Moneagle