Payments are monitored as part of the grant management process and are only released on satisfactory completion of required reports.

Details of these reports can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/internationaldevelopment/idffundingguidance/malawidevprog/grantholder/Q/editmode/on/forceupdate/on.

The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs has just been published and printed copies have only been available since 18 March 2010, so it is too early to assess the degree of uptake. However, substantial numbers of copies have been requested by and distributed to major animal welfare organisations, including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Copies have also been distributed to veterinary practices, local authorities and police forces in Scotland, to raise awareness.

The Scottish Government is aware of the UK Government''s consultation on the welfare of racing greyhounds but has no plans to introduce regulations which specifically deal with racing greyhounds in Scotland since no evidence has been presented indicating that there is a problem. The provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 are sufficient to ensure the welfare of these dogs and, in particular, section 24 makes it an offence for any person responsible for an animal to cause that animal unnecessary suffering by action or omission.

A senior-level Tackling Poverty Board has been established by the Scottish Government and COSLA to review policy and practice to reduce poverty in Scotland in the light of the additional challenges and opportunities created by the economic downturn and the developing experience of the Scottish Government''s performance framework and concordat with local government. Monitoring progress against the commitments set out in Achieving our Potential is part of the remit of the board. Papers associated with board meetings to date are published on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion. These and future papers will cover the work of the group in reviewing evidence of progress on Achieving our Potential.

In addition, the overview commentary of the 2008-09 Single Outcome Agreement Reports has been published at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/SOA/OverviewComm2008-09AnnRep and contains a number of references to progress in tackling poverty and income inequality.

A total of 198, 179 and 158 specimens were referred to the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) operated by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, a Division of the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate of the Scottish Government in 2007, 2008 and 2009 to date, respectively. In 2007, from 198 specimens, 35 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and three as misuse; in 2008, from 179 specimens, 23 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and no cases of misuse were identified; in 2009, from 158 specimens, 36 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and two as misuse.

Abuse of a pesticide is defined as a form of deliberate, illegal attempt to poison an animal. Misuse is defined as the careless, accidental or wilful failure to adhere to correct practice.

The available information is given in the following table.

Persons with a Charge Proved for Wildlife Crime Offences¹, in Fife Police Area, 1999-2000 - 2008-09

	Scotland	Fife	as % of total
1999-2000	84	3	4
2000-01	72	3	4
2001-02	57	0	0
2002-03	51	2	4
2003-04	75	2	3
2004-05	72	3	4
2005-06	90	2	2
2006-07	110	3	3
2007-08	130	3	2

Note: 1. Where main offence. Includes the offences categories of cruelty to animals (excluding dogs), animal offences (excluding dogs and birds), offences involving birds, hunting with dogs, cruelty to wild animals, offences involving badgers, and other wildlife offences.

Some caution is needed when comparing figures between recorded crime and court proceedings as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. In addition a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

The information requested is not held centrally. s

The available information is given in the following table.

Persons with a Charge Proved for Wildlife Crime Offences¹, in Strathclyde Police Area, 1999-2000 to 2008-09

	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Scotland	84	72	57	51	75	72	90	110	130
Strathclyde	33	29	23	22	22	28	15	46	58
as % of total	39	40	40	43	29	39	17	42	45

Note: 1. Where main offence. Includes the offences categories of cruelty to animals (excluding dogs), animal offences (excluding dogs and birds), offences involving birds, hunting with dogs, cruelty to wild animals, offences involving badgers, and other wildlife offences.

Some caution is needed when comparing figures between recorded crime and court proceedings as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. In addition, a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The available information is given in the following table:

Categories of Wildlife Offences¹ Recorded by Fife Constabulary from 1999-2000 to 2008-09

Offences1
Cruelty to animals (excluding dogs) including killing and maiming cattle
Offences involving Animals (excluding dogs, birds elsewhere classified)
Offences involving birds
Hunting with dogs1
Cruelty to wild animals1
Offences involving badgers1
Other wildlife offences1

Note: 1. In financial year 2002-03, crime codes were introduced to cover offences of Hunting with Dogs, Cruelty to Wild Animals, Offences Involving Badgers and Other Wildlife Offences, which (excluding Hunting with dogs) would have previously been recorded under a different offence; but within the same Animal/Plant category.