Director of Scottish Countryside Alliance gives an update on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

Proposed timeframe

• The first and second RAINE reports submitted to Scottish Government by end of September 2022
• Stages 2 and 3 (where amendments can still be made) to run up until January 2023
• Legislation in effect from early Summer 2023

The position so far

As you may be aware, the RAINE committee have held six evidence sessions and will now take the time to compile their initial report to the Scottish Parliament. This report will include recommendations from the sessions that were held throughout June, and also from supplementary evidence that has been sent to the Committee following the sessions. The first report will be presented early to mid-September after which it will be debated by the Parliament who will vote on whether the Bill should proceed.

The Scottish Countryside Alliance has reviewed each session in detail and compiled a report that has been sent to the Committee. This report identifies inconsistencies and inaccuracies, seeks to gain evidence relating to some of the claims made by animal welfare and other organisations, and offers evidence supporting our own comments made during this process. In addition to this, we have also requested that the results from the original government consultation be published. The Scottish Government does not have a set period of time for publishing public consultation results, but it is asking one of their own committees to make recommendations on the Bill without first having sight of potentially vital information.

We continue to engage with Ministers, MSP's and Civil Servants from the Bill Team and the Scottish Government Licensing Team. A number of meetings have been held over the parliamentary recess period, and we continue to work hard to ensure that we all come out of this with a workable solution that is implemented on a landscape scale. We will continue to challenge anything that does not fit this description and are determined that the end result will be successfully utilised by all, and not only specific sectors within our community. In pest and predator control we all do the same job and have the same results, so we will continue to present evidence to remind those who form the legislation of this fact.

Licences

Licences have been discussed and considered over the past few weeks, and conversations have been positive. We have a very open relationship with government officials and have been able to make representation on a number of levels where licensing is concerned. We have discussed various existing options including:

• General Licences (GLs) already successfully regulate the control of species, such as pigeons and corvids. Annually reviewed and amended owing to changes in numbers or specific circumstances, it is an easily administered licence where no application process is required. Providing that the practitioner meets the criteria, lethal control can be utilised. GL's can be revoked both from individuals and landowners where necessary and would be a suitable and preferred method of licensing for hunting with dogs.
• Individual licenses are issued to individuals to enable control to be carried out in line with conditions set out within the licence. Similar to Class Licences, these can also be revoked, but have the added security of an individual having ownership and, ultimately, being culpable should any enforcement agency need to act. Often much less specific and restrictive than some licences can be.

The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill proposes a different licensing scheme. While it is light on specifics, it would be awarded to a person or group of persons, and be assigned to a particular piece of land. This already appears problematic for the issuer, applicant and enforcement agencies. It will be more complex to administer, fund and enforce, yet the Scottish Government appear to favour it. We have concerns whether a licensing system based on land holding could ever be truly workable across Scotland's countryside and, if it is not, there will be questions about whether the rights of those who seek to protect livestock and the environment have been breached. Thankfully the Scottish Government is currently engaging with our sector, and we will continue to work with them to ensure the relevant amendments are made. Licensing is staying, so we need to use our collective rural experience help to shape it in order for it to work for everyone.

Lobbying

Given the timetable for the Bill as it passes through stages 2 and 3, we will be focussing on lobbying in the weeks to come. This is not to say you can't make contact with your local MSP now, you can do so easily here. We will be issuing guidance on lobbying via our Heather Routes newsletter and our social media channels, stipulating the main points where amendments need to be considered.

If you would like to get involved then please watch this space, and make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.