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Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.This Bill replaces the 2002 Act.

This is a Government bill

The Bill became an Act on 7 March 2023

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.

This Bill replaces the 2002 Act. It will still be an offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. For example, hunting with dogs may be allowed to prevent the spread of disease or to protect other animals if the activity meets the requirements in the Bill about how it is done. However, it will always be illegal to chase and kill a wild mammal using a dog.

Where hunting is allowed, the Bill introduces new limits on the number of dogs that can be used. In some circumstances, people may be able to get a licence to use more dogs.

The Bill also bans trail hunting except in limited circumstances. Trail hunting is when a dog is used to find and follow an animal-based scent.

Why the Bill was created

The Bill is being introduced to address concerns that people are illegally using dogs to hunt foxes and other wild mammals.

The Bill aims to make the law easier to understand and to enforce. It also introduces new restrictions to minimise the risk of wild mammals being caught and killed by dogs during a hunt.

Bill as Introduced

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill as introduced (1MB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (204KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Policy Memorandum (266KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Financial Memorandum (178KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Delegated Powers Memorandum (119KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Statements on legislative competence (89KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (268KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Policy Memorandum (356KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Financial Memorandum (191KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Delegated Powers Memorandum (173KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Statements on legislative competence (140KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022

Crown Consent

This Bill requires Crown consent. It is expected that this consent will be signified at Stage 3.

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Research Briefing on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

The Bill was introduced on 24 February 2022

Stage 1: general principles

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.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.

Committee name change

Before 1 February 2023, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee was called the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.

Call for views (closed)

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee held a call for views to help inform the examination of the Bill.

Submissions were either:

  • Completing a short survey on the Bill; or
  • Sharing detailed views on specific provisions of the Bill

Read the call for views

The call for views closed on 13 May 2022

Read a summary of responses to the short survey (5MB, pdf) posted 10 August 2022

Timetable for Stage 1

The Parliament agreed that consideration of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 would be completed by 30 September 2022.

Meetings of the lead committee

Correspondence: lead committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill update on licensing scheme

Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, to the Convener, 6 December 2022

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill - Scottish Government response to Stage 1 report

Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform to the Convener, 21 October 2022

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill - Stage 1 report

Letter from OneKind to the Convener, 5 October 2022

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform to the Convener, 24 August 2022

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill - follow up information from the meeting on 22 June 2022

Letter from the Law Society of Scotland to the Convener, 13 July 2022

See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee published its report on 27 September 2022.

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report

The Committee received the following response to its report:

Letter from the Minister For Environment and Land Reform (615KB, pdf) posted 21 October 2022

Work by other committees

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meetings

Report

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 16 March 2022.

Read the report


Stage 1 Debate and decision

A Stage 1 debate took place on 25 October 2022 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.

  • Motion title: Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.
  • Submitted by: Màiri McAllan
  • Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2022
  • Motion reference: S6M-06428
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 25 October 2022

Result 110 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament agreed the general principles of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 1 on 25 October 2022

Stage 2: changes to the Bill

At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them. 

Call for views (closed)

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee held an additional call for views during Stage 2.

Read the call for views

The call for views closed on 9 November 2022

Meetings of the lead committee

First meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 7 December 2022:

First Marshalled List of amendments at Stage 2 (764KB, pdf) posted 01 December 2022

First Groupings of amendments at Stage 2 (898KB, pdf) posted 01 December 2022

Second meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 14 December 2022:

Second Marshalled List of amendments at Stage 2 (728KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2022

Second Groupings of amendments at Stage 2 (507KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2022

Stage 2 Correspondence

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill follow up from meeting on 30 November 2022

Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, to the Convener, 6 December 2022

See a full list of Stage 2 correspondence

Bill as amended at Stage 2

Revised Documents

Revised Explanatory Notes (236KB, pdf) posted 20 January 2023

Revised Documents (print versions)

Revised Explanatory Notes (296KB, pdf) posted 19 January 2023

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 14 December 2022

Stage 3: final changes and vote

At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them.  There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law. 

Debate on proposed amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 24 January 2023:

Marshalled List of amendments for Stage 3 (376KB, pdf) posted 18 January 2023

Timed Groupings of amendments for Stage 3 (876KB, pdf) posted 23 January 2023

Final debate on the Bill

Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.

  • Motion title: Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill be passed.
  • Submitted by: Màiri McAllan
  • Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2023
  • Motion reference: S6M-07600
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 24 January 2023

Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


  • Motion title: Stage 3 Timetable
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that, during stage 3 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill, debate on groups of amendments shall, subject to Rule 9.8.4A, be brought to a conclusion by the time limits indicated, those time limits being calculated from when the stage begins and excluding any periods when other business is under consideration or when a meeting of the Parliament is suspended (other than a suspension following the first division in the stage being called) or otherwise not in progress: Groups 1 to 4: 1 hour 40 minutes Groups 5 and 6: 3 hours 40 minutes Groups 7 and 8: 5 hours 10 minutes Groups 9 to 11: 6 hours 10 minutes.    
  • Submitted by: George Adam
  • Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2023
  • Motion reference: S6M-07608
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 24 January 2023

See further details of the motion


Parliament decided to pass the Bill

Final version of the Bill

Printing Changes

Printing changes are changes to the text of a Bill for which amendments are not required. It will not change the legal effect of the Bill.

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: printing changes after the Bill as passed (81KB, pdf) posted 10 February 2023

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 24 January 2023

Bill becomes an Act

The Bill was passed on 24 January 2023 and became an Act on 7 March 2023.

Read the Act

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023