Question reference: S5W-27173
- Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 28 January 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 January 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Deer Working Group report, The Management of Wild Deer in Scotland.
Answer
The report to the Scottish Government by the independent Deer Working Group is being published today on the Scottish Government website.
The group was originally led by Simon Pepper but following Mr Pepper’s untimely death in September 2018, Andrew Barbour took over as chair. I would like to thank Mr Barbour and the members of the Deer Working Group for continuing with this important review and for their work over the last three years.
The report was commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2017 following reports on deer management from Scottish National Heritage (SNH) and the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee which raised concerns on a number of issues relating to the management of wild deer in Scotland. The group was tasked with examining the statutory and non-statutory arrangements for wild deer management across all parts of Scotland before making recommendations for changes that will safeguard public interests and promote sustainable management of wild deer.
We will consider all of the recommendations contained within the report and publish a full response in due course. It is important that we give careful consideration to the recommendations, alongside other evidence, before issuing a response. An important part of this will involve meeting key stakeholders to discuss the findings of the review.
The full report can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/the-management-of-wild-deer-in-scotland-deer-working-group-report/