Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Court of Session judgement on beaver licences issued by NatureScot, what steps it is taking to ensure that all other species licences are legally compliant.
The Scottish Government and NatureScot are currently considering the wider implications of the Court of Session judgment in relation to licences issued for the purposes of beaver management.
Of the five complaints under consideration by the Court, four were rejected entirely. The fifth point, which was accepted by the Court, relates to the inclusion of a statement of reasons for licences issued. This finding will be reflected within licensing procedures going forward and reasons will now be published with all beaver and other European Protected Species licences issued.