Chamber and committees

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were involved in meetings with the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, and the Scottish Government, and had a significant input into animal welfare issues relating to the content of the snaring training courses run by these organisations. Mike Flynn, Chief Superintendent of the SSPCA gave evidence at the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee meeting held at Langholm on 7 September 2010 in relation to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and stated that he was satisfied that any snare operator following the training courses would be compliant with the law in this respect.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any monitoring regarding the (a) effectiveness and (b) implementation of the Snares (Scotland) Order 2010.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service database only records convictions for offences set out under the primary legislation, in this case Section 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and not offences under the Snares (Scotland) Order 2010.

The Scottish Government shares the view of Jonathan Hall, Head of Rural Policy at the National Farmers Union Scotland, who gave evidence at the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee meeting held at Langholm on 7 September 2010 in relation to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. Mr Hall stated that hill farms are the most marginal in their economic viability, and the impact at critical times of predators contributes to abandonment, because it gets to the point where it becomes unsustainable to keep people and sheep on that land.

The Scottish Government has not carried out any research to establish which EU member states prohibit the use of neck snares.

We are aware that other countries, including Spain, Belguim, France and Ireland, allow the use of snares for predator control. Other countries use alternative forms of trapping, including leg and foot traps, which are illegal in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37474 on 18 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government does not intend to carry out any research into the use of snares. The Scottish Government will however monitor research carried out by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and others, and, where appropriate, implement improvements in snaring techniques that enhance animal welfare.

The Scottish Government received the report The Impact of Snares on Animal Welfare on 5 November 2010. The report appears to be a partial literature review. It does not contain any new research on snaring and it has not been peer reviewed.

The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with DEFRA regarding the progress of its research project, Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37481 on 18 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.