- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scots law concerning vandalism and malicious mischief is sufficient to deal with a person who interferes with a legally-set snare.
Answer
A person interfering with a legally set snare might be committing one of a number of possible offences under existing legislation. If the opportunity arises to bring forward primary legislation on this matter ministers would give consideration to the creation of a new statutory offence of tampering with a lawfully set snare.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that Snaring in Scotland: A Practitioners’ Guide, produced by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scottish Gamekeepers Association and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland) and formally endorsed by the Scottish Government, should form the basis of the proposed new regulations for snaring.
Answer
Snaring in Scotland will be considered and taken into account by the PAW Legislation sub-group when considering its recommendations about legislation relating to snaring.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the legislation, regulation and guidance sub-group of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime Scotland will be assisted in formulating regulations for snaring by the Scottish Government’s recent endorsement of Snaring in Scotland: A Practitioners’ Guide, produced by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scottish Gamekeepers Association and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland).
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19151 on 15 January 2008. 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.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce primary legislation to create a specific offence of interfering with a legally-set snare, in light of the Minister for Environment’s statement to the Parliament on 20 February 2008 (Official Report c. 6079) and the publication of Snaring in Scotland: A Practitioners’ Guide, produced by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scottish Gamekeepers Association and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland).
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19154 on 15 January 2008. 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.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 6 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to progress the Scottish Strategy for Victims.
Answer
The Scottish Strategy for Victims was published in 2001. A comprehensive review of the strategy is underway. The review is being driven by the Scottish Government''s commitment to put victims at the heart of the justice system and is focussing on how the commitment will be delivered as an integral part of the National Performance Framework.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 6 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration has been given to the establishment of a commissioner for victims and witnesses similar to those appointed in England and Wales.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18710 on 6 January 2009. The review of the Scottish Strategy for Victims will include consideration of a range of opportunities for improving the support of victims of crime. The need for a victims'' commissioner may be considered as part of this process. 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.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland regarding best practice throughout the United Kingdom for support services for victims of crime.
Answer
Officials of the Scottish Government have regular contact with officials of the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and other Whitehall departments, as well as officials of the devolved administrations, on matters of mutual interest in relation to support for victims of crime.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Scotland is fully compliant with the European Union framework directive on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings.
Answer
Scotland was largely compliant with the European Framework Decision on the Standing of Victims in Criminal Proceedings when it was promulgated. A detailed response to the framework decision,
Victims in the Scottish Criminal Justice System: The EU Framework Decision On The Standing Of Victims In Criminal Procedure, The Scottish Perspective, was published in 2002. Further work was undertaken to ensure compliance with articles that did not need to be implemented until 2004.
The European Commission has recently instigated research into compliance with the terms of the framework decision across the European Union and is currently expected to review the current framework decision in the light of the research findings.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 17 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it understands to have set snares after having seen the tracks of protected species, in the last five years.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not been made aware of any cases of snares being set after that person has seen the tracks of a protected species.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 17 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ban snaring in light of the result of a recent opinion poll showing 79% support for a total ban.
Answer
Following an extensive period of consultation the Scottish Government concluded that the balance of argument is in favour of allowing snaring to continue, subject to further regulation to improve animal welfare. This conclusion was set out in my statement to the Parliament on 20 February 2008.
