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PE1895: Mandatory accountability for NatureScot's decision making procedures

Petition summary

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to make it mandatory for NatureScot to explain its conservation objectives in decision making within the framework of the Scottish Regulators Strategic Code of Practice and Scottish Governments guidance, 'Right First Time'.

Petitioner: Gary Wall

Status: Closed

Date published: 23 August 2021

Click here for the full petition

SPICe briefing (101KB, pdf) posted 10 September 2021

Committee meetings

3 November 2021: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

Official Report of Meeting 3 November 2021

2 February 2022: The Committee agreed to write to NatureScot.

Official Report of Meeting 2 February 2022

18 May 2022: The Committee agreed to write to NatureScot.

Official Report of Meeting 18 May 2022

9 November 2022: The Committee agreed to close the petition under rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that NatureScot routinely issues licence refusals and its stated approach is to always explain to the applicants the reasons for the refusals against the relevant legal tests, not all of which include a conservation objective; and a conservation objective would not apply to every licensing refusal, therefore setting a mandatory requirement for NatureScot to include this in every refusal would not be appropriate.

Official Report of Meeting 9 November 2022