This is a Government bill
The Bill was introduced on 19 February 2025 and is at Stage 1
This Bill is at Stage 1 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
As introduced, the Bill has four main parts.
Part 1 says that the Scottish Government must introduce targets to improve biodiversity.
Part 2 allows the Scottish Government to make and change laws relating to the Environmental Impact Assessments regime and the Habitats Regulations. This would replace a power that was lost as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU.
Part 3 updates the aims of National Parks and makes changes to the way National Parks are run.
Part 4 relates to the management of wild deer.
Further information on what the Bill does is available in the Explanatory Notes.
The Scottish Government has introduced the Bill to improve biodiversity and regenerate the natural environment.
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill as introduced (2MB, pdf) posted 19 February 2025
Explanatory Notes (380KB, pdf) posted 20 February 2025
Policy Memorandum (628KB, pdf) posted 20 February 2025
Financial Memorandum (524KB, pdf) posted 20 February 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (276KB, pdf) posted 20 February 2025
Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 20 February 2025
Explanatory Notes (458KB, pdf) posted 19 February 2025
Policy Memorandum (702KB, pdf) posted 19 February 2025
Financial Memorandum (592KB, pdf) posted 19 February 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (329KB, pdf) posted 19 February 2025
Statements on legislative competence (160KB, pdf) posted 19 February 2025
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 - Keeling schedule (3MB, pdf) posted 20 February 2025
A Keeling schedule is a schedule to a bill which reproduces the provisions of an earlier Act of Parliament and shows the effect of the bill on that Act. It is usually added as an appendix to the proposed amendment.
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
A research briefing will be published in due course.
The Bill was introduced on 19 February 2025
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Committee will take part in a fact-finding visit to Cairngorms National Park as part of its engagement activities on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.