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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 25 November 2024
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Displaying 1909 contributions

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Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

I am just trying to work this out. For a general licence, the person must still prove that they have looked at all other solutions of dispatch or predator control—whatever you want to call it. What are the solutions for controlling foxes—obviously, there is a high number of them in Scotland—that farmers could use other than a gun?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

But it is part of the bill. Jenni Minto just asked about it.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

Unless, of course, the fox is injured. The Government is advocating lamping, which in terms of welfare is relevant only in three seasons, where there is a proper site outwith vegetation and cover—and there is a lot of vegetation and cover in upland areas.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

What about if the dog is acting in its natural state? Evolution has taken us to the domestication of pets, and dogs are obviously bred in that sense, but they have a natural instinct. What would happen in a court of law?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

Do you want me to ask my actual question, convener?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

Are you worried about the intention to sort out hare coursing in a bill that is called “Hunting with Dogs” instead of looking at the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

However, on its website, NatureScot does not even suggest how to control foxes.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

Okay. I know that I am going on, but I just want to make this point. To deal with the issue of hare coursing—for which there are not many prosecutions in Scotland whatsoever—we are rolling it into this bill. We are also bringing in rabbits, which are killed as an effective measure for protecting livestock and to be used for the pot. I just think that that is really strange and that we need more clarification on it—although not now, because we do not have time.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

Therefore, to go back to Jim Fairlie’s earlier point, farmers will be able to apply for licences all year round, whether they are lambing or not.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Rachael Hamilton

On that specific point, where does it say that a deprivation order could be given against, for example, a hare courser who had used a car or a motorbike to drive from somewhere such as Newcastle? Is that covered? I would like that to be clear. I am looking at page 16 of the bill.