Committee
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee 21 February 2024
21 Feb 2024 · S6 · Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Item of business
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
My amendment 120 proposes that NatureScot should consider independent animal welfare expertise when determining the content of the trap training courses. The sentience of wild animals and birds is recognised across the scientific community, but trap design and use have not kept up with animal welfare science. With farmed and companion animals and those that are used in research, methods of killing are tightly specified and regulated, the aim being a humane death that is as near instantaneous as possible. That is in contrast to legislation on the trapping and killing of wild animals, which has fallen behind. The involvement of animal welfare expertise in trap training would be a good first step in helping to address that. The provision would not be onerous. It could be implemented simply through, for example, an independent veterinary adviser, an independent academic or the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission being asked to review the animal welfare aspects of the course content. Amendment 121, like a number of my other amendments, draws on the international consensus principles for ethical wildlife management, which I have talked about on a number of occasions. In this case, the training and assessment that are required for a person to obtain a trap licence would include two particular principles. They would not prevent the use of traps or even restrict their use; they would simply require the use of traps to be justified on the specified ground. Trap users would have to have a legitimate reason to use the traps and consider, first, whether there was evidence of that and, secondly, whether there were non-lethal alternatives. Such evidence should be routinely required in wildlife management decisions.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Our next item of business is consideration of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill at stage 2. I welcome Jim Fairlie, the Minister for Agricu...
The Convener
Con
Amendment 180, in the name of Edward Mountain, is grouped with amendments 120, 13, 121, and 14 to 16.
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Before I speak to and move my amendment, and because there are new committee members, I would like to make a declaration of interests in line with those that...
The Convener
Con
I invite Colin Smyth to speak to amendment 120 and the other amendments in the group.
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
My amendment 120 proposes that NatureScot should consider independent animal welfare expertise when determining the content of the trap training courses. The...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I draw members’ attention to my registered interest as a partner in a farming business and, through that, as a member of a number of organisations including ...
The Convener
Con
Before I ask the minister to come in, I will make a contribution. Will the minister confirm whether the licences suggested in Colin Smyth’s amendment are com...
Jim Fairlie (Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity)
SNP
It is quite strange to be sitting at this end of the table, having spent the past three years in the seat that Emma Harper is now sitting in. It feels a litt...
Edward Mountain
Con
I am disappointed to hear what the minister has said, specifically in relation to amendments 180 and 16. He almost indicated that he was prepared to go on am...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I will go back to amendment 16, if you do not mind. Obviously, it is a very practical amendment. The Scottish Government often co-designs schemes with practi...
Edward Mountain
Con
I agree with Rachael Hamilton. I think that the minister referred to Alex Hogg, who is the chairman of the SGA. He is a man with huge experience of these mat...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I am happy to discuss amendment 13 further with Edward Mountain.
Edward Mountain
Con
Amendment 14.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I thought that you said amendment 13.
Edward Mountain
Con
I am sorry, convener; I know that I should speak through the chair. I said that I understand that the number of days of courses, which amendment 13 deals wit...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I am happy to discuss amendment 14, and I apologise—that was my mistake. Amendment 16 requires NatureScot to consult persons who are likely to be interested...
The Convener
Con
The question is, that amendment 180 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
Con
There will be a division. For Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, R...
The Convener
Con
The result of the division is: For 4, Against 5, Abstentions 0. Amendment 180 disagreed to.
Colin Smyth
Lab
It is disappointing that the minister will not support the pretty modest proposal in amendment 120, particularly given the suggestion that the training would...
Colin Smyth
Lab
Some time ago, in response to my members’ business debate on the ethical principles of wildlife management, the Government said that it would consider such a...
The Convener
Con
The question is, that amendment 121 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
Con
There will be a division. For Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Against Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highland...
The Convener
Con
The result of the division is: For 1, Against 8, Abstentions 0 Amendment 121 disagreed to. Amendments 14 and 15 not moved. Amendment 16 moved—Edward Mount...
The Convener
Con
The question is, that amendment 16 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
Con
There will be a division. For Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, R...
The Convener
Con
The result of the division is: For 4, Against 5, Abstentions 0. Amendment 16 disagreed to. Amendment 57 moved—Rachael Hamilton.
The Convener
Con
The question is, that amendment 57 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
Con
There will be a division. For Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, R...
The Convener
Con
The result of the division is: For 3, Against 6, Abstentions 0. Amendment 57 disagreed to. Amendment 80 moved—Finlay Carson.