Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 March 2026 [Draft]
04 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Deer Management
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests—I have a farm in Moray, where I control deer.
Does the minister agree that deer management on the uplands of Scotland is now, in most cases, covered by deer management plans and that the problems are in the woods and the low grounds? Does the minister also agree that, rather than Forestry and Land Scotland using contracted stalkers, it would be better to have full-time employees doing proper deer management rather than just contract killing?
In the same item of business
5. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government how proposed changes to deer management policy will affect land use and biodiversity across Scotland. (S6O-05583)
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
Good, sustainable deer management is integral to our effectiveness in addressing biodiversity loss and protecting and restoring the natural environment. That...
Gordon MacDonald
SNP
Deer numbers have doubled since the 1990s and the population is estimated to be close to 1 million. Deer are now so numerous that, even in my constituency of...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
The improved deer management legislative framework and strengthened regulatory powers that were introduced through the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill wi...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests—I have a farm in Moray, where I control deer.Does the minister agree that deer management ...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I disagree with that point. We need a range of options across the sector. It is not just roe deer or deer in lowland Scotland that we are talking about—it is...