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25 March 2003Scottish Gamekeepers Association
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THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION INTO 1. WADERS & SONGBIRDS The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) asserts that the imbalance of ravens and some raptors has and unfavourable impact on waders, songbirds, fish stocks and gamebirds and unnecessarily endangers Rural Sustainability and Sustainable Biodiversity. The Petitioners believe that Scottish Land Managers have a wealth of knowledge and experience in conservation and land management, which should be fully drawn upon in the formulation of effective methods of promoting biodiversity. At present this knowledge and experience is not recognised, or insufficiently recognised by some of the bodies and agencies upon whose advice the Scottish Executive often appear to rely or value. We therefore ask:
Chairman, SGA |
Summary of progress of petition PE449 using extracts from minutes of relevant committees
Public Petitions Committee,
3rd Meeting, 2002 (Session 1)
12 February 2002
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/petit-02/pumop0212.htm
Extract from minutes
The Committee agreed to write to both Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Homing Union requesting comments on the issues raised in the petition. It was also agreed that a copy of the petition should be passed to the Clerk to the Transport & Environment Committee for information only at this stage.
Click here to view the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence.
Public Petitions Committee,
6th Meeting, 2002 (Session 1)
26 March 2002
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/petit-02/pumop0326.htm
Extract from minutes
The Committee considered responses from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Homing Union in relation to the issues raised. The Committee agreed to copy the petition and responses received to Alex Neil MSP, seeking confirmation as to whether the issues raised in the petition are likely to be addressed as part of the research commissioned by his working group. The Committee also agreed to pass a copy of the petition and related correspondence to the Clerks to the Rural Development and Transport and Environment Committees for information only at this stage.
Click here to view the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence.
Public Petitions Committee,
8th Meeting, 2002 (Session 1)
7 May 2002
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/petit-02/pumop0507.htm
Extract from minutes
The Committee considered a response from Alex Neil MSP in relation to the issues raised and, on his advice, agreed to formally refer the petition to the Transport and Environment Committee for further consideration.
Click here to view the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence.
Rural Development Committee,
16th Meeting, 2002 (Session 1)
18 June 2002
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/rural-02/ramop0618.htm
Extract from Minutes
Petition PE187: The Committee considered PE187 from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, calling for the Scottish Parliament to allow licensed culling of raptors under the terms of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act in areas where local populations have increased beyond normal levels.
The Committee noted that a similar petition (PE449) has been lodged and referred to the Transport and the Environment Committee. The Committee agreed that the Convener should write to the Convener of the Transport and the Environment Committee to request that the committee be advised of when that petition will be considered and to urge them to consider taking oral evidence from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association. It was also agreed that the Convener should write to the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee, seeking clarification on the reasons for petition PE449 being referred to the Transport and the Environment Committee.
Click here to view the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence.
Transport and Environment
Committee, 28th Meeting, 2002 (Session 1)
9 October 2002
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/trans-02/trmop1009.htm
Extract from Minutes
The Committee considered a petition by Mr Alex Hogg, on behalf of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association. The Committee agreed to conclude its consideration of the petition by writing to the petitioners to inform them of the Committee’s view that the Moorland Forum will provide a mechanism for addressing some of their concerns. The Committee also agreed to refer the petition to the Rural Development Committee.
Click here to view the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence.
Click here to download written evidence from L. Brooks (Scottish Homing Union), Roger Crofts (SNH) and Alex Neill MSP.
Rural Development Committee,
8th Meeting, 2003 (Session 1)
25 February 2003
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/rural-03/ramop0225.htm
Extract from minutes
1. Petitions PE187/PE449: The Committee heard evidence from-
Alex Hogg, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association
Bert Burnett, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association
Professor Colin Galbraith, Director of Scientific and Advisory Services, Scottish Natural Heritage
Professor Des Thompson, Principal Uplands Advisor, Scottish Natural Heritage
Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development.
The Committee considered petitions PE187 and PE449 from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association and agreed-
- to close petition PE187;
- to write to the Minister drawing attention to deficiencies in the knowledge base regarding the impact of raptors on wild birds, fish stocks and reared gamebirds, and requesting that further independent research be carried out, possibly in consultation with the Moorland Forum;
- that petition PE449 should remain open pending receipt of the Minister's response;
- to write to the Public Petitions Committee advising them of the Committee's decision.
Click here to download the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence (PDF).
Click here to download the written submission from SNH.
Rural Development Committee,
10th Meeting, 2003 (Session 1)
18 March 2003
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/rural-03/ramop0318.htm
Extract from minutes
The Committee considered a letter from Allan Wilson MSP (Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development) in response to correspondence from the Committee and agreed-
- that the petition should remain open;
- to refer the petition back to the Public Petitions Committee, with a recommendation that the petition be considered by the relevant successor to the Rural Development Committee in the new session; and
- to draw the attention of the Public Petitions Committee to members' concerns about the progress of independent research into the impact of raptors on other bird and fish stocks.
Click here to view the official report of the meeting, including oral evidence.
References
1. Petition by Mr Alex Hogg, on behalf of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), calling for the Scottish Parliament to initiate an independent investigation into the impact of predatory birds on waders, songbirds, fish stocks and gamebirds. January 2002. (Download PDF).
Further Reading Recommended by Land-Care
RSPB falls foul of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) over
the management of Raptors. SGA Case Study: Langholm Moor.
(Filed 25 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to view).
RSPB and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: a reflection of how they view
farming.
(Filed 18 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to view).
RSPB falls foul of the Advertising Standards Authority.
(Filed 18 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to view).
Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) in Lower Nithsdale. Poor Science accepted
by Scottish Parliament and promoted by RSPB.
(Filed 18 February 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Mitchell, Ian (2002). Scientific Objection to the Designation of
the Sound of Barra as a possible Special Area of Conservation. LandCare
Scotland, 2: 3-49.
(Filed 19 November 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to view).
SNH told to think again. This time about hedgehogs.
(Filed 29 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Hedgehogs on Uist - SNH in More Trouble. Petition to the Scottish
Parliament.
(Filed 27 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Gamekeepers’ Association Official Joins Growing Row over Hedgehogs.
Oban Times, 9th January 2003.
(Filed 27 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Mitchell, Ian (2001). Isles of the West: A Hebridean Voyage. Birlinn
Limited. (ISBN: 184158150X).