Seòmar agus comataidhean

Consideration of animal welfare is fundamental to Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) wildlife management work. The conditions imposed by their general licences seek to ensure that animal welfare is protected when wildlife management activities are undertaken.

SNH’s full positon on wildlife welfare is published on its website: https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-06/A1545530%20-%20SNH%20Position%20Statement%20willdife%20welfare%20-
%202014.pdf

Information on the conservation status of ravens is included within SNH’s consultation. SNH will use the information gathered in their consultation to help assess any conservation impacts, prior to any decision to change the general license conditions, including whether to add ravens to the species covered.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) announced on its website on 21 May 2019 its decision to bring forward from 2020 a planned consultation on general licences. A further statement was made when the consultation formally opened on 17 July 2019. Both announcements were accompanied by media briefing and SNH also contacted its main stakeholders directly to alert them to the consultation.

The current consultation follows previous consultations on licensing, which also contained questions about specific species, including ravens. The consultation is part of SNH’s ongoing process of continuous improvement in delivery of its licencing functions (in-line with a commitment to Better Regulation principles) and follows best practice for public consultations.

Information about the conservation status of all of the species potentially covered by general licenses, including ravens, was included in the consultation document.

I refer the member to the answer to S5W-24152 on 31 July 2019 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Work is underway to establish the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and it will have its inaugural meeting after it is established. The membership and programme of work to be taken forward by the Committee in its first year will be determined once the Chair is appointed.

The Scottish Government will publish the analysis of responses in autumn 2019.

The Scottish Government is currently developing proposals for proportionate, effective governance arrangements. This is a devolved matter and, ultimately, the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the results of its consultation on future environmental principles and governance in Scotland, and developing detailed policy proposals which will include consideration of arrangements for a UK exit from the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Given the on-going uncertainty over timing and nature of the UK’s exit from the EU, the timescale for a policy announcement is not clear.

This information is published by SEPA as part of its annual “Waste From All Sources” publication. The relevant data can be accessed on SEPA’s website at:

https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/413268/2017_waste_data_tables.xlsx

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-23883 on 9 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx