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In the 2018-19 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to continue work to introduce and reform licensing of animal activities including animal sanctuaries, rehoming centres, breeding and the use of animals in public display or performance. There is no specific mention of horse racing or greyhound racing in the Programme for Government, however the scope of reforms to licensing of animal activities, including their use in public displays or performances, will be considered in due course after discussion with stakeholders.

The Scottish Government has not held any discussions with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in regard to the deaths of four horses at Musselburgh Racecourse at a meeting on 3 December 2018.

The BHA ensures racehorse welfare in Scotland, including compliance with all aspects of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) 2006 Act, through its Rules of Racing, the licensing and inspection of participants, education, training and monitoring.

The Scottish Government is aware that the BHA is carrying out a full investigation of the incident at Musselburgh and will consider the findings of the BHA investigation when they are published.

There is currently no monitoring of beaver control in place.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on how many beavers were killed during 2018 and 2019 as land managers were not obliged to record this information.

The Scottish Government is not seeking to prevent all lethal control of beavers in the period until European Protected Species status applies. The Scottish Government does however urge land managers and other to take note of SNH advice on the prevention and mitigation of adverse beaver impacts in this period, including taking note of the advice that killing of beavers should be a last resort.

A Scottish Statutory Instrument, granting beavers European Protected Species status, was laid before the Scottish Parliament on Friday 22 February 2019. The legislation will come into force on 1 May 2019.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21764 on 5 March 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 .

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government or Police Scotland.

The wildlife Special Constable pilot scheme was launched in March 2018 and will conclude at the end of March 2019. Following the conclusion of the pilot an evaluation of the scheme and the contribution made by Special Constables in the Cairngorms National Park, will be undertaken by the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is currently considering a licence application from the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

No other applications to allow juvenile raptors to be taken from Special Protection Areas intended for release have been received by SNH.

As membership of the European Bird Census (EBC) is not limited to EU members, the Scottish Government does not envisage Brexit having any impact on the European Bird Census (EBC) data gathering and sharing.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has an agreement with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to continue to contribute to the funding of bird censuses in Scotland until at least 2021. This data will form part of the European Bird Census.