Current Petitions

Petition PE449, from Mr Alex Hogg on behalf of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, asks for an independent investigation into the impact of predatory birds on waders, songbirds, private stocks of fish and game birds. An earlier petition on the licensed culling of raptors—PE187—was passed to the Rural Development Committee and the Transport and the Environment Committee.In February 2000, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions UK raptor working group published its findings. Although the Scottish Gamekeepers Association was involved in the consultation for that report, it strongly disagreed with the claims about the low numbers of raptors and the lack of damage that they do. The Transport and the Environment Committee concluded petition PE187 by suggesting that the DETR report be amended to reflect the nature of the SGA's involvement. The Transport and the Environment Committee strongly recommended that the SGA become a member of a newly formed moorland working group to allow its concerns to be addressed.The committee agreed to request comments from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Homing Union. Members have the details of the responses from those bodies. We have also received a response from the RSPB, which offers to make available to the committee any scientific support that we might require.The Transport and the Environment Committee set up a working group, which is chaired by Alex Neil MSP, to develop a research project to consider further the concerns of the Scottish Homing Union about the effect of raptors on its birds. That working group will address the issues that the petition raises. The moorland forum, which SNH will set up shortly, will provide an opportunity for groups such as the SGA to become involved in discussions that are related to conservation and management issues.It is suggested that we copy the petition and the responses to Alex Neil MSP and ask him to confirm whether the concerns that are raised in the petition are likely to be addressed as part of the research commissioned by his working group. We could also ask his view on whether the petition raises any new issues that would merit its being referred to the Transport and the Environment Committee. A copy of the petition could be passed to the clerks to the Rural Development Committee and the Transport and the Environment Committee for information only at this stage.

As I am involved with Alex Neil in the work to help the Scottish Homing Union, I will add that last week it was announced that the organisation has received a significant sum of money—£160,000, I think—to enable it to undertake proper research. The fact that people have lacked evidence that specifies how many predatory birds attack pigeons and SGA livestock has been part of the problem. The award represents a major step forward, because such evidence will help the Scottish Homing Union enormously.

Are we agreed on the proposed action?Members indicated agreement.

We have already dealt with petition PE467. A small report at the back of the current petitions document deals with progress on several petitions. At the committee's next meeting, a full paper will be presented giving the up-to-date position on all outstanding petitions.