Hunting with Dogs Bill passes first stage
The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill has passed its stage one vote in the Scottish Parliament with only one MSP voting against, but with warnings that members would seek to amend the bill – in different directions – at later stages.
The bill seeks to tighten the ban on using dogs to chase and kill wild mammals for sport, enacted in 2002, following evidence that the present law is failing to achieve its objective and adopting recommendations made on a review by Lord Bonomy. It would bring in a two dog limit for hunting above ground, except under a licensing scheme to be introduced, and one dog for hunting below ground.
Labour and Green members voiced opposition to any exceptions under licence, while Conservatives argued that a two dog limit would be ineffective in flushing to guns and could seriously compromise effective pest control, including for nature conservation, and that the licensing proposals were lacking in detail but appeared too restrictive.
For the Government, Minister Mairi McAllan said Lord Bonomy had commented favourably on the drafting of the bill, which had been designed "to balance the safe, considerate and appropriate use of dogs in permitted circumstances with the need to stop illegal hunting. Where there is suspicion of illegal activity, the bill will make it easier for the police and the Crown Office to detect, investigate and prosecute". The bill addressed concerns with the present law by "unambiguously setting out the purposes for which dogs can be used".