It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.This Bill replaces the 2002 Act.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 7 March 2023
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.
This Bill replaces the 2002 Act. It will still be an offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. For example, hunting with dogs may be allowed to prevent the spread of disease or to protect other animals if the activity meets the requirements in the Bill about how it is done. However, it will always be illegal to chase and kill a wild mammal using a dog.
Where hunting is allowed, the Bill introduces new limits on the number of dogs that can be used. In some circumstances, people may be able to get a licence to use more dogs.
The Bill also bans trail hunting except in limited circumstances. Trail hunting is when a dog is used to find and follow an animal-based scent.
The Bill is being introduced to address concerns that people are illegally using dogs to hunt foxes and other wild mammals.
The Bill aims to make the law easier to understand and to enforce. It also introduces new restrictions to minimise the risk of wild mammals being caught and killed by dogs during a hunt.
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill as introduced (1MB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Explanatory Notes (204KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Policy Memorandum (266KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Financial Memorandum (178KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Delegated Powers Memorandum (119KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Statements on legislative competence (89KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Explanatory Notes (268KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Policy Memorandum (356KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Financial Memorandum (191KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Delegated Powers Memorandum (173KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
Statements on legislative competence (140KB, pdf) posted 24 February 2022
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
This Bill requires Crown consent. It is expected that this consent will be signified at Stage 3.
Crown consent is a process which requires Scottish Government ministers to seek the consent of the Crown in relation to certain Bills. You can find out more in About Bills.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
The Bill was introduced on 24 February 2022
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
Before 1 February 2023, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee was called the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee held a call for views to help inform the examination of the Bill.
Submissions were either:
The call for views closed on 13 May 2022
Read a summary of responses to the short survey (5MB, pdf) posted 10 August 2022
The Parliament agreed that consideration of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 would be completed by 30 September 2022.
Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, to the Convener, 6 December 2022
Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform to the Convener, 21 October 2022
Letter from OneKind to the Convener, 5 October 2022
Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform to the Convener, 24 August 2022
Letter from the Law Society of Scotland to the Convener, 13 July 2022
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee published its report on 27 September 2022.
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report
The Committee received the following response to its report:
Letter from the Minister For Environment and Land Reform (615KB, pdf) posted 21 October 2022
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 16 March 2022.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 25 October 2022 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
Result 110 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 25 October 2022
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee held an additional call for views during Stage 2.
The call for views closed on 9 November 2022
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 7 December 2022:
First Marshalled List of amendments at Stage 2 (764KB, pdf) posted 01 December 2022
First Groupings of amendments at Stage 2 (898KB, pdf) posted 01 December 2022
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 14 December 2022:
Second Marshalled List of amendments at Stage 2 (728KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2022
Second Groupings of amendments at Stage 2 (507KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2022
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Letter from the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, to the Convener, 6 December 2022
See a full list of Stage 2 correspondence
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill as amended at Stage 2 (2MB, pdf) posted 14 December 2022
Revised Explanatory Notes (236KB, pdf) posted 20 January 2023
Revised Explanatory Notes (296KB, pdf) posted 19 January 2023
Sometimes an amendment at Stage 2 makes substantial changes to a bill. If this happens, the Accompanying Documents need to be updated to explain what these changes are.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 14 December 2022
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 24 January 2023:
Marshalled List of amendments for Stage 3 (376KB, pdf) posted 18 January 2023
Timed Groupings of amendments for Stage 3 (876KB, pdf) posted 23 January 2023
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
See further details of the motion
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill as passed (563KB, pdf) posted 24 January 2023
Printing changes are changes to the text of a Bill for which amendments are not required. It will not change the legal effect of the Bill.
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: printing changes after the Bill as passed (81KB, pdf) posted 10 February 2023
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 24 January 2023
The Bill was passed on 24 January 2023 and became an Act on 7 March 2023.