The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 585 contributions
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
I have a question about enforcement—I will be guided by the convener if he feels that it does not fit here.
We have discussed the enforcement of the section 6 exception relating to no more than two dogs being used for sporting activity, and we have been talking today about rough shooting and how it might be difficult to ascertain which dogs were used, who was using them and so on.
If that limit was removed, would there not be enforcement issues, because activities would take place with more than two dogs? Would there not be issues around enforcing the limit in non-sporting areas, such as mounted hunts? Would there not be confusion?
I guess that what I am getting at is that, although we have heard that there are enforcement issues relating to the limit in this instance, if it was not there, would there not be other enforcement issues?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
I am a Labour Party list MSP for the North East Scotland region.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
Alex Hogg talked about the different breeds of dog that are used in different activities to flush different kinds of prey. Are foxes ever flushed on a rough shoot?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
Yes, although I think that there is still some confusion.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
Mr Ewing did say that he would consider reducing the shoot to only two dogs due to fears about vexatious accusations.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
I just wanted to establish, which I think we have, whether some form of enjoyment and killing could take place, and it sounds like it could.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
Does it follow that the absence of hounds does not necessarily rule out foxes having been flushed and killed in that activity?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
On that point, do we have any data on the proportion of rural residents who take part in rough shooting?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
In what way will having only two dogs prevent enjoyment?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Mercedes Villalba
Yes.