Chamber and committees

Our papers state that the Scottish Government consultation threw up some issues around the extension of the powers of the SSPCA. It says that there was

“potential conflict between the SSPCA’s campaigning position, on issues such as snaring, and the use of powers to investigate incidents associated with those issues; and perceived lack of accountability for decisions made by charities ... in comparison to police forces”.

Do you share those concerns?

It is up to the Government to decide what the impact assessment would be. For example, there is evidence that ground-nesting birds might be affected by the proposed Government use of a humane cable restraint. That has already been covered in terms of biodiversity and conservation. We also need to consider how many predators are being captured and how efficient those possibilities are. We need to look at the comparison between each one.

I totally agree, but I have to press the matter. The GWCT found in its work that no fox had been trapped over a number of years, so how will jobs be created? Surely jobs will be lost. You said that jobs will be created.

Are you concerned that the two parties might not come to an agreement on the protocols?

What monitoring will you do to ensure that the concerns that were thrown up in the consultation—

No, I do not have a supplementary on that.

That does not make sense to me because, if predators cannot be controlled, jobs will be lost.

I appreciate that.

I ask you again whether you believe that live-capture traps are effective. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust worked on the issue over a number of recent years. It set traps across estates and no foxes were captured. Do you believe, after your many conversations with gamekeepers, that the Government’s proposals will remove some of the last tools in the box?

You are absolutely right, because the police said that there could be a tendency for the SSPCA to commence investigations. It is about that grey area around what would constitute a reason to suspend a licence.