- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make black game a protected species as part of the legislation on nature conservation referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer
The draft Nature Conservation Bill outlines proposals to protect lek sites, crucial to the breeding success of capercaillie and black game (grouse). There is currently no intention to give black game (grouse) further protection as part of the legislation referred to.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to undertake a study into the numbers of black game and how best to protect the birds in future.
Answer
A great deal of research on black grouse has been carried out by conservation organisations, informing the recommendations for protection of black grouse in the Species Action Plan.Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), in partnership with other conservation bodies, undertakes national and site-based surveys of a wide range of protected species. I understand from SNH that there will be a national survey of black grouse, to enable further consideration of changes in status and management practices. SNH expect that the survey will be conducted in 2005-06. The last national survey was in 1995-96, when it was estimated that there were 6,510 lekking male black grouse in the UK.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive under what legislation black game is classified as a game bird and whether it has any plans to amend such legislation.
Answer
The black grouse is covered by the Game Acts, which fix a close season between 11 December and 19 August. There are currently no plans to change this legislation.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive why black game is treated differently from capercaillie with regard to the level of protection each species receives.
Answer
Until 2001, both the capercaillie and black grouse species were partially protected by a close season and by controls on hunting methods. However, in 2001, in response to the decline in the capercaillie population to fewer than 1,000 birds in Scotland, capercaillie, were given additional protection by listing the species in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the mating and living habits of black game and what plans it has to protect the bird in future.
Answer
A substantial amount of research has been done on black grouse, much of it reported in scientific journals. I have asked Scottish Natural Heritage to forward a detailed list of references, to the member.As regards protection measures, I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-321 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of (a) the falling numbers of black game and (b) the impact of (i) shooting and (ii) changes in habitat on the numbers of black game.
Answer
A great deal of research on black grouse has been carried out by conservation organisations, informing the recommendations for protection of black grouse in the species action plan.I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) propose to undertake an assessment of the relative impact of deer fencing, habitat change and climate factors, as part of the next national survey and related work. SNH expect the survey to be conducted in 2005-06.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the current levels of water charges are having on the finances of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Answer
No such assessment has been made by the Executive.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a rescue plan in conjunction with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to prevent any closure of the society's animal rescue centres.
Answer
The society has not invited the Executive to become involved in these matters.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA about the impact that any closure of Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals animal rescue centres would have on local authority services and budgets.
Answer
No such discussions have been held.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the work of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and what assessment it has carried out of the potential impact of any closure of the society's animal welfare centres.
Answer
The Executive does not at present provide financial assistance to the society. No such assessment has been carried out.
