Chamber and committees

A report commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2006 indicated that a minimum of 24,529 mountain hares are controlled annually (mainly by shooting) on Scottish estates. This represents 7% of the 1995 published Scottish population estimate of 350,000. However, the population estimate is subject to error, and so accounting for this uncertainty, the reported level of cull would lie in the range of 3.5 to 14% of the total population. Scottish Natural Heritage are planning to undertake further studies to determine the population level either later in the current year or in the next financial year.

The National Gamebag Census data for mountain hare compiled by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust shows no significant trend in the data between 1961 and 2009, despite marked cyclical fluctuations which are known to exist in around half of mountain hare populations.

The Scottish government has not issued guidance on the sustainable culling of the mountain hare as the only published information on the population level of the species is an estimate of 350,000 which dates from 1995 and is subject to a 50% margin of error. Further studies are therefore required to determine the population level and to provide a more accurate assessment of the number of mountain hares in Scotland; and Scottish Natural Heritage are planning to carry these out either later in the current or in the next financial year.

There is no current evidence of non-compliance with the mountain hare closed season. To date, there have, therefore, been no prosecutions for non-compliance, and there have been 10 licence applications to date for shooting hares during the closed season.

A report commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2006 on the control of mountain hares on Scottish estates, indicated that 73% of mountain hares that were controlled (24 529 in total that year) were killed by being shot. Among those that were shot, 32% of mountain hares were shot for the purposes of tick control to prevent the spread of disease. A further 41% were shot for sporting purposes through a combination of informal and commercial shooting. The remaining 27% were snared for the purposes of tick control, or for the protection of crops, or forests.

The scientific evidence on this subject was reviewed in a 2009 paper in the Journal of Applied Ecology "Culling wildlife hosts to control disease: mountain hares, red grouse and louping ill virus" by A Harrison et al. The authors concluded that there is no compelling evidence to suggest culling mountain hares might increase red grouse densities.

As there has been no evidence of non-compliance in respect of the mountain hare closed season, the Scottish Government has no plans at present to introduce further regulation on this subject. However, the Scottish Government remains vigilant regarding all forms of wildlife crime and should action prove necessary we will not hesitate to do so.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government and other devolved administrations as we pursue a shared goal of improving air quality. We are committed to improving air quality across Scotland and have seen significant reductions in pollution emissions over recent decades through tighter industrial regulation, improved fuel quality, cleaner vehicles and an increased focus on sustainable transport.

Together with the other UK administrations we have produced the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which sets out our air quality policy framework and vision to 2050. In addition, Scotland's National Transport Strategy includes amongst its three strategic outcomes a commitment to improve air quality.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with Transport Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and others is working on a range of measures to ensure full compliance as soon as possible. These measures are set out in detail in the UK's application to the Commission for a time extension on nitrogen dioxide limit values.

The whole of Scotland is expected to comply with these limit values by 2015, based on a combination of current and planned measures, with the exception of one road stretch, the missing link of the M8 between Newhouse and Baillieston to the east of Glasgow. Within the Glasgow city area, there are expected to be no exceedences of the Limit Values by 2015. This road is due to be upgraded to motorway, with Transport Scotland estimating completion in 2017-18. Once the upgrade is complete, emissions along this road will also comply with the limit values.

We are meeting both domestic and European air quality targets across most of Scotland, although there are still localised hotspots of poorer air quality in a number of urban areas. We recognise that we must build on achievements to date and continue to take action to improve air quality. Where appropriate local authorities have developed local air quality management areas to address localised issues and are required to submit and annual report on progress to the Scottish Government.

Financial support from the Scottish Government is available to councils across Scotland to support air quality monitoring and specific actions to support these plans.

Fife Council has received financial and practical support from the Scottish Government to help develop and implement the air quality action plan in the Cupar Air Quality Management Area. We will continue to liaise closely with the council as this work progresses.