Here is an exchange in the Scottish Paliament yesterday – quite useful. Thank you to John Mason MSP (GLasgow Shetleston, SNP) for asking and to Mairi Gougeon for an encouraging answer.
John Mason: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the persecution of raptors.
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Mairi Gougeon): Tackling wildlife crime and ending the senseless killing of our birds of prey is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government. The recently passed Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 increases the maximum penalties for the most serious wildlife crimes, including the illegal killing of birds of prey and the possession of banned pesticides, to five years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Police Scotland has also been given more time to investigate such offences, which I know can be a key issue. The action that we have taken through the 2020 act reflects the seriousness of such crimes and how we view them in Scotland. They are an absolute affront to the people here, and we remain committed to consigning such crime to history.
John Mason: Does the minister share my support for hen harrier day, which was on 8 August? Does she share my concern that the population of hen harriers across the United Kingdom appears to have fallen by 24 per cent since 2004, that 72 per cent of satellite-tagged hen harriers seem to have been killed on grouse moors and that hen harriers are 10 times more likely to die or disappear over grouse moors than they are in other locations?
Mairi Gougeon: John Mason might be aware that I am the species champion for hen harriers, so I absolutely support hen harrier day. Like him, I am appalled to see their continued persecution. Mr Mason will be aware that we commissioned the Werritty review on grouse moor management. The First Minister has said that our consideration of that report will involve looking at licensing of grouse moors. If we were to go down that route, the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform have stated that it is likely that we would move faster than the five-year period that has been suggested. I want to make it absolutely clear to anyone who has carried out, or is contemplating carrying out, such despicable crimes against our birds of prey that we are watching and paying attention. Any criminal acts that are carried out now will be taken into account if and when we consider any licensing decisions in the future.
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I have been asked if we will be inviting Mairi Gougeon to a Hen Harrier Day next year. Of course we will (she has joined one in the past). Will she accept? I very much hope so. That is probably more likely if she has anything of substance to say. Ministers are good – too good – at saying it is all in hand. But if the Scottish government is still paralysed on this next year…
‘Any criminal acts that are carried out now will be taken into account if and when we consider any licensing decisions in the future.’
In other words, crimes of the past will be wiped off the slate completely and from today onwards, will only count if they decide to consider licensing. What a shower.
Paul – I don’t think that is what is meant.