Environment Minister faces questions on snaring policy

Thursday, 19 November 2009 09:44

The Scottish Government Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham MSP is to be called before the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee to answer questions on the Government’s policy on snaring.

At the committee meeting on Tuesday 17 November, Petition 1124, calling on a ban on snaring, was discussed. The Committee has written to the Scottish Government several times calling for clarification in issues regarding snare use but has now agreed the Government had failed to answer many of these questions adequately. Almost two years ago, the Government proposed to regulate snaring more strictly but even that has not happened. The Minister will now be invited to answer questions in person before the Committee.

Libby Anderson, Policy Director of Advocates for Animals said: “As Petitioners we have given the Committee a great deal of evidence of the suffering caused to Scotland’s wild animals, and some domestic animals too, by the continued use of snares in our countryside. This decision shows that the Public Petitions Committee really has studied the arguments and wants clear answers from the Minister regarding the Scottish Government’s continued support for snaring.”

Petition 1124 calls on the Scottish Parliament to pass an Order under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, for a ban on the sale, possession, manufacture and use of all snares in Scotland. It was lodged with the Public Petitions Committee in March 2008 and has almost 11,000 signatures. The petitioners are Advocates for Animals and League Against Cruel Sports, supported by Hessilhead Wildlife Trust, International Otter Survival Fund, Scottish Badgers and the Hare Preservation Trust.

To add your name to the petition, please click here.