On Wednesday 14th September, Ruth Maguire, SNP
MSP for Cunninghame South, hosted a cross-party event in the Scottish Parliament
on behalf of the League Against Cruel Sports. The event provided an opportunity
for MSPs across the political spectrum to gain insight into illegal fox-hunting in Scotland, shortly
before an independent review of existing fox-hunting legislation is set to
published.
The SNP
group in Westminster made headlines last summer by standing up to the Tory
government’s attempts to relax the ban on fox-hunting in England and Wales,
where currently only two dogs may be used to flush out foxes for pest-control
purposes. This contrasts with Scotland, where an unlimited number of dogs may
be used for the same purpose.
Though the Protection
of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 was intended to ban fox-hunting, there have
been consistent concerns of widespread illegal hunting, with packs of dogs being
used to hunt, and not just to flush. In December 2015, the Scottish Government,
commissioned Lord Bonomy to undertake an independent review of the 2002 Act to
ensure that it is providing the necessary level of protection for foxes and
other wild mammals.
MSPs
including Ruth Maguire (SNP), Maurice Golden (Con), John Finnie (Green), Ash
Denham (SNP), Colin Smyth (Lab), and Emma Harper (SNP), heard speeches from the
League’s CEO, Eduardo Gonçalves and Director for Scotland, Robbie Marland.
MSPs also had
the opportunity to watch footage submitted to the review by the League, which
showed hunts flouting the law, with foxes being chased down by dogs rather than
shot by guns.
Commenting,
Ruth said:
‘It’s safe
to say that there are widespread concerns about fox-hunting, and the Scottish
Government has been both responsive and responsible in commissioning an
evidence based review on this important matter.
I am sure
that all members will consider the evidence submitted and the report carefully,
and work with the League towards strengthening the existing legislation to make
sure that the cruel and barbaric practice of foxes being hunted by dogs has no
place in Scotland.’
Robbie
Marsland, Director of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, stated that:
‘We were
delighted when the Scottish Government agreed to commission an independent
review into foxhunting as we have long been concerned about the effectiveness
of the legislation.
We have been
closely involved with the Lord Bonomy Review and were pleased to be able to
show MSPs some of the footage we have gathered this summer.’
