Freedom of Information Request - Hunting Act 2023 – Review
Date: 09 December 2025
Our ref: SIR182366/A5619388
Information Request – Hunting Act 2023 – Review
Your Request
'[REDACTED] in relation to Hunting with Dogs legislation, and the review of the legislation and the working of the act. (attached). Has this review been completed, and if so please supply me with all relevant documents, correspondence and the review document itself.
If the review has not been completed, please advise when this review will be completed and details made available to the public.'
Our Response
As per our previous response of the 28 August 2024, NatureScot has carried out a review of our approach as to how we manage the licensing process regarding the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 (the Act). NatureScot cannot review the Act itself or the legislation behind the Act, that can only be done by Scottish Government.
The review of our approach to the licensing process is now complete, and the outcome of the review was published on our website on the 1 December - licencing review.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
