Freedom of Information Request - Licences
Date: 04 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178627/A4980073
Information Request – Licences
Your Request
Under FOI can you please advise how many licences to control a species for the purpose of conserving wild birds (or other species) have been applied for approved & issued or refused in the past 3 years?
Our Response
We have taken your query of ‘licences to control a species’ to mean licences that cover lethal control only. If you are interested in licences that include trapping and moving individuals, please get in touch and we can supply this.
From 1st January 2022 to 16 January 2025, the number of licences applied for, approved & issued, or refused are listed below:
• eight new licences issued
• eleven licences amended/ renewed
• one licence refused
• one licence frozen
• two licences are currently being assessed for the purpose of conserving wild birds, conserving any area of natural habitat, or conservation.
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
