Freedom of Information Request - Schedule 2 Review Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Date: 19 January 2026
Our ref: SIR182824/A5658304
Information Request – Schedule 2 Review Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Your Request
1. The date on which NatureScot completed its report into its review of Schedule 2 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Schedule’s list of species which can be hunted, prior to its submission to the Scottish Government.
2. The date on which NatureScot submitted to the Scottish Government its report on the review specified in item 1.
3. Details of all individuals and organisations NatureScot consulted with (formally and informally) during its review and the preparation of the report specified in item 1.
Our Response
I have discussed your request with our Wildlife Management Team, and they have provided the following information.
Q1 – We completed our report on the 3 April 2025, the list of species
Q2 – It was submitted to the Scottish Government on the same day that the report was finalised in NatureScot – 3 April 2025
Q3 – As part of the review we did consult the following:
Natural England
RSPB
BASC
GWCT
NRW
There may have been other organisations where the review was discussed but these have not been recorded.
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
