Farmers 'must' have access to species control in hunting row

The Scottish Greens claimed the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 was acting as a 'loophole' in the fox hunting ban. But politicians argued the legislation's licensing scheme had enabled farmers to control predators on farmland

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Scottish Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: "Hunting with more than two dogs is licensed in specific circumstances to make sure that farm managers and landowners can protect the livestock and the wildlife in their area."
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Scottish Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: "Hunting with more than two dogs is licensed in specific circumstances to make sure that farm managers and landowners can protect the livestock and the wildlife in their area."

Politicians have clashed over the use of hunting and controlling predators on farmland. Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, has claimed the licensing scheme, introduced under the Hunting...

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