Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

40 Review of modifications to the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996

(1) The Scottish Ministers must, within 10 years of the day on which this section comes into force, prepare and publish a report on the operation and effectiveness of the provisions of the 1996 Act which are modified by this Part.

(2) The report prepared under subsection (1) must include an assessment of the operation and effectiveness of the provisions of the 1996 Act as modified by this Part against the following objectives—

(a) protecting and restoring the natural heritage and environment,

(b) achieving the aims and purposes of deer management set out by section 1 of the 1996 Act, and

(c) improving standards of welfare for deer.

(3) When preparing the report, the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a) Scottish Natural Heritage, and

(b) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(4) The report prepared under subsection (1) must include—

(a) a statement of any action the Scottish Ministers intend to take, and

(b) where the Scottish Ministers do not intend to take any action, their reasons for not taking action.

(5) The Scottish Ministers must lay the report before the Scottish Parliament and, at the same time, send a copy of the report to a committee of the Parliament whose remit includes matters relating to deer management for the time being appointed by virtue of the standing orders of the Parliament.

(6) In this section—

• “deer” is to be construed in accordance with section 45 of the 1996 Act,

• “natural heritage” is to be construed in accordance with section 45(1) of the 1996 Act.