(1)The Scottish Ministers must, for each reporting period, prepare a report on the operation and effect of section 16AA licences.
(2)The report must include an assessment of the conservation status, including population size and range, of the following species—
(a)golden eagle (aquila chrysaetos),
(b)hen harrier (circus cyaneus),
(c)peregrine falcon (falco peregrinus),
(d)merlin (falco columbarius).
(3)The report may include—
(a)the number of licences issued under section 16AA and the area of land affected,
(b)the number of licences that have been, or are, subject to suspension or revocation, the duration of those suspensions or revocations, and the reasons for those suspensions or revocations,
(c)the number and outcomes of any appeals undertaken under section 16AB, and
(d)such other matters as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
(4)As soon as practicable after each reporting period, the Scottish Ministers must lay the report before the Scottish Parliament.
(5)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (2) to add or remove species of birds.
(6)In this section, “reporting period” means—
(a)in relation to the first report, the period of 5 years beginning on the day on which section 16AA comes into force, and
(b)in relation to each subsequent report, the period of 5 years beginning on the day after the expiry of the previous reporting period.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 16AA-16AF inserted (1.7.2024 for the insertion of ss. 16AC and 16AD, 22.7.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 4), ss. 10(2), 35(2) (with s. 30); S.S.I. 2024/168, sch. Pts. 1, 2