All groups involved have taken part in intensive campaigning now for many years on this issue. The League and Advocates campaigned in 2003 for a complete ban during the passage of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill. When these amendments failed in Committee, the organisations lobbied for a consultation to be issued examining the future of the use of snares in Scotland. During this time a postcard campaign and petition to Ross Finnie, the then Environment Minister was launched.
Two and a half years after the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 passed through the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive issued a consultation. This closed in February 2007. The principal petitioners responded calling for a ban. (Full consultation responses are attached) Since then several MSPs, including Sarah Boyack, Elaine Murray, Kenneth Gibson and Irene Oldfather, have put down Parliamentary Questions asking when a decision on this issue will be made. Ministers have been made aware of our concern that snaring continues, with the inevitable consequence that animals continue to suffer.