Mr Iain Lawrie
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Our Ref: SIR140494/A1918205
12 April 2016
Dear Mr Lawrie
Information Request – Hare Licences
Thank you for your information request, which we received on 14 March. We have
considered your request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004
(‘the EIRs’).
You asked for a list of all the licenses applied for and those granted for the killing of mountain
hares and brown hares, and a list of returns with the relevant return information as indicated
on this licensing page, http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/species-
licensing/mammal-licensing/hares-and-licensing/.
We have carried out a detailed search of the information we hold and I have attached a list of
all the hare licences applications received by SNH since 2012. This includes details of
licences issued, along with licence return information. Please note that if a licence holder
does not submit a licence return as required, we will not issue a new licence to them.
We did not issue any hare licences before 2012. SNH took over responsibility for issuing hare
licences in July 2011; before then licences were issued by Scottish Government.
We have not provided some details about the licences and licence applications because some
of the information is personal data and its release would breach the Data Protection Act 1998.
We have therefore removed the contact names from the list and we have applied EIRs
Regulation 11(2) (Personal data) to this information.
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 have to 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.
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,
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=5487&sID=5024.
Scottish Natural Heritage, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW
Tel 01738 444177 Fax 01738 458611 www.snh.org.uk
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 at Battleby,
Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at xxx@xxx.xxx.xx, explaining your concerns. Our
Director of Policy and Advice, Andrew Bachell or his nominated delegate will carry out a
review of our response and provide an outcome within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information
Commissioner. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/
Yours sincerely
Rhoda Davidson
Rhoda Davidson
Information Officer
xxx@xxx.xxx.xx
2
A1918205