S4W-16208: National conservation scheme for preservation of wildcats

 To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a national conservation scheme for the preservation of wildcats and, if so, how much this will cost.

Date Lodged: 01/07/13

Answered by Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs Transport (30/07/13):

Scottish Natural Heritage has been coordinating a comprehensive national conservation action plan for Scottish wildcat during the last nine months. This has sought to obtain agreement from a wide range of partners and is due to be published shortly. The conservation action plan will include both in situ and ex situ conservation actions. Full costs for all aspects of the action plan will need to be produced during the project development phase with a view to getting actions in place by the autumn of 2014.