GROUSE shooting and its value to rural communities has been clearly recognised by both Scottish and UK governments despite attempts to undermine the industry, according to the Scottish Moorland Group .
Responding to evidence given to the environment, food and rural affairs committee at Westminster this week on a petition raised in an attempt to ban driven grouse shooting in England and Wales, director of the Scottish Moorland Group, Tim Baynes said: “We very much welcome the positions stated recently by both the UK and Scottish Governments which support the continuation of grouse shooting. 
“Grouse shooting is a vital sector in Scotland’s rural economy, directly supporting more than 500 jobs in our countryside and also helping to sustain employment in a range of other professions and the suggestions we heard today from those advocating a ban that shooting causes an ‘economic deficit’ are absurd. Rather than talk of bans or licensing, the focus must be on delivering collaboration that can see harriers and other species continue side by side with moorland management.”