{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/deer-scotland-act-1996/section-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/deer-scotland-act-1996/section-1.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/58",
  "legislation_title": "Deer (Scotland) Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/deer-scotland-act-1996",
  "path": "section/1",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "The Deer Commission for Scotland.",
  "text": "(1) Scottish Natural Heritage (in this Act referred to as “SNH”) has the following general aims and purposes in relation to deer—\n(a) in accordance with the provisions of this Act to, further the conservation of deer native to Scotland, the control and sustainable management of deer in Scotland, and keep under review all matters, including their welfare, relating to deer; and\n(b) to exercise such other functions as are conferred on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.\n(1A) In this Act references to SNH 's deer functions are to the functions relating to deer conferred on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.\n(2) It shall be the duty of SNH, in exercising its deer functions, to take such account as may be appropriate in the circumstances of—\n(a) the size and density of the deer population and its impact on the natural heritage;\n(b) the needs of agriculture and forestry; ...\n(c) the interests of owners and occupiers of land.\n(d) the interests of public safety; and\n(e) the need to manage the deer population in urban and peri-urban areas.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(1) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(a); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in s. 1(1)(a) inserted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(b); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(1)(a) substituted (1.1.2012) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 26(2)(a), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/433, art. 2(1)(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Word in s. 1(1)(b) inserted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(c); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 1(1)(b) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(c); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 1(1A) inserted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(3); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Word in Act substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 6; S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 1(2) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(4); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Word in s. 1(2)(b) repealed (1.1.2012) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 26(2)(b)(i), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/433, art. 2(1)(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 1(2)(d)(e) inserted (1.1.2012) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 26(2)(b)(ii), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/433, art. 2(1)(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 1(3)-(7) repealed (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 8(5); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "X",
      "label": "X1",
      "text": "S. 1: sidenote no longer accurate following the amendments made to this Act by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 1, Sch. 1 paras. 5-27"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "substituted",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "substituted",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "word repealed",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/58/section/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:29:29.246415+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}