Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Official Report 570KB pdf

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Public Petitions

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Satellite Tags on Raptors (Monitoring) (PE1750)

Item 3 is consideration of three petitions. I refer members to paper 3, which provides background information on each petition and outlines possible options.

PE1750, which was lodged in August 2019 by Alex Hogg, on behalf of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce independent monitoring of satellite tags fitted to raptor species, to assist the police and courts in potential wildlife crime cases and to provide data transparency. As this is the first time that the committee has considered the petition, I highlight the options set out in paragraph 15 of the paper and invite members’ views.

Perhaps I can explore some of the options with regard to the petition. My view is that we should keep it open. We could write to key stakeholders such as NatureScot and Police Scotland for views on the implementation of the new data-sharing protocols in the first year. The predecessor committee kept the petition open on the basis that there were still concerns over the robustness of the data being gathered, and we can explore that with NatureScot and Police Scotland. Our other option is to write to the Scottish Government to ask what action it has taken to address those concerns following the Werritty report on grouse moor management.

Once we get the responses from all of that correspondence, the committee can consider appropriate next steps, including whether to keep the petition open. Do members agree with that suggestion?

Members indicated agreement.

That is fantastic. We will take those actions and follow up with correspondence.

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Protected Beavers (Translocation) (PE1815)

PE1815, which was lodged in August 2020 by Steve Micklewright, on behalf of Trees for Life, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to initiate a programme to translocate protected beavers to suitable habitats outside existing beaver range, to minimise the need to kill animals that are adversely impacting on arable farmland.

The committee first considered the petition a couple of months ago on 30 November 2021. Following that meeting, the committee requested more information from NatureScot and the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to inform our consideration, and we have also received an update from the petitioner.

I invite views from members on how to progress the petition. We should explore the following options. First, we could write to NatureScot and the Scottish Government, seeking further information and clarification on any issue raised in their responses. In particular, the committee could ask NatureScot to respond to the petitioner’s claim that

“NatureScot continue to rely on their argument that, once they have decided to issue a licence, the law does not require them to licence the least harmful activity, such as translocation before lethal control. As far as we know, beavers are the only protected species they treat in this way.”

That is an important point on which we should seek clarification. Do members agree?

Members indicated agreement.

Another option is to write to the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee to ask whether it could address the issue of beaver management in its consideration of new rural support schemes, which it will do in due course in its future work programme. If we agree to that correspondence with the RAINE Committee, we could write in similar terms to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands. Do members agree with that course of action?

Members indicated agreement.

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Island Ferry Services (PE1872)

PE1872, which was lodged in May 2021 by Liz Mcnicol, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to urgently ensure that all islanders have access to reliable ferry services.

As with PE1815, the committee first considered the petition on 30 November 2021. Following that meeting, the committee requested more information from Caledonian MacBrayne and the Minister for Transport. Members will note that, since we last considered the petition, we have received two submissions relevant to it from residents on Tiree and Mull.

I invite views from members. Noting the options set out in paragraph 42 of the paper, I would remind members that we will be discussing our work programme in private after the public part of the meeting. Given that we will be discussing our work programme, I think that the best option is to come back to the petition in the weeks ahead, as the subject matter of the petition might very well be covered in our future work.

I also note that Audit Scotland’s report on ferry procurement is scheduled to be published by the end of this month. If we come back to the petition shortly with the benefit of the Audit Scotland report and an agreed work programme, we will have the best, most current and fullest information with which to consider it and will be able to take a more informed position. Do members agree with that course of action?

Members indicated agreement.

Having dealt with the three petitions, we thank the petitioners for raising these issues with the Scottish Parliament, and I close the public part of the meeting.

11:04 Meeting continued in private until 12:50.