Chamber and committees

I turn to the final thing that I want to raise. Thank you for your tolerance, convener—you are well known for it. How bloody condescending of me to say that! I do not want to patronise you. [Laughter.]

It is interesting that the minister mentioned the multiple providers of microchipping information. That has been a bugbear of mine for a long time. Why is it that we have come so far down the road but we do not have a central Scottish register of microchipped puppies, even though that has been promised? If we had that, we could add the registration information that we have been discussing and also whether owners have been issued with dog control notices under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. It seems to me that this area is begging for a joining up of the dots, to use the minister’s favourite phrase.

Will you pursue the creation of a central Scottish database with the minister who is responsible, whether it is the Minister for Victims and Community Safety or another minister? The information is out there. It is just not centralised.

I have one final question, convener—I thank you for your tolerance. Has the minister seen my response to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee regarding the code of practice and any revisions to it?

What about the IMA and the sale of snares?

As, I think, NatureScot pointed out in its evidence to the committee, if the licence renewal is made triennial, say, rather than annual, that would surely reduce the administrative burden on NatureScot and, indeed, on those who apply for licences. Therefore, perhaps that is a good reason, on top of everything else, for the Government to consider at least three-year renewal as the target.

I should be giving evidence.

May I say something? An interim interdict could be heard the next day on cause, if you wish. Am I correct? I do not know, because it is a long time since I was in practice.

I just want to ask a brief question. I have to say that I welcome the idea of protocols, because it seems to me that they might formalise what is already happening. How do the police feel about establishing protocols, or is it still early days? The police have primacy in all those aspects, so what is their reaction?

That is fine, then.

I appreciate that. The main point is that the police are content with the protocols. I take comfort from that.

I understand that.