Chamber and committees

Although I wish that we were not in this position, minister, I think that you are confirming that, even if the Scottish Government’s policy was to have further exemptions, that would require primary legislation, so it would not be possible using the secondary legislation mechanism anyway.

I imagine that, if a suitable legislative vehicle was going through the Parliament, there could be a relatively simple bolt-on to that, with provisions allowing exemptions to be reviewed under secondary legislation. If such a vehicle was to come through the Parliament, would the Scottish Government consider adopting that approach?

Compensation is available to XL bully dog owners, but there is a cut-off or deadline of 30 September, I think. If an XL bully dog owner was not able to look after their dog for any reason after that point but had complied with the legislation and had the exemption form, should they not be entitled to compensation after that date?

I have some specific questions, but I do not want to cut across Ms Grahame.

If there is an opportunity, I will ask a question.

Thank you. I formally apologise to everyone for being late to the committee because of family circumstances. I also apologise if there is a degree of duplication because I missed something. I hope that there is not.

I want to ask about exemptions. If I have understood it correctly, there are some exemptions in the statutory instrument. If someone passes away, a certificate of exemption can be transferred under certain circumstances, and there is still a rehoming exemption for puppies up to 31 July. Therefore, the Government has conceded that there are certain circumstances in which exemptions can be brought in.

The minister and I had a constructive meeting, even if it was not ultimately fruitful for me. I ask her to put on record why she believes that it is not possible to have an exemption for someone who moves house through no fault of their own to a place that is restrictive as to whether they can have any pet or any dog whatsoever. That is not even specific to XL bullies. That person cannot gift or transfer a certificate of exemption to another individual, which I think is pretty unfair. What is the Government’s position on that?

Would that be both in the short term and the long term?

Theoretically, if someone has their exemption certificate and has to give up their dog in October for whatever reason, through no fault of their own, they would not qualify for compensation as things stand, but the Government is perhaps open minded about reviewing that.

Therefore, although the trend is upwards, it is all still at a relatively modest level.

I do not wish to make things more complicated than they have to be. I think that what I am hearing from you is that some of the yield will be in, for example, year 5, year 10, year 15 , year 20 and so on, and that those investing can take some of that yield now by selling PIUs on to others, which will allow them to do some of the work that must be done. This might be overly simplistic, but are PIUs a way of getting money out in the early years for gains that will come in future years? Have I got that bit right?