Chamber and committees

I am just trying to work this out. For a general licence, the person must still prove that they have looked at all other solutions of dispatch or predator control—whatever you want to call it. What are the solutions for controlling foxes—obviously, there is a high number of them in Scotland—that farmers could use other than a gun?

But it is part of the bill. Jenni Minto just asked about it.

Unless, of course, the fox is injured. The Government is advocating lamping, which in terms of welfare is relevant only in three seasons, where there is a proper site outwith vegetation and cover—and there is a lot of vegetation and cover in upland areas.

What about if the dog is acting in its natural state? Evolution has taken us to the domestication of pets, and dogs are obviously bred in that sense, but they have a natural instinct. What would happen in a court of law?

Do you want me to ask my actual question, convener?

Are you worried about the intention to sort out hare coursing in a bill that is called “Hunting with Dogs” instead of looking at the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981?

However, on its website, NatureScot does not even suggest how to control foxes.

Okay. I know that I am going on, but I just want to make this point. To deal with the issue of hare coursing—for which there are not many prosecutions in Scotland whatsoever—we are rolling it into this bill. We are also bringing in rabbits, which are killed as an effective measure for protecting livestock and to be used for the pot. I just think that that is really strange and that we need more clarification on it—although not now, because we do not have time.

Therefore, to go back to Jim Fairlie’s earlier point, farmers will be able to apply for licences all year round, whether they are lambing or not.

On that specific point, where does it say that a deprivation order could be given against, for example, a hare courser who had used a car or a motorbike to drive from somewhere such as Newcastle? Is that covered? I would like that to be clear. I am looking at page 16 of the bill.