Chamber and committees

Can the cabinet secretary give us a bit more information about what the programme for government means when it says that the Scottish Government will

“Review the wider species licensing system”?

We know about the grouse moor licensing and other licensing that you are likely to bring in, but do you have any detail on what it means when you refer to “wider species” in the programme for government?

Today was about this committee trying to take forward a work plan agenda. You mentioned that the Parliamentary Bureau would be responsible for designating which cabinet secretary and which civil service team would be taking bills forward. The programme for government has already delayed things by a week. Do you know when the bureau might be looking at this? Surely it is something that you would like to know as well.

Thank you.

On the proposed fox control bill, considering your role as cabinet secretary in supporting the wider rural economy, the countryside and the people who work there, what role will you play to ensure that the people who work in rural areas can support and protect their livestock and livelihoods? How will you be part of that process, given that you said that Màiri McAllan will lead on that bill?

Okay. I think that we will work out where it lies in terms of scrutiny and the joint responsibility between the two committees.

My final question is not about animal welfare; it is about future farm policy. How will the current Scottish tenancy legislation fit in with the conditionality of public money for public goods? How will you get involved in forming future land reform that has an effect on Scottish tenants who might be breaching rules of husbandry where agricultural production is of paramount importance in their role as tenants?

Will you give us a list of which bills you will be taking forward?

You will be aware that the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, with the support of rural workers, is calling for the formation of a task group to consider the findings of Scottish Government research in that area. Why is that not in the programme for government? Is the Government considering progressing the issue?

I do not know about other committee members, but it might be helpful if, at a later stage, we heard about why that legislation would fall into another portfolio, particularly when it is about control of a pest to protect livestock, which is under your remit. However, I will move on.

Is there a plan to update Forestry and Land Scotland’s powers for controlling the deer population and in relation to the welfare of pregnant female hinds as we move to planting more trees across Scotland?

How soon can we expect grouse licensing and the modernisation of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996? Who will be responsible for progressing that? Which committee will scrutinise the licensing aspects?