Chamber and committees

The minister has answered the questions, but it looks as though operators will need two types of equipment to do what the SSI requires. Investment in equipment will be required, and that money will need to come out of the budget. I have spoken to people who say that it will cost them, on average, £10,000 to get equipment that is up to standard. Hugh Dignon is shaking his head, but I have heard from stakeholders who say that.

The minister has said that changes will need to be made to best practice and to the fit and competent test for night shooting authorisations for the welfare of the operator. We are being expected to pass the SSI when we have no answer to those questions. It is just like what has happened with other pieces of legislation that have passed responsibility for codes of practice to NatureScot. Committee members are being expected to be mind readers and to know what will be in the fit and competent test so that the welfare of operators can be upheld.

I think that the figure you quoted was that 17 per cent of culled deer are culled at night.

Okay. Going back to basics, is it the male or female cull that reduces deer numbers?

FLS will not have to submit them at all, but even if it did, they would not be turned down, so what is the problem?

That is fine.

Okay. So, NatureScot will have oversight of anything that is attached to certain circumstances, such as, as Kate Forbes described, the age of a culled male deer?

That is helpful.

You will be aware of the new product amidosulfuron. What work is the Government doing to establish a new approach to control? Obviously, mechanical control on steep banking is not safe.

It is very difficult to suck up the argument that only in some circumstances is it important to control ticks, because they can be a public health issue for walkers, ramblers and others enjoying the countryside due to the risk of Lyme disease. We know that ticks carrying Lyme disease are more prevalent in Scotland than in the rest of the UK, which is really important, but people seem to be picking and choosing when controlling ticks or Lyme disease is important. I am referring to the previous discussion about deer. It is important that we take a consistent approach. I make that comment.

Does the Scottish Government have evidence that targeting males all year round will control the deer population?

So, how will the order cut red tape for the likes of FLS?

On the basis that land managers have raised concerns with—I presume—all of us in this room with regard to the point that Kate Forbes made, do you believe that if land managers observe the close season, the Scottish Government will achieve the reduction in population numbers that it expects?