Chamber and committees

But heather is regenerating for pollinators.

Is it possible to seek clarity without moving a motion to annul? The policy note says that, if Scotland does not choose

“to mirror the rest of the UK”,

that will

“leave Scottish applicants at a disadvantage.”

Why is the NFUS not taking the same view?

Okay. How long have we had this instrument?

I have a question for the RSPB and Dr Hinchcliffe. There was mention of forestry and peat depth earlier. In relation to emissions, there has been a huge issue around forestry being planted on peatland. If we are talking about climate change and carbon sequestration in relation to regeneration of habitat and species recovery, there is much quicker recovery and more carbon sequestration from the use of muirburn than there ever will be from forestry. I speak with the Woodland Trust, which is concerned about the issue, and people in the south-west talk about emissions and the impacts of planting forestry on peatland, whether it is to 30cm or another depth.

There is almost an argument going on here about climate change and biodiversity, but I think that both go hand in hand. From what I am hearing and from what I saw on Monday, it appears that muirburn is not only creating habitat but sequestering carbon, but that does not seem to be RSPB Scotland’s position.

Secondly, on Bruce Farquharson’s point, would the wildfire that was mentioned have had less of an impact had muirburn been practised in those areas?

Mr Lynn, you made an interesting point about badgers. What evidence does Police Scotland have to suggest that anyone who operates a grouse moor is culpable of the persecution of badgers? Is that included in the raptor persecution data?

Do you not agree that it is related?

Yes, I know all that, having worked in the countryside and campaigned to protect against ticks to stop the spread of Lyme disease. The key point for the committee to understand is the evidential basis. You are implying that there is a link between badger persecution and grouse moors. Is that correct?

Jamie Whittle, in your opinion, would lowering the standard of proof violate any articles under the European convention on human rights?

Just for the record, Ian, what kind of trap was it you were talking about, and when did the incident happen? On our visit to the grouse moor on Monday, we were told that if a trap had been tampered with, the sort of incident that you have described with the gull could happen. That could happen with some older traps, such as Fenn traps, but it cannot happen any more. All the gamekeepers were licensed to work the traps; they showed us how they worked, and it was clear that a non-target species would not be able to enter such a trap.

Just for the purposes of the Official Report, when was that?