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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 27 November 2024
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Displaying 1909 contributions

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Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Can I press you on the licensing scheme, Professor Reid? I was on the committee that looked at the review originally, back in the day. I have read through the papers and I note that you said:

“We want to see a licensing scheme that is more flexible and responsive than a black-and-white scheme whereby you have to apply every year to get a licence.”—[Official Report, Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, 21 January 2020; c 12.]

However, proposed new section 16AA(5)(b) of the 1981 act provides that licences may be granted for a maximum of one year. Would the scheme be improved if licences were granted for a longer period?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Professor Reid explained the situation pretty well, but I want to get some clarity on the suspension of licences. The bill includes proposed powers for NatureScot to suspend licences even if it is not satisfied, in relation to the civil burden of proof, that an offence has been committed. Of course, there would be an official investigation relating to the person who had been accused of committing an offence. What are your observations on proposed new section 16AA, if you have had an opportunity to look at it? Do the proposals contain a lower evidential bar to suspension than was envisaged in the Werritty report?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

In a previous session, stakeholders said that an appeal could take a long time—up to a year. With regard to your vision of how the legislation should be shaped, should sheriffs have a discretionary power to decide that a penalty imposed by NatureScot should have no effect, pending determination of an appeal?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Do you think that an investigation should be triggered by a vexatious allegation?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

There is a piece on training—

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

I do not have a question just now, convener.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Professor Newton, you have described the habitat benefits of muirburn. With regard to the questions that Alasdair Allan and the convener have asked and the issues of peat depth and cool burning, should there be a single licensing scheme rather than two schemes, one for peat depth under 40cm and the other for peat depth over 40cm?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Alex Hogg wants to come in.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Who?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 June 2023

Rachael Hamilton

Do people sit on the hills?