Chamber and committees

To build on that, why does the bill distinguish between environmental purposes and the protection of livestock? Why do environmental benefits have to be part of a scheme? If the bill is all about animal welfare, foxes and other wild mammals will not have a different welfare experience, depending on why they are being culled. Why is there a difference between environmental purposes and livestock protection, when the bill is all about animal welfare? The fox does not know whether it is being culled for killing lambs or being controlled for disturbing ground-nesting birds, so why bother distinguishing between the two?

Our second item of business is consideration of three instruments that are subject to the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3. Do members have any comment on the instruments? Members have no comments.

The next item is consideration of consent notifications on two United Kingdom statutory instruments. I refer members to paper 4 and page 38. Do members have any comments on either notification? Members have no comments.

In relation to the Aquatic Animal Health (Amendment) Regulations 2022, are members content with the proposal to write to the Scottish Government to ask how any disputes will be resolved between the three UK Administrations over amendments to relevant lists, and to highlight to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee the changing role for the Scottish Parliament as a result of that SI?

Members indicated agreement.

Good morning. Welcome to the 22nd meeting in 2022 of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee. I remind everyone using electronic devices to switch them to silent. I welcome Edward Mountain to the committee.

Our first item of business is our concluding evidence session on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I am pleased to welcome to the meeting the Minister for Environment and Land Reform and her Scottish Government officials: Hugh Dignon, head of wildlife and flood management; Leia Fitzgerald, team leader of the wildlife legislation team; and Hazel Reilly, lawyer.

I invite the minister to make some opening remarks.

I will bring in Karen. If your point is not covered, I will bring you back in, Beatrice.

We move on to enforcement, which relates to part 3 of the bill.

Do we agree with the Scottish Government’s decision to consent to the provisions that are set out in the notifications being included in UK rather than Scottish subordinate legislation?

Members indicated agreement.

That concludes our business in public, and we move into private session.

No—I will move to Jenni Minto first, because she has a question.

I beg your pardon, Jenni—do you have a question? I have you down as having a supplementary on this issue. Is that right?

Minister, I am conscious that we have only 15 minutes left. Do you have the flexibility to go over the 90 minutes that have been allocated?