Chamber and committees

Michael Clancy would like to comment on that point.

We will move our focus to licensing, which is covered by sections 4, 8 and 9 of the bill.

We will move on to questions about NatureScot’s position, starting with Jim Fairlie.

Yes—but briefly, please.

Thank you. It would certainly be helpful to get an idea of the consultation timescale.

We might be able to look forward to something of that order in September. Let us hope that the visit is not delayed any further into the autumn.

Ariane Burgess has a supplementary question on offences. Ariane, please could you also ask your question on exemptions?

I have a quick question before I bring in Alasdair Allan. On many weekends, there are mixed shoots. Farmers invite folk from the rural community, who bring their Labradors, which hunt, retrieve and flush pheasants or whatever to the gun. In such a circumstance, half a dozen or more handlers, if you like, may be out enjoying that day quite legally. The vast majority of country pursuits are still legal.

My question is for William Telford. Given that some organisations want to stop all shooting as a sport, is there any risk on a mixed shoot in which more than two dogs—maybe five or six, with handlers—are used to flush pheasants, that if the dogs flushed a fox or a rabbit, that would give rise to doubt as to whether their pursuit was legal?

That is really concerning, because there are organisations out there that want to stop any sort of sport that involves the killing of an animal, whether that is a pheasant or a rabbit.

From your experience, you will know that, for example, if Labradors or terriers are sent into the rough to raise pheasants, for example, there is a good chance of getting rabbits, which will be shot. Currently, that is legal. Is there a chance that, on every Saturday on which there is a mixed shoot on a farm, an organisation such as the League Against Cruel Sports or OneKind will be on the phone to say that five dogs are in the rough and are hunting without a licence? Is that another difficulty that we will face in the future, as the bill stands?

Is there potential reluctance among big companies to invest because of uncertainty? We have heard that there is a lack of resources not just in planning but in technical expertise, when it comes to our marine environment. We saw that in relation to the Clyde cod boxes, for example. Is that a big constraint, and does it need to be addressed, given the importance of salmon farming to our economy? Should the Government step up to the mark and provide more funding to resource the process better?