Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning. Given that organisations such as the Dogs Trust and the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home agree with the idea of registering litters from breeders below the current licensing threshold, perhaps the minister could explain why the Scottish Government disagrees with the need for that.

Shetland Islands Council set out its concerns that

“The lack of capital funding for 2024-25 will reduce the capacity of the Council to support local community infrastructure projects.”

In the previous two years, the council had been able to draw in funding from other agencies such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Historic Environment Scotland. What would you say about that?

Can we move on to discuss future spending plans? Some local authorities expressed surprise and disappointment at the planned reduction in the islands programme. How has that been communicated to stakeholders, and what reassurances can be provided to the six local authorities affected?

Good morning. My question will just expand a bit on the previous one. When the committee heard from North Ayrshire Council, it said that

“any competitive process requires the diversion of resource from other activities”

and direct awards to councils

“would increase efficiency and speed of project delivery”?

In its submission, Shetland Islands Council said:

“Should an Islands Programme budget be made available in the future, Shetland Islands Council would strongly favour a model which removes the need for competitive funding bids, and is instead based on locally developed investment plans which articulate local priorities over the short to medium term.”

Can you respond on those points?

We have come on to the required content of the code. Do you agree with the required content, and should it be specified in the bill? Is anything missing from the prescribed content? Respondents made a number of suggestions for additional things that could be prescribed in the bill, including a microchipping requirement, vaccination needs, providing proper care for a dog and, as Libby Anderson alluded to, the risks of flat-faced breeds. Who wants to kick off with that?

Following on from Rhoda Grant’s questions, I have a question about deer numbers. You said that they have doubled since 1990. However, when I had a conversation with a non-governmental organisation recently, it indicated that the numbers have been relatively stable over the past 20 years. You said that the numbers doubled between 1959 and 1990 and again between 1990 and now. You will appreciate the confusion about understanding the figures. Can you say a bit more about the impression that the numbers have been stable in the past 20 years?

I have listened carefully to the views presented today. I appreciate the need for action to protect biodiversity, and I recognise that there are negative impacts due to overpopulation of deer and that that requires action. I understand the existing licence process to obtain authorisation to shoot deer during the close seasons and that there are arguments that it is sufficient and arguments that it is overly bureaucratic. I am also concerned about the consultation process, or the lack thereof.

I am of the view that the instrument should have full parliamentary scrutiny. So, for that reason, I will support Edward Mountain’s motion, so that the SSI can come before the full Scottish Parliament.

Thank you for the clarification.

At our meeting on 31 May, we heard that the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission had recommended that the sale and use of snares by the public and industry should be banned on animal welfare grounds. Officials indicated that an announcement on the snaring review was imminent. Will the minister update the committee on the timing of that announcement?

Thank you.