Seòmar agus comataidhean

I did have one, but Rachael Hamilton has covered quite a bit of it.

We could probably move on to discuss the licensing scheme. If the bill is passed and the scheme is brought in, how will the Scottish Government monitor the information that NatureScot provides to ensure that the licence is as appropriate as it should be?

Thank you for coming along, minister. Beatrice Wishart has covered most of the questions that I had in this area. However, to follow on from the comments of Karen Adam and Alasdair Allan, we have had some evidence from the RSPB and the Law Society of Scotland about how “non-native species” is defined in the bill. Would you like to comment on that?

Will you expand on your comment about these things being “possible to do” in the 14-day period? Some farmers have said to me that it is a difficult timeframe to work within, so it might be helpful to understand the evidence that you have had to back up the decision to make the period 14 days.

That is great. Thank you.

Thank you for confirming that.

Minister, just for the record, will you explain why the Scottish Government has decided to introduce licensing?

There has been some discussion about the 14-day maximum period for control reasons versus the two years for environmental reasons. You have said that you want arrangements that are correct, workable and practical, but from the perspective of my constituency and other large areas of Scotland, this is all about how small farmers rather than foot packs operate. I would like to hear your thoughts on that, please.

I thank the panel for joining us this morning. I will start my first question with a quote from David Smith, director of screen at Screen Scotland:

“Channel 4 and the BBC are keystones in Scotland’s growing film and television production sector.”

Jo, I think that I remember you from BBC Scotland, so I would be interested in your thoughts on that specifically, perhaps from both a BBC Scotland and a Channel 4 perspective. How do both broadcasters support public service broadcasting in Scotland?

If I understand correctly, you are saying that the level of returns, and the information that will be able to be gathered from the census returns, is a suitable level to allow the decisions that are required to be made on the basis of the census to be made.

That is a useful segue into the independent sector. Nicole Kleeman, you talked clearly about the support that Channel 4 has given you. If you are willing to share, I am interested to hear about the support that you have given the freelancers, the training that you are able to provide and how an independent production company’s business plan works, because we have heard a lot about collaboration and everything being connected, and the fact that you will be pitching ideas to different broadcasters.

I thank the panel for their evidence. As Mark Ruskell said, it has been stark. I turn first to David Smith. You were quoted earlier this year as saying:

“Channel 4 and the BBC are keystones in Scotland’s growing film and TV production sector.”

I think that you used the word “cornerstones” today. You went on:

“Without these public service broadcasters, we would have no independent production sector, and the highly rewarding jobs they create would be lost to us.”

You have touched on that, as has John McVay in his figures. Will you elaborate on that and explain your thoughts on what the change could mean for the independent production sector in Scotland?