Seòmar agus comataidhean

That would absolutely be part of it.

I move,

That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be approved.

Thank you, convener.

The proposed removal of male close seasons will also remove the need for hundreds of out-of-season authorisations to be issued each year to control male deer, saving land managers time and effort and reducing costs to the public purse. It means that land managers who wish to control male deer year round may do so without the administrative burden. No one is obliged to manage male deer in that way if they do not wish to.

The Scottish Government takes animal welfare matters seriously. That is why we commission evidence from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and major animal welfare organisations, which are supportive of this change to the legislation.

I look forward to answering your questions on the matter.

That is correct. Female deer are less likely to be culled out of season, because there are welfare concerns with female deer suckling young.

It is much lower. I would have to work the number back. Fifteen per cent of all deer that are culled are culled out of season, but it is 48 per cent of all culled male deer. I would have to do the maths to get that figure, but only a very small percentage of culled females are culled out of season.

Although no welfare concerns have been identified in the evidence base that we have for culling male deer out of season, there are potential welfare concerns with culling female deer out of season, particularly if they are suckling young, because that could lead to suffering for the young. It can be done, but only under very specific authorisation, and the stalker has to be sure to get both. As I said, it is done a lot less than with male deer.

We can monitor the number of road traffic accidents in Scotland. The SSI is part of a larger package of measures. As we reduce the number of deer in Scotland, the number of collisions with those deer will reduce.

That is correct.

Does one of the officials want to come in on that?

I will bring in my official on that point.

It should be also noted that nations within the EU might diverge on policy on the environment—for example—but the internal market act prevents nations in the UK from diverging in the way that we would have been able to if we were a member of the EU.