Seòmar agus comataidhean

That is what I am getting at.

I am looking at what the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission does. It said:

“We looked at snares generically, but we have also looked at humane or modified cable restraints. The basic operation of the snare is the same whether it is modified or not ... We looked at that and we could not see any fundamental difference between the manner of operating of the conventional type and that of the new type.”—[Official Report, Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, 14 June 2023; c 60.]

I have two questions. First, why do you not simply come out and say, “We will go with the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission”? That is why it was set up.

Secondly, let us say that you try to ban the sale of snares. Have you raised that issue in relation to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 or are you raising it in advance with your UK counterpart? It is a case of not just possession and use but sale. The same issue will arise.

The sentence that follows the table of detailed stats that the Scottish Government provided in the letter to us simply stated:

“Information provided by the National Wildlife Crime Unit shows the land use category most associated with raptor persecution incidents is grouse moors.”

It would be helpful to the committee to expand—perhaps not now but in a further letter—on what that information is and to give us some detail. It would help our understanding of that assertion if that point were expanded on.

Was it? Sorry, I have missed it.

The bill says that an application must be made

“in such manner and form as the Scottish Ministers may require”,

but can I be satisfied that the Scottish Government’s position is that something will have to be included about being compliant with the code, which is not actually in existence just now?

That is okay then. That makes it better.

I give you notice, minister, that I will lodge an amendment if you do not.

Well, you have got it.

If it is sensitive, that is fine. Expanding that would be helpful rather than our just having a letter that makes a reference to “Information provided”. Obviously, you have that information but we do not.

By the way, I should have declared an interest as a member of the SSPCA.