Seòmar agus comataidhean

You do not think that that is overkill. Oh—I should not have used that expression. I should have said, “You do not think that that is over the top.”

What is the status of a code of practice in court proceedings?

It is just something to have regard to. It is persuasive rather than determinative.

If someone did not comply regularly with such recommendations and did not take such advice, it could lead to a determination being made with regard to their licence.

It must seem a bit odd to the public that, in the example—which I have not seen—of one suffering animal and one dead animal beside each other, the SSPCA can be involved with one case but not with the other.

So, they are actual live proceedings in that somebody has been served with a charge.

He is wise! That is not very like a politician.

Do you agree that we did things wrong in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, when large swathes of Galloway, for instance, were planted in Sitka spruce? That was not good for the environment. There was a sort of boundary of native trees to conceal them, but it was really just a great big harvesting crop. I hope that those days have gone. Do you agree?

That alerts the committee to the fact that it might require to take evidence on that matter at stage 2, because that would represent a substantive addition to the bill.

It is just on a point of process, rather than a substantive issue. I take it that the bill is already drafted and ready to go.