Seòmar agus comataidhean

That was quite a long answer, but I think that you are basically telling me that those stocks are monitored separately—

Thank you. I am sorry; being online means that I am at a slight disadvantage. Jon, did you want to come in?

There was some discussion about knowledge of land transfers and about how communities could register their interest in land. What is the panel’s view on making land transfers and sales much more transparent? Should that information be available publicly, so that if a community has an interest, it can register that interest? Should there be an obligation on landowners, including owners of land of community significance, to always do that transparently?

Thank you very much. I have some questions on a theme and then some supplementaries on evidence that was given previously, so bear with me if I appear to be dotting about a wee bit.

First, I will ask about urban land reform. Because of the way that land is defined in the bill, it means that urban land reform cannot really happen under this bill. What are the benefits of extending land reform to urban areas and how could that be done in practice?

Thank you. There was discussion about a public interest test, which seems to fit quite well with this topic. What are the implications of our divergence from that internationally recognised test? What effect could that have on the bill?

Thank you.

Does Jon Hollingdale have anything to add?

I was not going to come in with a question, but it strikes me that some of the folk who might not have been totally happy with the move are those who already produce barn eggs. They will be sitting there, saying, “We are producing eggs in exactly the same way as those who would have normally produced free-range eggs, and they’re getting a premium for their eggs, even though they are all being produced the same way.” Were such concerns expressed?

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s report looked at issues that are common to many industries in rural Scotland, such as the lack of digital infrastructure and housing for staff in the industry. Recommendation 6 asked the Scottish Government to work with enterprise agencies and local authorities to look at how that could be addressed. What progress has been made on that recommendation? What is your experience of digital infrastructure and housing for staff?

Kimberley McKinnell, this question is about the Bakkafrost processing site in Stornoway. We are obviously concerned that it has closed. Can you give us the reasons for that happening? What issues caused the closure, and are they likely to arise in processing more widely? Can we expect more closures?