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Presumably, you work with other bodies across Europe that represent landowners.

Do you have evidence of how the courts have seen private property rights as having been diminished as a result of regulation across Europe? That would be of interest, because the evidence that we have is that Scotland is an anomaly because it is the least regulated.

Gemma, do you want to come in on this?

So there are no other farming unions across Europe that have successfully challenged regulation on the basis of private property rights?

I was just drawing on your comments at the beginning of the session, when you seemed to imply that you were leaning towards larger landowners, but maybe not.

It is becoming clear that the way in which land is defined through the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 has severely compromised the most important legal deterrent to wildlife crime that we have. Will the cabinet secretary discuss the issue with other Cabinet colleagues, with a view to introducing an amendment to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to close the vast loophole that now exists? The illegal persecution of birds of prey clearly must end.

It is clear that libraries are about much more than borrowing books. When I met the community in Scone on Saturday, I heard moving testimony from local people who have been impacted by the closures. The closure of Scone library would result in the loss of services in their community for young people with additional support needs, vulnerable families and older people with dementia.

What further support can the Government give to councils that are struggling with financial decisions? Could part of the mix be a tourism levy to support culture and library facilities across Scotland?

Clearly, everything that we are talking about comes from EU law, which we have implemented into our own law. However, EU law does not stand still. What engagement will there be with the European Commission on the changes to environmental assessment? As the years go by, refinements will be made—for example, there are now enhanced commitments on nature at a European level. I am interested in what that conversation looks like. I understand why we have been focusing on the discussions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, but the origin of what we are talking about is in European law, which is why I am interested in what the engagement with Europe will look like in future in relation to alignment and reform.

Is it the view of the Scottish Government that the adoption of this kind of simpler environmental outcomes report regime knocks us out of alignment with the European Union, or is it too early to tell that at the moment?

Thanks. My last question is on strategic environmental assessment, which relates to plans and programmes. I know that, in its second session, the Parliament passed an act to establish SEA, on the back of EU directives. If EORs are adopted, will SEA continue to apply to plans and programmes in relation to energy developments under sections 36 and 37 of the 1989 act? If we are looking at a programme of offshore wind development, will the whole plan of multiple developments remain subject to SEA?

So, there remains consistency across the UK for the strategic assessment of plans and programmes, regardless of where the constitutional boundaries are drawn.