Seòmar agus comataidhean

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s call for the closure of unlicensed greyhound racing tracks in Scotland. (S6O-01305)

Thank you. What do the other witnesses think? Garry, do you want to come in?

Okay. Thanks, Laurence. Paul, do you want to comment? [Interruption.] We are struggling to hear Paul.

Laurence, do you want to comment from a Shetland perspective?

I find that surprising, because there were a number of pilots on road equivalent tariff, over a number of years. However, such things are difficult to predict.

Margaret, would you like to comment?

Yes. That is fine. We can hear you.

Obviously, the satellite tagging of raptors is hugely important—not least because it enables us to detect wildlife crime—but the process needs to be robust and transparent and have the confidence of all stakeholders, so I am pleased that we got a submission back from NatureScot identifying that new data-sharing protocols are now in place that perhaps were not in place when the petition was originally submitted. It believes that the data provides important oversight and that tagging is being done competently, professionally and in an open way. Police Scotland is also happy with the protocols that are in place. On that basis, I suggest that we close the petition.

We want to keep an eye on how satellite tagging is progressing in Scotland, so we might want to raise that question with NatureScot when the opportunity next arises.

The petition was very timely. We have seen some progress from the Government in relation to translocations; the first licensed translocations have taken place, which is very welcome. However, there will be on-going issues with the national beaver strategy that need some scrutiny. I suggest that we close the petition but also that we keep one eye on the national beaver strategy. If there is an opportunity to scrutinise that when it is launched, it would be very useful for us to do so, because it will bring up a lot of questions about the management of beavers, including translocations. I think that that is the best way to proceed with the issues that the petition raised.

Joe Reade raised the issue initially. Do you think that RET should go?

We have heard some razor-sharp evidence this morning. It has certainly been educational.

Joe Reade said that there was not really a strategic plan when it came to the introduction of road equivalent tariff. I can see witnesses nodding. How should a strategic plan for road equivalent tariff have been introduced? What would its key features have been? Sam, you were nodding, so I will come to you first.