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I see from the chat box that David MacKenzie wants to come in as well.

As the convener said, my questions are about restrictions on the use and supply of fireworks. The bill introduces various restrictions on the days and times when fireworks can be sold and used. The committee has had some concerns about that and we are looking for a wee bit more information that might alleviate those concerns. Are the witnesses content with the proposed restrictions? Do they strike an appropriate balance between allowing people to enjoy fireworks and reducing their misuse?

I am glad to hear that. However, if the Parliament picks certain dates, might that open up the bill to criticism relating to other religious festivals or dates that might become important in the future? That is what the committee is grappling with. The more that I speak to witnesses on the issue, the more content I am becoming with the provision in the bill, because it seems to have widespread support from stakeholders. However, the committee is grappling with the question of whether it is best not to have any dates at all, and not to go into that minefield of picking the most important dates, because the relevant dates will be different for different people.

Alternatively, as I asked in my previous question, do we need more flexibility for local authorities so that they can judge local need? I know that I have already asked that, but I just wanted to set out where I am coming from with my questions, and where I think other committee members are coming from. Convener, I am well aware of the time and that that was more of a point than a question, so I am happy to pass back to you.

That is one of the key benefits. I fully understand why certain days have been put in the bill. Not only will it allow emergency services to prepare but, as we heard quite articulately from the previous panel of witnesses, it will allow pet owners, for example, to prepare not to be in the area or to seek alternatives; medication and suchlike were mentioned.

My worry, which I know that other members share, is that, by specifying dates, you go into an arena of not specifying other dates such as other religious festivals or other events that might be important to people. I want to work out whether there is any way in which we can improve that aspect of the bill or ensure that it is not open to some sort of challenge in the future—that is our job.

Rob, have you got any thoughts on the specified dates? How would that aspect impact on the people that you work with?

Good morning. I am afraid that I, too, have been damp squibbed—if there is such a term—by Jamie Greene, but I will pick up on the line of questioning about the dates that have been specified. I have some concerns that, as other members have said, those could be open to challenge. I would like to be reassured that there is not something more that we could do to help with the intent of that bit of the bill as we move through the legislative process.

I know that local authorities are able to have organised displays and the like, but do you think that there is an argument for them to have more power to set specific dates for their area? All three of the previous speakers have asked about this issue. There are other religious events during the year, and there are also one-off events that might be important to people. Do you have any thoughts on whether local authorities could have an application scheme, for example?

No, I am happy with that, convener. The previous questioners covered the main thrust of what I was going to ask about.

Good morning to the witnesses. You might have heard some of the questions on this area during the earlier evidence session. Quite a few of us had questions about the specific restrictions that are proposed in the bill around the limit on days and times when fireworks can be sold and used. What do you think of those restrictions and do you have any concerns about the legislation specifying certain days?

Okay, thanks. I am happy to leave it there. Those have been two really good answers about those particular restrictions and it is good to have them on the record.

My questions follow on quite well from those that Rona Mackay and Katy Clark asked, so I run the risk of repeating what has been said or of asking the witnesses to repeat themselves.

Like other members round the table, I was involved in the bill that became the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019, which has been mentioned. That was before the pandemic, when we had no idea about the existence of Covid. Scotland was very much on a route—rightly or wrongly; I believe that it was right—to ensure that vulnerable witnesses did not need to go into a court set-up, given the trauma that they could experience. The pandemic then came. As Katy Clark articulated, we all felt that there would be more such trials, so the statistics are perhaps a wee bit surprising, given the opportunities that the pandemic allowed for.

All that said, I note that the bill asks us to allow some of the provisions to continue in order to speed up the process of vulnerable witnesses being able to give their evidence out of court. Will the bill as drafted allow you to continue to take steps, which began with the 2019 act and other processes that were already in place, to ensure that vulnerable witnesses in the most difficult of cases do not need to appear in court?

I am hearing good levels of support from both of you, but is the bill required? You have both identified that other processes are in place. Is the bill required to make the transition easier and give you more tools in order to get to the point where we want to be?