Seòmar agus comataidhean

We will be covering the two-dog question shortly. Would any other changes to sections 1 and 2 improve the bill?

Thank you.

The subject is quite complicated, is it not? I am wondering why the frequency rate for checks has been set at 30 per cent rather than at one of the standardised rates, which were 3, 5, 10, 50 and 100 per cent. In addition, can you give some examples of any woody plants that are prohibited from coming into the country and are subject to these checks that may affect agriculture?

Thank you. Can I ask the same question of Dr Goddard?

Okay. I will bring in Mr Marsland. First, I will expand the question to incorporate the fact that the licence is almost broken down into two parts: predator control and environmental benefit, which includes ensuring that we increase biodiversity and numbers in wading bird species. We have heard loads of evidence about how the RSPB, for example, controls predators—hundreds of foxes per annum—in order to do that. What are your views on licensing and how it could be practical and workable?

What do your field investigators do? Do they follow all types of predation control in Scotland, including foot packs and so on?

I will go back to the review, because that is the interesting part here. Did you observe foot packs and quad bike packs?

Chief Superintendent Flynn, you make an interesting point about the livestock worrying legislation that we passed in the Parliament. How many people have been charged with that offence? Moreover, can you give us any detail on whether anyone charged with hare coursing has got away with using rabbits as a defence? How many prosecutions for hare coursing are there in Scotland per annum?

Do you therefore believe that domestic offences are different from commercial livestock control offences? How would you define the difference between those offences, given what you have just said?

Good morning, Lord Bonomy. You have already touched on this point, but my questions are about the revised language in sections 1 and 2 of the bill, which relate to offences and exceptions—I probably do not have to jog your memory. Could you give your views on use of the word “deliberately” and on the definition of a wild mammal? You said that you feel that the legislation has been improved. Based on the evidence from your review, will the bill in its current form allow for the effective and humane control of predators?