Seòmar agus comataidhean

Ronan O’Hara, do you believe that the Crown Estate, as part of the consenting group, had a sufficient mandate to tackle the challenges that we have just touched on?

Before we move on from this section of questions, I have a final one for Mark Harvey and Rachel Shucksmith.

The recommendations were made by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee back in 2018, and the Scottish Government now says in its programme for government that one of its objectives is to “Improve the consenting process”. That suggests that the pace of change has not been good enough, given that the Government wants to see an increase in the economic impact of fish farms. Over the past eight years, have we failed to deliver the recommendations of the committee?

Rachel Shucksmith, do you have any comments on the pace of change?

To sum up, it appears that there is a lack of capacity and ability to enforce planning conditions effectively and sufficiently.

That concludes our witness session. I thank you all for coming along today; the session has been most helpful.

Our next item is consideration of the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill. I propose that we take a 15-minute break first.

10:51 On resuming—  

I invite Rachael Hamilton to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 60.

The question is, that amendment 60 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

Amendment 7, in the name of Christine Grahame, is grouped with amendments 9 and 56.

The question is, that amendment 11 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

There will be a division.

For

Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Against

Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)