Seòmar agus comataidhean

There is no doubt that the petition has created real anxiety across all areas. When the minister was here the last time, the committee was quite intent on progressing it. Mr Ewing has, in his way, highlighted the things that were said in the previous session that needed to be corrected.

It is important that we go back to the minister, so I suggest that we write to the Minister for Environment and Land Reform and NatureScot on the outstanding issues that were raised, on a number of which clarification is still needed. Those issues include the existing licensing purposes and options; the circumstances in which falconry could constitute an offence and in which a person could be charged and prosecuted—that issue is vitally important; how the welfare of birds of prey, particularly large birds such as eagles, can be ensured through the content of the new arrangements for the protection of mountain hares; and the potential unintended consequences of any legislative change. Those are fundamental matters that we should raise at this stage, and I propose that we do that at the next level.

I very much concur with Mr Ewing’s comments. It is vital that we engage with local communities, and Rhoda Grant made an articulate case. In her representations, she talked about us contacting the minister. That may well be another route that we should consider in order to find out exactly what is happening. It appears that the roads meet the criteria that should be considered, so let us get some more clarity on the process from the minister.

It is important that we deal with Highland Council but, as Mr Ewing said, its resource is limited in relation to the expanse that it has to manage across its large geographical area. I therefore think that we should take forward Rhoda Grant’s suggestion about contacting the minister.

I very much concur with that. The petition has identified that there is a risk of financial loss to individuals. Mr Ewing has articulated that it should not be the case that individuals who have been diagnosed and have certification are not given the proper benefits to which they are entitled. That financial loss should be unacceptable at any level.

Convener, you make a valid point about the timescale for the process. Rhoda Grant expressed some views but, as you have identified, I am not sure how the committee could progress the matter. We can ask for a timescale but, other than that, we are limited as to what we can do, considering that there has already been some development from the Scottish Government about what it has indicated that it plans to do. As you said, the problem is the timescale. We do not know how long it will take. It could be towards the end of this year before anything happens.

It is:

“The Scottish Government believes that the licensing scheme for the control of mountain hares … does not impact on the ability of falconers to enable their birds to exhibit normal behaviour patterns.”

I will touch on the issue of access. The Scottish Government set the standard of 90 per cent of individuals being referred within 18 weeks. That is not being achieved—the most recent statistics, from September 2022, showed a figure of 80.7 per cent. When does the Scottish Government see the opportunity to reach that standard of 90 per cent, and what is it doing to support that aspiration?

You mentioned suicide bereavement services. There are pilot schemes in Ayrshire and Arran and in the Highland health board region, and there is the potential for a more widespread or national service across Scotland. Are there plans for that, and can you outline what other forms of support are available to families who are affected by suicide? What further developments are planned to try, once again, to bridge the gap?

You are indicating that the majority of the 21 licences are for shooting. Is that the case?

So only one licence has been requested that would deal with birds of prey.

There are many merits in the petition, convener, and it is important that we write to seek the views of stakeholders on the action that it calls for. Those might include COSLA, Early Years Scotland, the Scottish Childminding Association, and the National Parent Forum of Scotland. They could all give us a good indication of views about the petition.