Thank you for that.

The Government considers that the ambition of its 2030 target is no longer credible, which is why it has come up with a new plan. Emissions standards will be lower and will have to ramp up. Alison Leslie, how will that affect what you are doing?

This has been a marathon session, but we still have a few more questions. Jackie Dunbar has some, I have some, I think that Douglas Lumsden might have some, and there might well be a few follow-up questions from other committee members. However, I do not want anyone to feel under pressure, as there is more time available. I will suspend the meeting briefly, for five minutes, to allow people to stretch their legs. We will then come straight back with Jackie Dunbar’s punchy questions.

Before we get answers, I want to make sure that Monica Lennon and Claudia Cowie are back. I cannot see them on the screen. [Interruption.] They are there now. I am sorry, Jackie—I just did not want them to miss any comments that might be made.

It is probably fair to say that both the deputy convener and Bob Doris talked about cuts. Of course, it could work the other way—there could be more money to spend, which might allow us to reach our targets earlier.

I thank the witnesses for giving evidence. We have had quite a long session of two and a half hours, and I appreciate the time that you have given us at short notice. It has been really helpful. The committee will carefully consider your comments and will have to report back to the Government very quickly.

I am looking at the other witnesses, but if no one wishes to comment, I will bring in Bob Doris again.

I see lots of nods, which cannot be seen in the Official Report, but which can now go on the record.

Mark Ruskell has a follow-up question and some others.

Mr Petticrew, who is currently the chief executive officer of Ferguson Marine, seems to be suffering from more and more delays. David Tydeman was sacked after two; Mr Petticrew has had at least three.

What bunkering arrangements have been made at Troon to handle the liquefied natural gas fuel that is required for the new ferry? We have had 10 years to get that ready, and I would like to know what has been done.

This afternoon’s statement has come about because of unforced errors in simple mathematics, so let me see whether I can help the cabinet secretary. She talked about a route map for electric vehicles. That was announced in June 2023, with a target of 6,000 more EVs by 2026, supported by £30 million from the Scottish Government and £30 million from the private sector. Has the cabinet secretary got the £30 million from the private sector yet?

Before I go any further, I remind members of my entry in the members’ register of interests. I am a farmer and part of a farming partnership. I am also a dog owner and have recently registered puppies. I am an honorary member of the British Veterinary Association.

I will speak to amendment 59 and I will move it for three really good reasons, which I am sure that everyone will find easy to support. First, what I have proposed is good for dogs and their welfare. It would also allow the Government to carry out some post-legislative scrutiny, and it would help to address the issue of dog theft, which is subject to a separate bill that another member has proposed.

I am sure that I do not need to remind the minister that the rules for microchipping were introduced in 2016. Now, eight years on, we do not know whether microchipping works. There is a requirement to microchip a puppy at eight weeks, and owners are supposed to update the information when a dog is moved, an owner changes their address or telephone number, or the dog is sold or given to another owner. We are pretty sure that that does not happen across the country. There are thousands of strays every year that are not properly recorded on the database. I am sure that the minister will say that they are 12 properly accredited databases in Scotland, which he would be right about. There are 22 databases across the United Kingdom, so which database is being checked, which one is being kept up to date, and which is the proper one to use?

When we are farming, we have a simple situation: we have ScotEID, where we record our animals on a database and every animal has a passport. We know where the animals are and we know their history. Now, the Government has produced a poultry register. If you have one chicken at home that is scratching around your door, you must register it and record it on a database that the Government keeps. Everyone in the countryside is used to doing that with animals and we also do it if we have a car, because we have a responsibility to keep the V5C up to date and to record any changes.

I suggest that the Government should think carefully about its 2016 legislation and should consider whether it is working. I have asked the Government to review it and to check whether microchipping and the database are working properly and I have said that it should consult breeders, acquirers and owners of dogs as well as consulting veterinary practitioners.

I know that it is a step too far for some people, but I believe that vets should check dogs that come into their practice to ensure that they are properly microchipped and that the person who has brought the dog in is the correct owner. That might be a step too far for now, but I believe that it should come in due course.

Amendment 59 is a simple one. It puts an onus on the Government to check that the legislation that it brought in in 2016 is working correctly, is effective and is doing what it is meant to do, which is to look after the welfare of dogs. I do not see what people dislike about that, but I suspect that the minister is going to tell me.

I move amendment 59.

I am asking whether there has been a map-based spatial planning exercise, carried out by the Scottish Government and produced in conjunction with SEPA, that says where fish farms should be allowed and where they should not be allowed. Do you have such a map, and are you using it?