Douglas, I am sorry, but I will be really mean and allow you only one question.

Welcome back. Our next item of business is consideration of two type 1 consent notifications. The UK Government’s proposed UK statutory instruments are the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2023 and the Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023. The UK Government is seeking the Scottish Government’s consent to legislate in areas of devolved competence. We were notified of the SIs on 6 and 8 September.

The committee’s role is to decide whether it agrees with the Scottish Government’s proposals to consent to the UK Government making the regulations within devolved competence, and in the manner that the UK Government has indicated to the Scottish Government.

If members are content for consent to be given for the UK SIs, the committee will write to the Scottish Government accordingly. When doing so, we have options to pose questions, highlight issues or ask to be kept up to date on relevant developments. If the committee is not content with the proposals, it may make the recommendations that are outlined in the clerks’ notes on the instruments.

Do members have any comments on the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2023?

No member wishes to comment.

Is the committee content that the provisions set out in the notification should be made in the proposed UK statutory instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Good morning and welcome to the 28th meeting in 2023 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. The first item on the agenda is consideration of whether to take in private items 8 and 9, which are consideration of the evidence that we will hear under items 4 and 5. Do we agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

The committee will report on the outcome of our consideration of the instrument in due course. Are members content to delegate authority to me, as convener, to finalise a report for publication?

Members indicated agreement.

Islanders have not accepted that there will be fewer passengers. We are in the current position because Ferguson Marine spoke to the MCA only in June this year about whether the boats would meet the specification that the MCA had set out, which is based on regulations that date from 2016. We have late ferries that are under capacity, over budget and not what islanders were promised. Are you happy with that as a minister?

It is interesting that, of the seven original bids to build the ships, those from shipyards C and D were not accepted because they did not meet the requirement to carry 1,000 passengers and 127 cars or 16 big lorries. We know that the latest recommendation will result in capacity for 15 per cent fewer passengers. How many fewer cars and how many fewer lorries will there be?

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd should still accept into service the Glen Sannox and 802 ferries, in light of reports that they no longer meet the original basic design criteria. (S6T-01569)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am sorry, but, at the beginning of my speech, I failed to declare an interest in that I own land with deer on it. In accordance with the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommendation, I want to be completely clear, so I will say that I have more than 40 years of deer management experience across a quarter of a million acres of Scotland. I have seen more than 30,000 deer killed in trying to protect trees and woodland. I believe that I know what management plans are—I have written them for private and public bodies—and I think that I have an understanding of deer, too.

I stress that we need to manage deer and not cull them through all-out war.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is always nice to know that one can make the whip short of breath just by making him get here on time.

Deer management is a complex issue. Reducing deer numbers is not about culling males—it is about culling breeding females. The breeding imperative of females means that female deer will always find a male, and thus targeting males is futile.

The question that I posed to the committee was whether we need this regulation. The Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 already allows for the control of deer out of season by regulation. We can control them to prevent damage to agricultural land, timber and natural heritage and for public safety. The legislation is already there—we can already do that.

What is more, every year, the minister grants an automatic general authorisation to control deer on improved agricultural land and enclosed woodland. No one has to apply for a licence—the authorisation is there already. The minister does it. I should also remind members that not a single licence has been refused.

What will this statutory instrument mean? It will basically mean that every male deer will be a target from the day that they are born to the day that they die. The instrument will not reduce the deer population by much and it will mean that deer are harried all year round. What will happen to the deer that are killed late in the season when they are not fit for human consumption? Does the Parliament really forget the 86 stags that were left rotting in Knoydart? Is that where we want to be?

My question to the Parliament is—

I am sorry, but I have only three minutes. If the Presiding Officer gives me more time, I will take it. Am I allowed more time, Presiding Officer?