I am thinking about the ability to extend or reduce a zone or to add a new site. I used the example of a new hospital—a replacement service in another area. One concern was about the Scottish ministers making that decision to extend or reduce the area without going through further parliamentary scrutiny. Sandesh Gulhane spoke about further scrutiny through statutory instruments or making sure that wider consultation was under way. Might we need to consider that as we move forward—or would it potentially incur delays in establishing new, enhanced or reduced zones?

Good morning. I am interested in the decision to set the safe access zone at 200m, as is proposed in the bill. How did you come to make that choice, given that legislation elsewhere sets out other sizes—for example, 50m or 150m? What evidence led to the proposal to establish 200m zones in Scotland?

I apologise for not picking up the essence of Mr Carson’s first intervention, but Rachael Hamilton helped to clarify it, as did the minister. My understanding is that merlin breed on grouse moors. Sometimes, when muirburn is carried out, that can affect those birds and their ability to survive. I will not rehearse what I said, but I am glad to hear that the minister agrees with my reasons for lodging those amendments.

Amendment 86 moved—[Emma Harper]—and agreed to.

Amendment 87 moved—[Rachael Hamilton].

It is absolutely necessary that we monitor what is happening with our raptor species in rural areas. I know that members from all parties agree that raptor persecution is a despicable act that is carried out by very few people.

The bill seeks to support the fact that most wildlife management is conducted lawfully and contributes so much to the rural economy. I am pleased that the minister supports my amendment, and I encourage other colleagues to do so.

I press amendment 76.

Thank you, Presiding Officer—I know that time is getting on, so I willnae be speaking too long.

The need for a muirburn season is well understood and was set out in the Hill Farming Act 1946. It ensures that muirburn is carried out only when the risk of economic, social and environment damage is at a minimum. For example, the muirburn season ends in spring in order to ensure that protected ground-nesting birds are not disturbed during their breeding season.

There are different permitted reasons for carrying out muirburn—

My question is in a similar vein to Colin Smyth’s.

The NHS board is working with the National Crime Agency, the UK National Cyber Security Centre, the Scottish Government and the Information Commissioner to mitigate and investigate the recent cyberattack. It was clear at yesterday’s NHS briefing that the board was not able to provide full information, as advised by those professional agencies, but one thing that is clear is that cyberattacks will become more commonplace. Will the cabinet secretary provide further information on how the lessons that are learned from the NHS D and G event, including the business continuity plan, will be shared with other public bodies in Scotland to ensure that they are prepared to prevent, as far as possible, a similar attack in the future?

As we discussed at stage 2, the need for monitoring and reporting must be balanced with the resources that are available to the Scottish Government and other stakeholders. In response to the stage 1 report, the then lead minister for the bill, Gillian Martin, emphasised the Government’s commitment to additional reporting where that would be beneficial, and I welcomed that. Amendments 76, 78 and 80 seek to require the monitoring of section 16AA licences and their impact.

One of the key objectives of the bill is to tackle raptor persecution on grouse shooting estates through the implementation of section 16AA licensing provisions. The Werritty review highlighted the significant impact of criminal activities on certain grouse moors on the populations of three raptor species: the golden eagle, the hen harrier and the peregrine falcon. Indeed, there have been criminal investigations recently into the missing female golden eagle called Merrick in part of my South Scotland region. The merlin has also been identified as being impacted by increased rotational burning, and, as a significant proportion of the merlin population nests on moorland, it may be affected by the land management activities that are covered in the bill.

Regular monitoring is therefore essential to assess the bill’s effectiveness in curbing such persecution. Considering the evidence that has been presented throughout the bill’s passage through Parliament, I strongly believe that it is important to have a requirement to undertake raptor population assessments.

I move amendment 76.

Give me a wee second to finish that thought, please, given that it is 19:03.

There are different permitted reasons for carrying out muirburn, depending on whether it is on peatland and whether it is carried out during the muirburn season.

I give way to Mr Carson.

I do not really understand what the member meant by “whatever”, but I am sure that the member, and all members, would agree on the principle of minimising the risk of economic, social and environmental damage to our peatland and grouse areas. Licences will be granted appropriately in season, and will be granted outside the season only if the licensing authority is satisfied that it is absolutely necessary to do so.

Section 11 already restricts when the Scottish ministers—or NatureScot, if the function is delegated to it—can grant a muirburn licence. My amendment 86, alongside amendments 88 and 89, adds further restrictions, which would mean that a muirburn licence could not be granted to burn on non-peatland outwith the muirburn season for the purpose of managing the habitats of moorland game or wildlife or for the purpose of improving the grazing potential of moorland for livestock.

My amendments would also mean that a licence could be granted to burn on non-peatland outwith the season for the purposes of

“conserving, restoring, enhancing or managing the natural environment ... preventing, or reducing the risk of, wildfires ... or ... research”,

but only if it is considered

“that it is necessary to do so.”

That is in line with the principle of minimising the risk of economic, social and environmental damage, and it reflects what is currently set out in the 1946 act. I believe that there are important safeguards to ensure that the bill operates as intended.

I move amendment 86.

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the health secretary regarding implementing the commitments contained within the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. (S6O-03188)