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However, I want to raise a concern that is based on the recent workload survey that was produced by the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland, of which the cabinet secretary will be aware.
Obviously, we do not want to get into who is to blame yet, because that is hopefully going to be resolved by the negotiations and/or legal action, but at some stage you will come back to this committee after you produce your 2019 report, Auditor General.
I would not rule out looking at a ban further down the line, if the actions that we take as a preferred option do not produce the expected results. To clarify, one of the options was to “Take no legislative action, but develop a code of practice”.
I think that the choice for the committee is to close the petition or to produce a report that would represent the balance of arguments that have been presented to us.
That report related to matters back in February and March of 2017, prior to our producing for Parliament many of the details that it needed for its consideration of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill.
That is very interesting, and it is now on the record, even though a formal note will be produced of each of the meetings. That probably disposes of what we want to put on the record in relation to agenda item 4.
The evidence demonstrates that the legislation is producing a downward trend in wildlife crime, and it is well documented that the declining but residual wildlife crime problem rests with a handful of upland grouse moors.