Commentary on Provisions Part 2 – Collection and processing of data Section 15 – Agricultural activity: requirement to provide information
149.This section provides the Scottish Ministers with a power to require, in writing, any person who carries on an agricultural activity in Scotland (and who is not a person in, or closely connected with, an agri-food supply chain) to provide information about that activity.
150.Subsection (2) provides for the Scottish Ministers to be able, by regulations subject to the affirmative procedure, to impose requirements on persons who carry on agricultural activities to provide information about those activities.
151.The reasons for including a direct power and a regulation-making power in this section are the same as for section 14. As with section 14, the distinction between the two powers is not the data which can be collected but rather the most effective way to collect it.
152.Subsection (3) provides that requirements under subsection (1) or (2) may not be imposed on persons in relation to an agricultural activity if the activity is not carried on for profit or reward. Similar to section 14(4), this exempts persons who are carrying on agricultural activities as a hobby or pastime. For example, a person who keeps a few animals to produce a small amount of wool or hides.