Chamber and committees

I am the MSP for Argyll and Bute.

I will be brief. The responses to our questions highlight how inextricably linked everything around Europe is and how what happens in Westminster severely impacts on what goes on in Scotland. I was interested to hear the comments from you and George Macpherson on how the continuity act is not the only way in which we in Scotland are maintaining our links with European law. I would like to hear a couple of examples of that, so that the normal person might be able to put things into perspective.

Okay. Thank you.

We took some additional evidence prior to this evidence session. The League Against Cruel Sports stated that the proposed legislation is very clear and that rough shooting remains legal under the bill, provided each person in attendance controls no more than two dogs and the dogs do not form a pack. For the record, can you give us the definition of “a pack” as opposed to several dogs working independently?

For the record, can you give me the dictionary definition of “a pack”, please?

While we are waiting, perhaps we could get an indication of what the difference is in dogs working independently.

I am thinking of known unknowns, unknown unknowns and so on.

I will go to Mr Clancy next.

I thank the witnesses for the documents and information that they have given us.

I have a question about the practical impact of the legislation on the normal person in the street. I note what Dr Hancox said about the deregulatory agenda and how that might impact on the way in which we live our lives. Mr Clancy, I also note the comment in the Law Society’s submission about the definition of “burden” and how that might impact in terms of a race to the bottom, which was raised in the House of Commons, too. On the practical impacts, I thought that Professor Young’s example of the working time directive was a strong one. Could our witnesses give us other examples that we can focus on in terms of the practical impacts of the bill?

I read somewhere that EU legislation on the testing of cosmetics on animals is part of this, so there could be a negative impact if such legislation is lost.

Does Mr Livingstone have any comments?

Rae, do you have anything to add to Morag Milne’s points?

Have you learned from the trials anything about how best to manage the geese? You have mentioned egg oiling and shooting. I was also interested in your comment that some goose management groups decided not to be involved in the pilots. Why was that?