Chamber and committees

Thank you. How do you think you will be able to influence specific policies that Scotland’s differences require?

Thank you. Alison, what is your view?

In her evidence, Vhairi Tollan talked about the race to the bottom. Do you have any concerns that Scotland’s high-quality food and drink might get caught up in something similar?

Thank you. Mr Thomson, how will your organisation have to shift in order for it to be able to contribute to policy that is being questioned from a UK-wide perspective, too?

Ms Sargeant, thank you very much that response. I hope that my next question asks for a wee bit more on that aspect. You will have heard some of the evidence from the witnesses on the earlier panel about minimum unit pricing for alcohol. Alcohol Focus Scotland’s submission commented that the 2020 act might prevent the Scottish Government from fulfilling its legal obligation

“to put health before profit.”

Could you comment more on that?

You also touched on the environment. I would be interested to know your thoughts and comments with regard to lower regulatory standards to remain competitive within the terms that are set in the act.

I am interested to hear SAWC’s views on the UK Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill and the provisions on livestock exports, the movement of domestic animals and the modernisations of zoo licensing that apply to Scotland.

It is about the movement of domestic animals.

That is a good suggestion. Thank you, Libby.

I want to go back to Dr Goddard’s point about trade-offs and incorporating local wisdom into research. I am also interested in hearing about your engagement with the Russel Griggs review of regulation, which was mentioned in response to Ariane Burgess’s questions.

Perhaps I can be slightly more specific. In research carried out by Thompson and others, there was evidence that seal blinds and false-bottomed nets might be impacting on fish health by reducing water flow. In other words, measures to protect fish from seals are not actually helping the welfare of the fish. That is what I was getting at. Does that make sense?