Chamber and committees

Those questions came under theme 3. Do you want me to move on to theme 4?

The point that I am angling at—excuse the pun—is that fisheries management plans are required for other species. Therefore, would it not make sense to bring in something for wrasse that is similar to what has been adopted elsewhere in the UK?

Okay. No problem.

Okay—sorry. I will keep it brief.

The precautionary principle is enshrined in Scots law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. How relevant is that principle to decision making about environmental harm that is caused by salmon farming?

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve pay levels in the Scottish economy in light of the reported findings of the Office for National Statistics that United Kingdom annual growth in regular pay, excluding bonuses, fell by 4.5 per cent after adjusting for inflation. (S6O-01262)

The latest ONS findings reveal that average wages in the UK are falling at the fastest rate for more than two decades. Last week, the First Minister told Parliament:

“I want all public sector workers to get the fairest possible pay increases, particularly at this time of soaring inflation.”—[Official Report, 16 June 2022; c22.]

However, the Scottish Government’s pay policy is pitting different areas of the public sector against one another. It is clear that the policy is no longer fit for purpose. Will the minister outline what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking to support all public sector workers through the cost of living emergency?

The bill allows for a licence to use more than two dogs to be obtained under specific circumstances. Rachael Hamilton reminded us that the committee heard evidence last week from Ian Duncan Miller opposing 14-day licences due to the administrative burden that that would cause as multiple licences would be required to cover the full shooting season and would have to be applied for sequentially.

With that in mind, do the witnesses have any concerns that what is intended to be an exceptional licensing arrangement in the bill will be sought as the default and, in effect, create a loophole for hunting with more than two dogs to continue? If we have time, I would like to hear from as many of the witnesses as possible, perhaps beginning with Kirsty Jenkins and Robbie Marsland.

Will the minister explain to us what the EU principles for risk-targeted inspections are and how those are reflected in the proposed new inspection regime?

Good morning. I have a supplementary question that relates to Jim Fairlie’s question about an approach to fox management that involves pre-emptively killing foxes on the basis of a belief or understanding that foxes in general have been known to harm livestock. That is one approach, but another would be to look at specific instances where livestock have been harmed and gather evidence about the cause. If it was found that a fox was responsible, it would be located and killed. Can you share a view on which of those two approaches is the more ethical?

I had a supplementary question, but the moment has passed.