Chamber and committees

Okay. I know that the Global Salmon Initiative is working to look at non-medicinal approaches to managing sea lice, and there is continuing research and development. That is part of the process of research and development as we move forward. Are more chemicals and more types of antibiotics being used? Is that a concern?

I have a quick question. Some information from the University of Victoria says that fish mortality on fish farms has increased in Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. What work is being done to learn lessons? I want to highlight that it is not just a Scottish problem but a global issue. What work is being done to join up all the scientific knowledge?

Good morning, everybody. Rachel Mulrenan, you mentioned chemicals and the environment. I do not want to impose on my colleagues’ questions about welfare that might be coming up, but I am interested to hear your thoughts on the progress towards use of medications and chemicals having minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

Our papers talk about comparisons between regulations in Norway and Scotland. The Norwegian industry has been established for a long time and seems to have not a condensed system but a quite straightforward system. In Scotland, however, it has been noted that the system is a wee bit disjointed. What do you think about that? What could Scotland do differently with regulation?

I think that it has been answered. It was about sea cage research sites elsewhere on the globe. What is the barrier to Scotland having those? Is it just cost?

I am thinking about what Ariane Burgess said about stress in salmon. I am assuming that using biological methods or cleaner fish might be less stressful for the salmon. In the previous panel, it was said that the cleaner fish—the wrasse—were all wild caught, but I understand that the lumpfish are farmed, and work is being done and millions of pounds are being invested to look at breeding and husbandry programmes for other specialised cleaner fish. How does that all that link with improved welfare and reduced stress for the salmon?

So, we do not need more regulation; we just need to make it work better and condense the structure.

Do you mean in terms of regulatory bodies, the marine directorate, SEPA, Government? Is that what makes it a wee bit disjointed?

Thank you.

We are running out of time—okay.

Max Warner, you have done modelling around investment in prevention to keep folk healthier. What modelling has been done to show that up-front investment will prevent cancer, reduce obesity and diagnose type 2 diabetes earlier, and have you done modelling that shows that preventing things now will save £X in terms of secondary care?