Chamber and committees

I have another quick question about the remit. The committee has been looking at mesh harm and issues to do with sodium valproate. That work could be expanded. I am interested to hear your opinion on whether the proposed patient safety commissioner should look at wider issues, beyond medicines and medical devices. Our bill talks about forensic medical services, but I have concerns about rural issues, including the safety of a population that has, in engaging with the health service, longer distances to travel than people in urban settings have to travel.

I was interested to learn that we received 11 responses to the committee’s call for views. Some of the responses specifically mentioned clause 42. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission said that we should not agree to the LCM because there would be an impact on Scotland. What communication has the Scottish Government had from other stakeholders in Scotland about the LCM?

The committee’s briefing papers state:

“The global trade in shark fins is estimated to be 16-17,000 tonnes per year, resulting in the death of 97 million sharks annually.”

That is a huge amount, and I just wanted to ensure that those figures were pointed out. You said that the issue is not a big one for us, in Scotland, but I want to ensure that we are vocal about those figures.

There are 11 responses that express a variety of views, and it is interesting to read them. That might need to be followed up as we move forward.

I apologise, convener.

I want to pick up on what you said about the broader impacts of the bill. The issue is not just clause 42. Are we worried about other issues?

NFU Scotland’s response to the call for views didnae really talk about clause 42, but it considered that gene editing techniques could have potential benefits for

“food, nutrition, agriculture, biodiversity and climate change.”

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the bill’s broader impacts in Scotland.

Yes, but I have a couple of other questions first, if that is okay.

I am reading some statistics on Scotland’s agricultural output. In 2021, it contributed £3.6 billion to the economy in gross value added, according to the Food and Drink Federation Scotland. We know that there is really good animal welfare in agriculture in Scotland, and that there are direct links between our health, our climate and food production and the availability of food in Scotland. What is Food Standards Scotland’s role in promoting a healthy diet in the context of climate change and food production in Scotland so that we can achieve a balance and support our agricultural producers?

Good morning, everybody, and thanks for coming. Forbes Dunlop mentioned that there are people behind all the issues that we are hearing about. Some folk have very bravely come forward. I am interested in the progress that has been made in dealing with the complaints that are under formal investigation. Either Mr Dunlop or Mr Arthur said that a couple of disciplinary cases are outstanding from the end of last season and that those are still under review. What progress has been made on those reviews? At the end of the action plan, a review of referrals is mentioned. The plan came out yesterday, and I am reading it right now. An update on the investigations into the complaints would be helpful.

I have a quick question for Geoff Ogle about the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. The UK Government has introduced the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill. Does that mean that Scottish farmers will be impacted by a policy that we do not have control over because of the UK Government’s 2020 act? Does that mean that Scottish farmers will have to accept genetically edited products? Agriculture is devolved to Scotland, but I am concerned that, because of the 2020 act, the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill will impact on Scottish farmers.

It sounds as if everyone needs to tread carefully and to be very evidence-base oriented. We need to make sure that the public are engaged with, if the bill is to be taken forward.