Committee
Environment and Rural Development Committee, 15 Mar 2006
15 Mar 2006 · S2 · Environment and Rural Development Committee
Item of business
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
There will be a division.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Agenda item 4 is stage 2 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill. Rhona Brankin, the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, is taske...
Section 1—Slaughter for preventing spread of disease
The Convener:
Lab
Group 1 concerns conditions for the exercise of powers of slaughter. Amendment 4, in the name of Richard Lochhead, is grouped with amendments 12, 14, 1, 2, 2...
Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Amendments 4 and 2A, both in my name, are similar. They seek to include in the bill an obligation that the minister, when using the slaughter powers, must co...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Amendment 12 is a simplified version of amendment 2. Given that we have the Minister for Environment and Rural Development's assurances that he would not use...
Maureen Macmillan:
Lab
The committee has expressed concern that there should be transparency in the process by which the minister reaches his decision on whether to order the slaug...
Mr Ruskell:
Green
I think that we agree that ministers need to have wide powers in the event of a disease outbreak, but we are discussing what checks and balances need to be p...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
The committee is trying to strike a balance between allowing ministers room to act quickly in emergencies and ensuring transparency. I am interested to hear ...
Nora Radcliffe:
LD
I reiterate the concern that has prompted the amendments. It is desirable to have in the bill some assurance that what we expect the minister to do will be w...
The Convener:
Lab
Minister, could you say something about the powers in the Westminster Animal Health Act 2002? It has been suggested that that contains a different way of dea...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Amendment 4 would place a requirement on ministers to consider the impacts on the economy and, separately, on biodiversity before they could exercise one or ...
The Convener:
Lab
Thank you. I ask Richard Lochhead to wind up the debate and to state whether he wishes to press or withdraw amendment 4.
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I wish to press amendment 4. The debate that the committee is having with the minister over whether an act of faith is required or whether the assurances and...
The Convener:
Lab
The question is, that amendment 4 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members:
No.
The Convener:
Lab
There will be a division.
ForBrocklebank, Mr Ted (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)Gibson, Rob (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)Lochhead, Richard (North East Scotland) (SNP)Ruskell, Mr Mark (M...
The Convener:
Lab
The result of the division is: For 4, Against 5, Abstentions 0.
Amendment 4 disagreed to.
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 12, in the name of Ted Brocklebank, has been debated with amendment 4.
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
I intend to move amendment 12. Like Richard Lochhead, I found the minister's response, in which she cited the 1981 act, unconvincing. The minister says that ...
Amendment 12 moved—Mr Ted Brocklebank.
The Convener:
Lab
The question is, that amendment 12 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members:
No.
The Convener:
Lab
There will be a division.
ForBrocklebank, Mr Ted (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)Gibson, Rob (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)Lochhead, Richard (North East Scotland) (SNP)AgainstBoyack, Sara...
The Convener:
Lab
The result of the division is: For 3, Against 5, Abstentions 1.
Amendment 12 disagreed to.
The Convener:
Lab
Group 2 is on slaughter protocols. Amendment 13, in the name of Maureen Macmillan, is grouped with amendments 5, 17, 11 and 11A.
Maureen Macmillan:
Lab
Amendments 13 and 17 are probing amendments. The minister dealt with some of the issues when she addressed group 1. I want to find out why we do not have pro...