Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

I ask Parliament’s guests who are leaving the gallery to note that Parliament is in session and to leave as quickly and quietly as possible, please. The nex...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

After all the hubris of a few minutes ago, I am delighted to say that the debate will—I hope—be consensual and friendly across the chamber. There will be no ...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

Yes, I do.

Christine Grahame SNP

That is all part of animals living the life that is intended for them. People must learn to live with animals’ lifestyle—they need to get a lot of carpet cle...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

We come to the open debate. I call Alex Fergusson, and note that he has to leave the chamber early. 12:44

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Thank you, Presiding Officer, for your indulgence in allowing me to leave the chamber early. I mean no offence in doing so. I congratulate Christine Grahame...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I thought that the heading for the motion was particularly good, as it includes both rights and responsibilities. Both human beings and animals have rights b...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate Christine Grahame on bringing this motion to the chamber and on her organisation, with the Dogs Trust and OneKind, of the displays in Parliame...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate Christine Grahame on securing the debate and on arranging the spectacularly interesting and engaging display that we have in two locations in ...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate Christine Grahame on lodging the motion. I feel slightly uneasy following a farmer and four members who have massive experience of pets and ot...

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead) SNP

I thank my colleague Christine Grahame for proposing the motion and the other colleagues who have contributed so ably to the debate. I also welcome to the Pa...

Christine Grahame SNP

It would be helpful to add to the catalogue of helpful animals those in prisons. The Dogs Trust has rescued Staffordshire terriers, which get an undeserved b...

Richard Lochhead SNP

That is a good example. In the UK, there are more than 5,000 active Pets As Therapy dogs and a smaller number of cats working to bring the opportunity to str...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

That concludes Christine Grahame’s debate on animal rights and human responsibilities. 13:15 Meeting suspended. 14:30 On resuming—