Hansard

The Convener SNP

Agenda item 8 is consideration of the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill at stage 2. I again welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, ...

Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

Convener, before we move on, can I refer members to my entry in the register of interests? I am the convener of the cross-party group on the Scottish Showmen...

The Convener SNP

It was remiss of me not to give you that opportunity. Does any other member have interests to declare?

John Scott Con

I should declare an interest as an honorary member of the British Veterinary Association.

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Green

I should also declare an interest as an honorary member of the BVA. Section 1—Wild animals in travelling circuses: offence

The Convener SNP

Amendment 4, in the name of David Stewart, is in a group on its own.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

The bill’s long title states that it is “An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make it an offence to use wild animals in travelling circuses”, and the expla...

John Scott Con

I support what Mr Stewart has said. It is a reasonable amendment, which we should consider.

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I thank David Stewart for lodging his amendment, the effect of which would be to make it clearer that a circus operator who uses a wild animal in a travellin...

David Stewart Lab

I appreciate the support of members and the cabinet secretary. Amendment 4 agreed to.

The Convener SNP

Amendment 5, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 6 and 7.

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I will outline the thinking behind amendments 5 to 7. The committee’s stage 1 report raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of section 1 in introducing ...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

Can the cabinet secretary confirm that, in changing the wording from “a travelling circus” to “the travelling circus”—from a generality to specificity—that d...

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

That is not our view. The amendments were drafted to try to ensure that we do not capture the wrong things or exclude other things. The new drafting tightens...

The Convener SNP

As no other member wishes to contribute, does the cabinet secretary wish to wind up?

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

There is not anything extra that I need to add. I simply reiterate that the amendments are to tighten up the bill so that the nature of the offence becomes e...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 1, in the name of John Scott, is grouped with amendments 14 to 16, 2, 17, 18, 3, 20 and 12. 11:15

John Scott Con

Amendments 1 and 2 seek to create a list of wild animals that are not to be used in travelling circuses. Amendment 1 details where lists of such wild animals...

Mark Ruskell Green

We have a definition of domestication in the bill. However, at the end of stage 1, we came to the conclusion that there were problems with it: that it was in...

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I will come to amendment 12 after I have spoken to the other amendments in the group. That would make more logical sense. This debate is about the committee...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

I have come to this matter quite late, but I have had an intensive weekend of study on it. The cabinet secretary has slightly pre-empted me in that I have id...

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

And, indeed, there are wallabies.

Stewart Stevenson SNP

The cabinet secretary says wallabies—my experience is comprehensive, but not total. I have not yet met any wallabies. One could even consider rabbits, which...

Richard Lyle SNP

I agree with the comments that Stewart Stevenson just made, and also with what the cabinet secretary said. I can see where Mark Ruskell and John Scott are co...

Claudia Beamish Lab

I find this issue quite complicated, if I am open about it. Lists often have their dangers and, although I was keen to support the possibility of a list of w...

Mark Ruskell Green

I listened carefully to what the cabinet secretary said. I would like clarification over amendment 12, because it enables ministers to make a regulation abou...

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I think that there is a slight misunderstanding here. Most of us will agree on pretty much all the animals that are domesticated and all those that are wild;...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

It strikes me that paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of the proposed new section in amendment 12 makes it very clear that the generality of the phrase “commonl...

The Convener SNP

It is worth nothing that the amendments lodged by John Scott and Mark Ruskell are constructive and well intentioned in what they set out to achieve but, as w...

John Scott Con

I thank the cabinet secretary for her explanation of the apparent weaknesses of my three amendments, which I think has convinced me of the dangers of seeking...