Seòmar agus comataidhean

Professor Pittock, do you have anything to add? You have already expanded on your views on education, but you might have something else to say.

I was building on Professor Pittock’s ideas about relationships and the sharing of knowledge. Would the other two witnesses like to comment?

Thank you. It is positive to hear that that work is going ahead. It is very important, not only from a legislation perspective, but in order to understand the legal and human rights aspects. From my previous background as an accountant, I also know the importance of keeping policies consistent across that area.

Dr Hughes, could you comment, please?

Thank you—

I thank the panel very much for their time. I have found their evidence to be very informative.

I suppose that this ties in with Dr Allan’s question, but I was struck by Andrew Bauer’s comments about the Danish example and the experiences of his Danish colleague, because it brought to mind a visit that I made to Sweden, where, again, the supermarkets very much put an emphasis on local produce. I also met a cattle farmer who had a particular butcher that he used, supplied the local school and, indeed, had lots of local connections.

What are the panel’s thoughts about making such links with schools and communities and on how we can keep produce local while still taking it out to a wider market? As a representative of a remote, rural and island constituency, I wonder how your ways of working can be replicated in such areas. After all, it is fair to say that one size does not necessarily fit all. I know of a farmer on Lismore who is doing a lot of regenerative work, but how do we ensure that your messages get out? People might not take such things lock, stock and barrel, but just the elements that will work in their areas.

I am not terribly sure what my question is, but I would like to get your thoughts on those comments.

Thank you. You made an important point.

David and Michael, do you have anything to add?

I have a quick supplementary question. You mentioned hedgerow creation, and I was thinking back to going for walks when I was growing up and how we got around farms by walking along the side of the hedge. We have not really touched on biodiversity today, and I am interested to hear your thoughts on how we encourage hedgerows to come back.

I am learning about this every day. The Istanbul convention was signed by the UK Government in June 2012. As you mention in your evidence, however, the UK has yet to ratify it. Is ratification of such conventions something on which the Scottish Parliament could make decisions?

I do not know whether Professor Armstrong—

I return to the issue of transparency. Last week and this, the committee took evidence from various organisations that have raised concerns about what might be called a race to the bottom if we are not aligning with EU law. They mentioned the environment and public health, and today we heard about human rights. How is the Scottish Government liaising with such organisations to allow us to learn from their experience and from the connections that they have across the EU or more widely, so that we can know about the legislation that impacts on those areas?

Thank you for joining us this morning. Mr Ruskell’s questions overlap the one that I want to ask. I was interested in the evidence that Mhairi gave on advancing human rights. How are you able to continue to plug into what is happening in the EU and around the world on that? Is there anything that you want to add to what you have said?