The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 2045 contributions
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
Or is it Rachael? [Laughter.] She skipped me earlier, but it does not matter.
Contrary to what Robbie Marsland has said, I am a great believer in common sense. I think that common sense is a great thing, but I understand that it can leave loopholes.
I am also alive to the point that Mercedes Villalba made. The limit will make it a lot easier for the police because they can be certain that, if there are more than two dogs, laws could potentially be broken.
As Peter Clark said, the working relationship between Police Scotland and the shooting community is very strong, on the basis that we all have guns. The police know who the shooters are because they have already gone through that process with them. If the two-dog rule remains, there will surely be a bedding-in period during which the police will know who the shooters are—in my area, the police know who does the rough shooting. If vexatious claims are made against someone, there might be a period during which that has to be ironed out, but the police will get to know who is having shooting days in the countryside and who is breaking the law.
If the two-dog rule stands—with your understanding of what happens in the countryside and of the people whom you deal with—will you be able to use your common sense to take a view on whether any law has been broken? If no law has been broken, you will be comfortable with letting the activity continue. Why would it be difficult for the shooting community to take that on board, because the police also want to stop illegal activities that happen in the countryside? That is surely the ideal compromise.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
Whoever organised the shoot would surely be within that locality.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 23 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
I am the MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire.
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
I have one other point, as Brian has said that he is going to look at his papers.
At one point, David Fairs talked about scams with regard to people getting their pensions. I see information about that all the time on social media, and I retweet it. Does the Pensions Regulator put out stuff on social media to warn people about scams, so that we can pick that up and retweet it? I retweeted information twice last week about scams that we know are going on just now. Do you put that kind of information out, David?
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
Does Jack Jones want to come in on that?
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
Does anyone else want to come in on that? No? If not—[Interruption.]
Who did we miss?
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
Okay—I will need to start following you on Twitter.
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
I would also argue that the medical profession needs to have a far better understanding, so that it can give the right advice to businesses about how to make that work. Jonathan, I think that you also rapidly put up your hand, although Liz Cameron got in first.
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
In general, are pension freedoms greater in the UK than in other European countries? Is that helping to drive greater labour inactivity in our country as opposed to the situation in those countries?
COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Meeting date: 17 November 2022
Jim Fairlie
Thank you. I will hand back to the convener, because I jumped the queue.