Seòmar agus comataidhean

Can I stop you for a second, Professor Fernandes? We are struggling to hear you. Could you move closer to the microphone?

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. We will move on to questions.

Do you intend to make suggestions on how the bill might be strengthened? A briefing from the Dogs Trust suggests that 97 per cent of owners have three dogs or fewer, but the legislation says that five dogs should be allowed to be imported under the pet owners scheme. Is that appropriate? Do you have any intention of strengthening that provision to ensure that the puppy trafficking that we are seeing through the likes of Cairnryan does not continue?

Minister, we have already corresponded with you on the topic of border controls. In relation to movements between the UK and Ireland in the context of EU exit, what are the implications of the bill for border controls in relation to domestic animal movements and the prohibition of livestock exports, including enforcement requirements?

I have just one other question, on zoos. There was correspondence about the timescales for implementation of some of the new regulations. The conservation aspects of the regulations are all welcome, but have you any concerns that the timescales might put some of our zoos and conservation parks in Scotland at risk because of the short time that they potentially will have in which to implement the policies in the bill?

There are no further questions. Are members satisfied to delegate authority to me to sign off the committee’s report to the Parliament about the LCM?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, cabinet secretary. We will suspend briefly to allow a changeover of witnesses.

It is good to know that I learned something many years ago as a science graduate of the University of Aberdeen. Thank you.

I am quite surprised to hear that Scotland might not be affected to the extent that the ecology of the global south will be. We hear about coral reefs and whatever and about warmer seas being depleted, which makes the news headlines. However, here in Scotland, we are worried about our wild salmon populations, and we hear about the reduction in the food that is available to puffins and other birds and about sand eels moving further north. We hear that, year on year, our shoals of fish are moving further north to colder waters.

Therefore, Susan Davies, whether it is the rise in water temperature, global warming leading to the loss of oxygen or the increase in carbon dioxide, what will the impact be in Scotland? How do you see bird life being affecting, for example?

Are we likely to see more SSIs to allow inspections at the place of destination—rather than at border crossings—for other products?

Since there are no further questions, we move to formal consideration of motion S6M-01816, which is agenda item 3.

Motion moved,

That the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee recommends that the Eggs (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.—[Mairi Gougeon]

Motion agreed to.