What assessment it has made of the effects on agriculture in the islands should the EU Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Wel…

The Scottish Executive has not carried out an in depth assessment of the effects that implementation of the recommendation to alter the regulations governing the transport of livestock by sea would have on the livestock industry in the islands. Nevertheless we are acutely aware that the effect would be significant so the Executive has strongly registered with the European Commission and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs its concerns over any possible change to the transport of livestock regulations which would limit the transport of animals by sea to days when the wind speed was force 4 or less. Our concerns over a shortening of journey times for animals from the Highlands and Islands have also been made known.We shall reinforce this position if that recommendation is brought forward as one of the Commission proposals.