Veterans Care Network launched in Scotland

Summary

The environment committee consider a bill to increase penalties for animal cruelty
Topical questions cover the Falkirk gas outage, the Queensferry Crossing and Peebles High fire
A statement on financial pressures facing prisons
MSPs debate support for veterans
Two member's debates on making Glenrothes a living wage town and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Live Reporting

Louise Wilson and Craig Hutchison

Centre for Animal Law welcomes increase in maximum sentencespublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Scott Blair of the Centre for Animal Law
Scott Blair of the Centre for Animal Law says there appears to be a view that the prosecution and conviction for wildlife crimes is particularly difficult.
Mr Blair welcomes the proposal to increase maximum sentences to reflect this.
He highlights some issues around consolidating all the legislation into one place in one statute, saying it would be difficult to do.
Far better to have different, complementary laws, Mr Blair adds.
Increasing penalties will be deterrentpublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
Gillian Mawdsley from the Law Society of Scotland says deterrence is a factor when looking at increasing penalties.
She says fines will be particularly important because, in her experience, people are less concerned about convictions and more about the impact on families and also profitability.
Postpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
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What is the rationale behind proposed increase in maximum sentences?published at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
Image source, bbc
Committee convener Gillian Martin asks about the rationale behind the proposed increase in maximum sentences in animal welfare sentences.
The rationale is the current maximum penalty is not appropriate for the most serious offences, replies Mike Radford.
He cites cases where a large number of animals are involved or the crime is committed for money or pleasure.
Background: Police dog Finn's law to be implemented in Scotlandpublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
Image caption,
PC Dave Wardell and Finn met Scotland's minister for rural affairs, Mairi Gougeon, at Holyrood
A law named after a police dog who was stabbed while trying to protect his handler from an attacker is to be implemented in Scotland.
Finn's Law came into force in England earlier this year and makes it harder for those who harm service animals to claim they were acting in self-defence.
It came after a campaign by PC Dave Wardell whose German shepherd was injured as he chased a suspect in 2016.
As well as incorporating Finn's Law, the Animals and Wildlife Bill will also increase the maximum jail time for extreme animal cruelty from 12 month to 5 years.
Read more.
And we're off...published at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
The first part of today's session begins with:
- Mike Radford from the University of Aberdeen, external
- Gillian Mawdsley from the Law Society of Scotland, external
- Scott Blair of the Centre for Animal Law, external
Environment committee begins shortly...published at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019
The environment committee will begin shortly.
This morning it is examining the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Bill, external, which aims to strengthen animal welfare law.
MSPs will be hearing from legal experts and animal welfare charities.
Read the papers here., external
Welcome to BBC Holyrood Live!published at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019
Image source, PA Media
Welcome to BBC Scotland's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 3 December 2019.
The environment committee considers proposed legislation to increase penalties for animal cruelty this morning.
The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill will also implement Finn's Law.
Image source, Getty Images
After lunch, topical questions cover the Falkirk gas outage, vehicles using the Queensferry Crossing and the Peebles High School fire.
Then the justice secretary will respond to the auditor general's report on prisons highlighting "severe pressures".
Then SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth will highlight a campaign to make Glenrothes in "living wage town" in a member's debate.
MSPs will then debate support for veterans.
Finally, Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour will highlight UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.