– Scottish Parliament written question – answered at on 3 December 2008.
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat
Question S3W-18160
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s report, published on Monday 10 November, calling for the European Union to change its approach to vaccination procedures across Europe in order to reduce the spread of viral pathogens and what discussions the Scottish Government has had, or intends to have, with the UK Government in relation to raising the proposals with the European Commission and with other member states.
Richard Lochhead
Scottish National Party
This report is highly relevant to the current situation in Europe, and now Scotland, regarding bluetongue vaccination.
The Scottish Government has long understood that the best way to secure Scotland’s long-term protection against bluetongue is to secure the ability to vaccinate without being forced to accept potentially infected imports. I wrote to Commissioner Vassillou in September 2008 to urge consideration of an Amendment to the rules that would allow the use of vaccine as a tool for disease prevention rather than disease control and my officials have been working with UK and European colleagues towards this end. A draft amendment to the EU bluetongue regulation that would achieve this aim is currently under discussion.
The work by the Royal Society of Edinburgh has provided a welcome and constructive scientific assessment of the issues, which supports the stance taken by the Scottish Government.
Yes2 people think so
No2 people think not
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The European Commission is the politically independent institution that represents and upholds the interests of the EU as a whole. It is the driving force within the EU’s institutional system: it proposes legislation, policies and programmes of action and it is responsible for implementing the decisions of Parliament and the Council.
Like the Parliament and Council, the European Commission was set up in the 1950s under the EU’s founding treaties.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
