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Today, we are discussing the access code and it is clearly not the code's job to resolve that issue.However, the code sets down certain principles that are relevant to the matter.
In view of the report and the evidence in front of us, I agree that Dr Simpson has not breached the code of conduct. I, too, have read the report, which makes it very clear that Dr Simpson has not breached the code of conduct.
That would be better than writing such guidance into the code of conduct, which would put us in danger of not only tying everybody up in red tape but the code not working as it is intended to work.
The committee supported that policy at stage 1; it is also the policy on which the aquaculture industry's code of practice is based. However, not all non-lethal measures are useful in all situations against all seals.
The advice that I am getting from the clerks—with which I agree—is that if the guidance is adopted by Parliament and annexed to the code of conduct, it becomes part of that code and carries with it the code of conduct's full authority.