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Correspondence to the Convener from Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Scottish Government, 13 February 2026.
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP said that this was "consistent with the policy behind the bill and will ensure that the power is used to expand the definition beyond oval tracks to include other shapes of racetrack only where there is an animal welfare justification".
Correspondence to the Daniel Johnson MSP, Convener of Economy and Social Work Committee and Convener of Public Audit Committee from Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary Economy and Gaelic, 16 December 2025.
Following Stage 1, there was uncertainty over whether the Scottish Government would lodge such a motion. Liz Smith MSP and the Government held discussions particularly around concerns of the costs of the measures in the Bill.
Indeed, there were comments throughout the interviews about the challenges of making sure that MSPs attended sessions with people with lived experience.
At the Stage 1 debate, which took place on 9 October 2025, the Parliament also did not agree to the general principles of the Bill, with 52 MSPs voting for, and 63 MSPs voting against the motion (0 abstained, 14 did not vote).
Stage 2
The issue of people still being able to access paper documents was also raised during Stage 2, with Sharon Dowey MSP lodging two amendments seeking to further clarify the point.
An amendment proposed by Maurice Golden MSP (amendment 55) was agreed to replace the word "may" with "must" - creating a duty for Scottish Ministers to issue guidance on the operation of these enforcement mechanisms.