Minutes: 26 March 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4, 5, 6 and 7 in private.

2. Natural capital finance:

The Committee took evidence from—

Stuart Greenwood, Partner, Rural Property and Business, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP;

Olly Hughes, Managing Director, Forestry, Gresham House;

Stephen Young, Director of Policy, Scottish Land and Estates;

Joel Paterson, Head of Natural Capital, Scotland, Strutt & Parker;

and then from—

Dr Naomi Beingessner, Social Researcher in Transformative Land Management, The James Hutton Institute;

Dr Lydia Cole, Lecturer, University of St Andrews;

Dr Josh Doble, Policy Manager, Community Land Scotland;

Jo Pike, Deputy Chair, Scottish Forum on Natural Capital and Chief Executive, Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Edward Mountain declared an interest as a member of a family farming partnership who own 500 acres of land, and are tenant farmers for another 500 acres of land, in Speyside.

3. UK subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating in a devolved area as set out in the following UK statutory instrument proposal—

The Green Gas Support Scheme Regulations 2021

The Committee agreed that the provision set out in the notification should be included in the UK statutory instrument. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government about its decision.

4. Natural capital finance (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

5. Automated Vehicles Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private):

The Committee considered a draft report on legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-42 and supplementary legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-42a.

One change was agreed to, and the report was agreed for publication.

6. Proposed national outcomes (in private):

The Committee considered correspondence from the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee in relation to parliamentary scrutiny of the proposed national outcomes.

The Committee agreed to participate in joint scrutiny of the national outcomes and to write to the Finance and Public Administration Committee about its decision.

7. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee considered a draft call for views on the Bill at Stage 1.

One change was agreed to, and the Committee agreed to delegate to the Convener responsibility for finalising the call for views for publication.