Minutes: 04 February 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3 and 4 in private and (in relation to item 4) agreed to take consideration of the draft report in private at future meetings, if required.

2. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

David Fleetwood, Director of Policy, John Muir Trust;

Sarah Madden, Vice Convener, Land Use and Land Reform Group, Scottish Environment LINK;

Dr Tara Wight, Scotland Policy and Campaigns Coordinator, Landworkers’ Alliance;

Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager, REVIVE coalition;

and then from—

Rob Carlow, Director of Investment & Operations, Forestry, Gresham House;

Finlay Clark, Head of Energy & Climate, Bidwells;

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets, Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Edward Mountain declared an interest in a farming partnership in Moray, as set out in the register of interests. Specifically, he declared an interest as owner of approximately 500 acres of farmed land, of which 50 acres is woodland. He also declared that he is a tenant of approximately 500 acres in Moray under a non-agricultural tenancy and that he has another farming tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. He also declared that he sometimes take on grass lets on an annual basis.

Edward Mountain declared an interest in a salmon fishery, as set out in the register of interests. 

Edward Mountain indicated that he had known Finlay Clark professionally through his work as a surveyor before becoming a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

3. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under agenda item 2.

4. Great British Energy Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered a draft report on legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-48 and supplementary legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-48a. Various changes were agreed to.  The report was then agreed for publication.