Minutes: 11 March 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 3 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument— Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

3. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee reviewed its work programme. 

The Committee agreed to reverse its decision of 18 February to invite the Scottish Land Commission to give evidence at a future meeting if the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill proceeds past Stage 1, on grounds of pressure on Committee time.  The Committee also agreed to write to those stakeholders who gave oral evidence at Stage 1 to seek their view on the Scottish Land Commission's advice to Scottish Ministers. 

The Committee agreed to invite Scottish Water to give evidence at a meeting in the near future and to also hold evidence sessions on rail and buses at meetings in the near future.

 

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

The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft at its next meeting.

Edward Mountain referred Members to his register of interests which sets out that he is a partner in a farming partnership in Moray. He also referred members to the declarations of interests he has made in public session at past meetings on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. These indicate that he is owner of approximately 500 acres of farmed land of which 50 acres is woodland, that he is a tenant of approximately 500 acres in Moray under a non-agricultural tenancy and has another farming tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991, and that he sometimes takes on grass lets on an annual basis.