Minutes: 25 February 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

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

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2025 from—

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Scottish Government;

Carole Stewart, Head of Bus Strategy and Funding Policy, Gary McIntyre, Economist - Bus, Active Travel & Low Carbon Economics and Bettina Sizeland, Director of Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel, Transport Scotland.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Jim Fairlie (Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity) moved—S6M-16241—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2025 be approved.

After debate, the motion was agreed to.

4. Environmental regulation:

The Committee took evidence on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's annual report and accounts and current priorities from—

Lisa Tennant, Chair, Nicole Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, Kirsty-Louise Campbell, Chief Officer, Governance, Performance, and Engagement, Alex Flucker, Chief Operating Officer, Data, Evidence, and Innovation and David Harley, Head of Regulation, Business, and Environment, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Edward Mountain declared his interest as a farmer and landowner on Speyside and as joint owner of Delfur Fishings and mentioned that this causes him to have contact with SEPA, in relation to abstracting water from the Spey. He also mentioned that he has involvement with the Spey Fishery Board, which is involved in catchment management plannings, in relation to which SEPA also have a role.

5. Environmental regulation (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard under agenda item 4.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee agreed that, if the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill passes stage 1, to invite the Scottish Land Commission to give evidence at a future meeting. The Committee also agreed to write to some stakeholders to seek their view on the Scottish Land Commission's advice to Scottish Ministers.

To help prepare for scrutiny of the next Climate Change Plan the Committee agreed to write to Audit Scotland, The Scottish Fiscal Commission, Environmental Standards Scotland and the Climate Change Committee.

The Committee considered a letter from the Parliamentary Bureau seeking views on the establishment of a Scottish Parliament committee focussed on the A9 Dualling Programme. The Committee agreed to respond indicating that their preference would be for there to be a dedicated transport and infrastructure committee.

The Committee agreed to invite Scottish Water to give evidence at a future meeting. The Committee agreed to seek to arrange a visit to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh before summer recess.