Minutes: 17 November 2021

1. Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on legislative consent Memorandum LCM-S6-1 from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Keith White, Solicitor and Andrew Voas, Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare, Scottish Government .

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Eggs (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Judith Brown, Solicitor, Joe Kirk, Senior Poultry Officer and Kevin Matheson, Livestock Policy Manager, Scottish Government .

3. Subordinate legislation:

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands moved—S6M-01816 — That the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee recommends that the Eggs (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to without division.

4. Climate and nature emergencies:

The Committee took evidence from—

Professor Bill Austin, Chair, Scotland's Blue Carbon Forum and Professor Sir Ian Boyd,Marine Mammals Specialist, University of St Andrews ;

Susan Davies, Head, Scottish Seabird Centre ;

Professor Paul Fernandes, Chair of Fisheries Science at University of Aberdeen and Dr Tara Marshall,Senior Lecturer in Fisheries Science, Aberdeen University ;

and then from—

Dr Helaina Black, Honorary Associate and Professor Rob Brooker,Head of Ecological Sciences , The James Hutton Institute ;

Professor Pete Smith, Chair in Plant and Soil Science, Aberdeen University;

Professor Marc Metzger, Chair in Environment and Society, University of Edinburgh.