Minutes: 20 April 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 6 in private.

2. Petition PE1758: End greyhound racing in Scotland:

The Committee considered a petition by Gill Docherty, on behalf of Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation, calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to put an end to greyhound racing in Scotland and took evidence from—

Gill Docherty, petitioner, and Jacqueline Brown, Secretary, Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. The Committee also agreed to write to the British Veterinary Association, Fife Council, the Gambling Commission, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, Police Scotland, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Thornton Greyhounds.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Amendment) Order 2022 [draft] from—

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform,

Neil Macleod, Principal Legal Officer and Caspian Richards, Head of Policy and Pesticide Survey Unit, Science and advice for Scottish Agriculture, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation:

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform moved—S6M-03604—

That the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee recommends that the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Amendment) Order 2022 [draft] be approved.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to confirm that it is content for consent to be given to these instruments.

5. UK subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to the following UK statutory instruments—

Common Agricultural Policy (Cross-Compliance Exemptions and Transitional Regulation) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022; and

Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022.

The Committee agreed that the provisions set out in the notifications should be included in the UK SIs.

6. Draft Joint Fisheries Statement:

The Committee considered a draft letter to the Scottish Government and various changes were agreed to. The Committee agreed to finalise the letter by email correspondence.