Minutes: 20 December 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill:

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

Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive, Confor;

David Harley, Chief Officer, Circular Economy, Scottish Environment Protection Agency;

Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser, Scottish Land and Estates;

Ross Lilley, Head of Natural Resource Management, NatureScot;

Ross MacLeod, Head of Policy Scotland, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust;

Professor Davy McCracken, Head of Integrated Land Management Department, Scotland’s Rural College;

Professor Dave Reay, Executive Director, Edinburgh Climate Change Institute;

Alastair Seaman, Director for Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland;

Vicki Swales, Head of Land Use Policy, RSPB Scotland;

Kirsty Tait, Director for Scotland, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Scotland;

Euan Ross, Scotland Manager, Nature Friendly Farming Network.

3. UK subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered proposals by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating in a devolved area as set out in the following UK statutory instrument proposals—

Movement of Goods (Northern Ireland to Great Britain) (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) Regulations 2024

Amendment to The Definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 

The Committee agreed that the provisions set out in the notification should be included in the UK SI.

4. Common frameworks:

The Committee agreed a draft letter to the Scottish Government.