Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Minutes: 21 February 2024
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
5th Meeting, 2024
Minutes
1. Declaration of interests:
Emma Harper and Elena Whitham were invited to declare any relevant interests. Emma Harper and Elena Whitham indicated that they had no interests to declare.
2. Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill:
The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, supported by Andrew Crawley, Lawyer, John Kerr, Head of Agriculture Policy and Ewen Scott, Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill Team Leader, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation:
The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024 (SSI 2024/6) to its next meeting.
4. UK subordinate legislation:
The Committee considered a proposal 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—
Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Official Controls (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Sea Fisheries (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
The Committee agreed that the provisions set out in the notifications should be included in the UK SIs.
5. Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill:
The Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2 (Day 2).
Edward Mountain declared an interest as a member of a family farming partnership.
Jamie Halcro Johnston declared he is a partner in an organic farming business, J Halcro Johnston and Sons, and a member of the NFUS and Scottish Land and Estates.