Minutes: 25 September 2024

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025 to 2026:

The Committee took evidence from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, supported by George Burgess, Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy, Nuala Gormley, Deputy Director, Marine Science, Evidence, Data and Digital, Rebecca Hackett, Deputy Director and Portfolio Lead, Corporate, Strategy, Karen Morley, Head of Agriculture and Rural Economy and Brendan Callaghan, Director of Operational Delivery, Scottish Forestry, Scottish Government.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2024 from—

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, supported by John Speirs, Senior Policy Advisor, SASA Policy and Pesticide Survey Unit and David Corrigall, Lawyer, Scottish Government .

3. Subordinate legislation:

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity moved—

S6M-14346—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2024 be approved.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Rural Development (Continuation of Operation) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 from—

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, supported by James Muldoon, Head of Agriculture Support Policy Development unit and Lewis Kerr, Lawyer, Scottish Government.

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee agreed to defer this item to a future meeting.

6. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Charges for Residues Surveillance Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/218) from—

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, supported by Keith White, Lawyer and Jesus Gallego, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Scottish Government.

7. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Charges for Residues Surveillance Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/218)

8. Pre-Budget Scrutiny(In Private):

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 1 at its next meeting.

9. Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland(In Private):

The Committee agreed to defer this item to its next meeting.