The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 2045 contributions
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 31 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
We had similar conversations during the passage of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill. In that case, we established the need for a good working relationship between NatureScot and land managers to ensure that this type of thing is taken into account in procedures. The bit that concerns me slightly is not the revocation of a licence—I have no qualms about that—but the suspension of a licence. In that respect, we need to ensure that a good relationship exists between NatureScot and land managers. Are we doing anything to encourage that?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 31 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
We will move on to the theme of rural economy impacts and property rights. Clearly, as is usual, there are two sides to that argument as we go through the process. The policy memorandum states that
“The Bill is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights”.
How did the Scottish Government come to the conclusion, in its business and regulatory impact assessment, that there will be little or no impact on those businesses that comply with existing law? How would it seek to reassure rural estates that are raising concerns about the prospect of an additional administrative and financial burden associated with licensing?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 31 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
To go back to the convener’s previous point, if we want the code of conduct to facilitate licensing, will it be a prerequisite to have the code in place before the licence is granted?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 31 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
That is the point that I was going to come to. If there is evidence of somebody illegally tampering with a trap or setting a trap illegally with the aim of someone else taking the fall, is there a way of prosecuting individuals who carry out that activity?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 31 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
I accept that fully. I would just like to have clarification of what the illegal activity is and how it would be prosecuted.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 24 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
Good morning, cabinet secretary. The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 states that annual reports must contain information
“about the extent to which the outcomes identified in the national islands plan have improved in the reporting year”.
How would you say that the outcomes for island communities have improved since 2019?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 24 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
You talked about the £4.1 million in the latest round of funding, and I think that I am right in saying that an additional £2 million of funding will go to the South Uist community centre. How has the funding that has been awarded been received locally, and what does the Government hope that it will achieve? I presume that island communities are pleased to have that extra funding.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 24 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
There is good, strong local engagement. Local steering groups are helping to develop things.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 24 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
We have the islands growth deal, the Argyll and Bute rural growth deal and the Ayrshire growth deal, which probably all intersect with the national islands plan.
What recent communications have you had with the United Kingdom Government regarding its proposed rural visa pilot?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 24 May 2023
Jim Fairlie
There is a requirement for indicators for the strategic objectives—sorry, I cannot get my tongue around that. Have those indicators actually been developed?