Minutes: 11 June 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3, 4 and 5 in private.

2. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill:

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

Michael Russell, Chair, Bob McIntosh, Tenant Farming Commissioner, Hamish Trench, Chief Executive and Emma Cooper, Head of Land Rights & Responsibilities, Scottish Land Commission.

Edward Mountain MSP declared an interest in a farming partnership in Moray, as set out in the register of interests. Specifically, he declared an interest as owner of approximately 500 acres of farmed land, of which 50 acres is woodland. He also declared that he is a tenant of approximately 500 acres in Moray under a non-agricultural tenancy and that he has another farming tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. He also declared that he sometimes takes in annual lets for grassland.

3. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

4. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee further considered its approach to visits and community engagement on the Bill. The Committee agreed to undertake a visit to Perthshire as part of its scrutiny on the bill. The Committee also agreed to hold a stakeholder engagement event with Tenant Farmers after the summer recess and to consider further visits and engagements at a future meeting.

5. UK subordinate legislation (In Private):

The Committee considered its approach to scrutiny of 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 proposal—

Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Scottish Environmental Services Association, Chartered Institute of Waste Management Scotland, Resource Management Association Scotland, Fidra and CHEMTrust.