Minutes: 22 September 2021

1. Farming and crofting:

The Committee took evidence from—

Beatrice Morrice, Political Affairs Manager, National Farmers Union Scotland;

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

Mike Robinson, Co-chair, Farming for 1.50 Inquiry;

Professor Sally Shortall, Member, Women in Agriculture Taskforce;

and then from—

Stephen Young, Head of Policy, Scottish Land and Estates;

Christopher Nicholson, Chairman, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association;

Pete Ritchie, Chair, Scottish Environment Link Food and Farming Group;

Donald MacKinnon, Chair, Scottish Crofting Federation;

Miranda Geelhoed, Scotland Policy and Campaigns Coordinator, Landworkers’ Alliance.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, John Nicolson, Policy manager, Animal Welfare Team and Grant McLarty, Solicitor, Scottish Government .

3. Subordinate legislation:

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands moved—S6M-00997—That the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee recommends that the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to without division.

4. Farming and crofting (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier in the meeting.