Minutes: 06 October 2021

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to consider its work programme, pre-budget letter and its approach to Stage 1 scrutiny of the Good Food Nation Bill in private at future meetings.

2. European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018:

The Committee considered the laying procedure for the Official Controls (Transitional Staging Period) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 and agreed that the negative procedure was appropriate.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments— Official Controls (Transitional Staging Period) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021
Meat Preparations (Import Conditions) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2021

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instruments. 

4. European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018:

The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using powers under the Act in relation to the following UK statutory instruments: 

The Animal Health, Plant Health, Seeds and Seed Potatoes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulation 2021;
The Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2021

The Committee agreed that the provisions set out in the notifications should be included in UK SIs.

The Committee also gave retrospective consideration to the following instruments which were consented to by Scottish Ministers during the Parliamentary recess:

The Trade and Official Controls (Transitional Arrangements for Prior Notifications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021;
The Official Controls (Temporary Measures) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2021; and
The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) Regulations 2021.

The Committee agreed to note the decision and write to the Scottish Government for more information about the Scottish and UK Government’s longer-term plans for import checks for plant and animal products as a consequence of EU exit. 

5. Scotland’s Island Communities:

The Committee took evidence from—

Dr Ruth Wilson and Dr Jonathan Hopkins, The James Hutton Institute ;

Philip Raines, Interim Deputy Director, Rural Economy and Communities, Scottish Government;

and then from—

Camille Dressler, Chair, Scottish Islands Federation;

Douglas Cowan, Director of Communities and Place, Highlands and Islands Enterprise;

Artemis Pana, National Coordinator, Scottish Rural Action;

Derek Logie, Chief Executive, Rural Housing Scotland;

Jenny Milne and Alex Reid, Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community ;

Jane Craigie, Director and Kieran Sinclair, Rural Youth Project ;

Ailsa Raeburn, Chair, Community Land Scotland.

6. Evidence Session(In Private)

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