Minutes: 31 May 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 7 in private.

2. Rural Affairs and Islands remit:

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 and Annabel Turpie, Director of Marine Scotland, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Animal By-Products and Animal Health (Miscellaneous Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 from—

      Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, supported by Alastair Douglas, Head of Disease Control branch, Animal Health and Welfare Division, and Keith White, Solicitor, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation:

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands moved—

S6M-08906—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Animal By-Products and Animal Health (Miscellaneous Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Animal Health (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment and Revocation) (Scotland) Order 2023

6. Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill:

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

Hugh Dignon, Head of Wildlife Management Unit, Leia Fitzgerald, Team Leader, Wildlife Legislation Team, Sam Turner, Team Leader, Wildlife Management Team and Norman Munro, Solicitor, Scottish Government.

7. Rural Affairs and Islands remit(In Private):

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence it heard at a later meeting.

8. Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill(In Private):

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence it heard at a later meeting.