Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Minutes: 08 November 2023
Wednesday, 08 November 2023
28th Meeting, 2023
Minutes
1. Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to review the evidence heard on future agriculture policy in private at its next meeting.
2. Future agriculture policy:
The Committee took evidence from—
Chris Brown, Sustainable Business Director, ASDA;
Sophie Throup, Technical and Sustainability Director, Manufacturing, Morrisons.
3. Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill:
The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Libby Anderson, Member, Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC);
Bob Elliot, Director, OneKind;
Glynn Evans, Head of Game and Wildlife Management, British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC);
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland, Scottish Land and Estates;
Jessica Findlay, Moorland Licensing Project Manager, NatureScot;
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn, Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA);
Conor Kelly, Gamekeeper, Scottish Gamekeepers Association;
Ross MacLeod, Head of Policy (Scotland), Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust;
Penny Middleton, Policy Manager, National Farmers Union Scotland;
and then from—
Iain Batho, Head of Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;
Susan Davies, Review Lead, Independent Taskforce on SSPCA Powers;
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland, Scottish Land and Estates;
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn, Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA);
Detective Sergeant David Lynn, National Wildlife Crime Coordinator, Police Scotland;
Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations, RSPB Scotland;
Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly, National Wildlife Crime Unit.