Minutes: 31 January 2024

Wednesday, 31 January 2024

3rd Meeting, 2024

Start time: 09:17am

End time: 12:25pm

Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room

Published: Thursday, 01 February 2024

Committee Member attendees:

Minutes

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill:

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

Professor Sarah Skerratt, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Edinburgh;

Professor Steven Thomson, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy, Scotland’s Rural College;

Theona Morrison, Chair, Scottish Rural Action;

John McCulloch, Agri and Rural Affairs Committee Chair , Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs;

Grant Moir, Chief Executive Officer, Cairngorms National Park Authority;

Douglas Bell, Managing Director, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association;

Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers Scotland;

Rob Clarke, Head of Policy, Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

3. Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee took evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM-S6-41 from—

Gillian Martin, Minister for Energy and the Environment, supported by Grant McLarty, Solicitor and Andrew Voas, Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare, Scottish Government.

4. Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

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