Chamber and committees

We will have to move on. Jim Fairlie is next.

The next question is from Alasdair Allan.

We move on to questions from Emma Harper. I am really conscious of time. We will not get in all the questions that members have to ask. I ask the witnesses to keep their responses as brief as possible.

There is a brief supplementary from Rachael Hamilton, then we will move on to Emma Harper.

Sorry—I missed that.

Thank you, Claire. Several members have questions, but I note that Jackie McCreery wants to comment on what has been said.

We could write to Marine Scotland to ask that question.

If members agree, we will do that.

I am conscious of time. I am sorry, but I must bring the evidence session to a close. I am also conscious that members have questions that they would like to ask. If it is agreeable, we will write to you with the questions that have not been asked today.

I thank Chris Stark and Indra Thillainathan for their time. Later in the meeting, we will reflect on the evidence and consider how to take forward the key issues.

Thank you.

Our first item of business is pre-legislative scrutiny of Scotland’s future agriculture policy, and our first panel comprises representatives of the five farmer-led climate change groups. I welcome to the meeting Jackie McCreery, chair of the dairy sector climate change group; Andy McGowan, chair of the Scottish pig industry leadership group; Andrew Moir, chair of the arable climate change group; Claire Simonetta, a member of the hill, upland and crofting group; and Jim Walker, chair of the suckler beef climate group programme board. Claire and Jim are attending remotely.

We have 90 minutes for questions and discussion.? Members and witnesses who are in the room should raise their hand when they would like to comment. Attendees on the BlueJeans app should type the letter R into the chat box. The clerks will keep a note of the speaking order and I will bring people in in turn.

I will kick off with the first question. We are aware that agriculture was the third largest source of emissions in 2020, accounting for 18.5 per cent of Scotland’s emissions. To start the discussion, will each witness indicate the key areas of emissions reduction and mitigation measures that can be taken in each agricultural sector? I will start with the witnesses who are in the room before I bring in those who are online.