Chamber and committees

We are not able to scrutinise the regulations wholly and fully right now, in my opinion. We are being expected to make our decision on a wing and a prayer. Unfortunately, I do not feel comfortable with that.

Reporting on legacy CAP schemes is a requirement of the rural support plan, but that uses negative procedure.

I understand that. Avoiding cliff edges is incredibly important, but have you read the previous consultation responses?

Why have you left it to the last minute?

I have just made my point to you very succinctly.

I have taken from that that the Scottish Government is recycling its old homework instead of conducting fresh research to inform the SSI on continuing payments. I will leave it there.

What mechanism will the feedback from the ARIOB meeting be put through? Will it be used through the rural support plan?

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 is a framework act and the SSIs are subject to the negative procedure, though. The regulations that are before us are subject to affirmative procedure. The DPLR Committee warned of the Government using Henry VIII powers: this is an example of that, is it not?

But we are talking about the future. We are going round in circles. The rural support plan will be published in 2025, but we are being asked to continue this scheme until 2030.

Mr Fairlie, future SSIs will be subject to the negative procedure.