The Committee reports to Parliament as follows—

On 13 April 2017, Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/113) were laid before the Parliament and referred to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (the Committee). The Regulations are subject to the negative procedure (Rule 10.4).

Mark Ruskell MSP had, by motion S5M-05579, proposed that the Committee recommend the Regulations be annulled.

At its meeting on 16 May 2017, the Committee took evidence on the Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/113) from—

• Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Scottish Government;

• Bill Brash, Environmental Impact Assessment Transposition Manager, Scottish Government;

• Claire Dodd, Flooding and Reservoirs Policy Officer, Scottish Government;

• Barry McCaffrey, Solicitor, Scottish Government; and

• Brendan Callaghan, Head of Grants and Regions, Forestry Commission Scotland.

Following the evidence session, Mark Ruskell moved motion S5M-05579—

That the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee recommends that the Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (SSI 2017/113) be annulled.

After debate, the motion was disagreed to, by division (For 2, Against 8, Abstentions 0).

The evidence taken, and debate held, at the meeting on this instrument can be found in the Official Report (available from 16 May 2017) at the following link:

Official Reports Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee