Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Official Report 431KB pdf

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Annual Report

Agenda item 5 is consideration of a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 12 May 2016 to 11 May 2017. Hasn’t time flown? I refer members to the draft report and invite any comments.

The report reflects very well the wide range and depth of the scrutiny that we have attempted in this committee. I would like to see a little more detail under point 3, on the draft climate change plan, because that was one of the major areas that we scrutinised and took evidence on in the past year. I wonder whether we might highlight that the committee agreed, in its report, to scrutinise the final plan further and to monitor the plan once it is finalised and as it develops. I am keen to highlight those two points, and possibly others if other committee members feel that it would be appropriate, but a little more detail on that area would be valuable.

That seems to be a reasonable point. Are there any other views on that?

Do we need to mention in the annual report the chamber debates that we have had, such as on climate change and deer management?

It seems reasonable to suggest adding those in too, since we have had a couple of debates.

I suggest that clerks draft the formal wording for what Claudia Beamish suggested and that it is sent to members for agreement, rather than waiting for next week’s meeting. If members respond by tomorrow evening, that would be helpful, so that we can get the report completed. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

The annual report will be published next week.

During the next meeting, on 23 May, the committee will consider its work programme and PE1615, on state-regulated licensing for game bird hunting in Scotland.

12:00 Meeting continued in private until 12:35.