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Chamber and committees

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

The Committee focuses on areas including:

  • rural land use, including forestry, farming and crofting
  • food and drink supply chain
  • animal welfare and wildlife crime
  • fisheries and aquaculture
  • issues relevant to the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 

The Committee's name changed from Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee to Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 1 February 2023. 

Next meeting of the committee

Details of the next meeting are not available yet.

Dates for future meetings

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee usually meets weekly on Wednesdays.

Previous meetings of the committee

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Work of the Committee: Current work

Work of the Committee: Completed work

Work of the Committee: Future work

The Committee has agreed its work programme. Please note, this may be updated to reflect changing parliamentary business 

Petition PE1490: Control of wild goose numbers 

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act: Commencement of Part 2

9 October 2025

Letter from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, 9 October 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Joint scrutiny of the draft Climate Change Plan

9 October 2025

Letter from the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, 9 October 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

UK subordinate legislation: Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025

9 October 2025

Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, 9 October 2025

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 1, Subordinate legislation

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Subordinate Legislation, Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Interests, Decision on Taking Business in Private, National Good Food Nation Plan

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, European Union-United Kingdom Co-operation Agreement

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Galloway and Ayrshire National Park Proposal

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Subordinate Legislation, Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Subordinate Legislation

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

07 October 2025

Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 24 September 2025

This report details the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the draft Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025.

30 September 2025

Stage 1 report on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

A report by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee regarding its consideration of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.

02 July 2025

Stage 1 report on the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill

This report sets out the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.

Work of the Committee: Committee Remit

To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, with the exception of matters relating to land reform, natural resources and peatland, Scottish Land Commission, Crown Estate Scotland, and Royal Botanic Garden.

Current Members

A photo of Finlay Carson MSP

Finlay Carson

Convener
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
A photo of Beatrice Wishart MSP

Beatrice Wishart

Deputy Convener
Scottish Liberal Democrats
A photo of Alasdair Allan MSP

Alasdair Allan

Member
Scottish National Party
A photo of Ariane Burgess MSP

Ariane Burgess

Member
Scottish Green Party
A photo of Tim Eagle MSP

Tim Eagle

Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
A photo of Rhoda Grant MSP

Rhoda Grant

Member
Scottish Labour
A photo of Emma Harper MSP

Emma Harper

Member
Scottish National Party
A photo of Emma Roddick MSP

Emma Roddick

Member
Scottish National Party
A photo of Evelyn Tweed MSP

Evelyn Tweed

Member
Scottish National Party

Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members

Call for views

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is not currently seeking views on any of its current inquiries

Get in touch

If you want to get in touch, you can contact Emma Johnston, the Clerk for the committee.