Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting Minutes
22nd Meeting, 2023
- Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2023
- Session: 6
- Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
- Meeting opened at: 09:07
- Meeting closed at: 12:37
- Published: Thursday, September 14, 2023 10:43am
Committee Members Attendees
- Finlay Carson (Convener)
- Beatrice Wishart (Deputy Convener)
- Karen Adam (Member)
- Alasdair Allan (Member)
- Ariane Burgess (Member)
- Kate Forbes (Member)
- Rhoda Grant (Member)
- Rachael Hamilton (Member)
Apologies received from
Also Present
Edward Mountain (MSP)
1 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee took evidence on the draft Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 from—
Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, supported by Hugh Dignon, Head of Wildlife Management Unit, Norman Munro, Solicitor and Brodie Wilson, Policy Manager, Wildlife Management Unit, Scottish Government .
2 Subordinate legislation:
Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity moved—
S6M-09640—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be approved.
The motion was agreed to by division: For 6, Against 2, Abstentions 0.
3 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee took evidence on the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 from—
Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Hugh Dignon, Head of Wildlife Management Unit, Norman Munro, Solicitor and Brodie Wilson, Policy Manager, Wildlife Management Unit, Scottish Government .
4 Subordinate legislation:
Edward Mountain moved—
S6M-10137—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be annulled.
Edward Mountain declared an interest in a land farming partnership with wild deer grazing.After debate, the motion was agreed to by division: For 4, Against 4, Abstentions 0; motion agreed to on casting vote.
5 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee considered the following negative instrument—
Cereal Seed (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023
The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.
6 Bracken control:
The Committee took evidence from—
Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, supported by Jackie Hughes, Deputy Director Agriculture and Rural Economy and Head of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture , Romy Strachan, Policy Officer and Jack Bloodworth, Principal Science Advisor, Rural & Environmental Science and Analytical Services Division, Scottish Government.
7 Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill(In Private):
The Committee agreed to consider the draft Stage 1 report at a later meeting.