Chamber and committees

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Meeting Minutes

28th Meeting, 2023

Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Session: 6
Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
Meeting opened at: 09:00
Meeting closed at: 12:31
Published: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 02:38pm

Committee Members Attendees

1 Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to review the evidence heard on future agriculture policy in private at its next meeting.

2 Future agriculture policy:

The Committee took evidence from—

Chris Brown, Sustainable Business Director, ASDA;

Sophie Throup, Technical and Sustainability Director, Manufacturing, Morrisons.

3 Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Libby Anderson, Member, Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC);

Bob Elliot, Director, OneKind;

Glynn Evans, Head of Game and Wildlife Management, British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC);

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland, Scottish Land and Estates;

Jessica Findlay, Moorland Licensing Project Manager, NatureScot;

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn, Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA);

Conor Kelly, Gamekeeper, Scottish Gamekeepers Association;

Ross MacLeod, Head of Policy (Scotland), Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust;

Penny Middleton, Policy Manager, National Farmers Union Scotland;

and then from—

Iain Batho, Head of Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;

Susan Davies, Review Lead, Independent Taskforce on SSPCA Powers;

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland, Scottish Land and Estates;

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn, Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA);

Detective Sergeant David Lynn, National Wildlife Crime Coordinator, Police Scotland;

Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations, RSPB Scotland;

Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly, National Wildlife Crime Unit.