Chamber and committees

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Meeting Minutes

30th Meeting, 2023

Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Session: 6
Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
Meeting opened at: 09:04
Meeting closed at: 12:03
Published: Thursday, November 23, 2023 10:04am

Committee Members Attendees

Apologies received from

Karen Adam (Member)

Substitute Members Attendees

Emma Harper (Substitute Member)

1 Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 9 in private.

2 Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Quality Meat Scotland (Amendment) Order 2023 from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, accompanied by Michelle Colquhoun, Head of Livestock Products Policy and Mairead Mccrossan, Lawyer, Scottish Government.

3 Subordinate legislation:

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands moved—S6M-11038—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Quality Meat Scotland (Amendment) Order 2023 be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

4 Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill:

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

Christine Grahame MSP, Member in Charge of the Bill;

Roz Thomson, Clerk Team Leader, Non-Government Bills Unit and Claudia Bennett, Solicitor, Scottish Parliament.

5 Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 from—

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, accompanied by Clarinda Burrell, Tree Health Policy Implementation Officer, Scottish Forestry and David Corrigall, Solictor, Scottish Government .

6 Subordinate legislation:

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity moved—S6M-10920—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

7 Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Rural Support (Simplification and Improvement) (Scotland) Regulations 2023

Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Fruit and Vegetables) (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023

Animal Welfare and Food Safety (International Professional Qualification Recognition Agreement Implementation) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to these instruments.

8 UK subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered proposals by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating in devolved competence by way of the following UK statutory instrument proposals—

Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations 2024

Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023

The Committee agreed that the provisions set out in the notifications should be included in the UK SIs.

9 Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill (In private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier in the meeting.