Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting Minutes
5th Meeting, 2023
- Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2023
- Session: 6
- Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
- Meeting opened at: 09:05
- Meeting closed at: 12:05
- Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 01:31pm
Committee Members Attendees
- Finlay Carson (Convener)
- Beatrice Wishart (Deputy Convener)
- Karen Adam (Member)
- Alasdair Allan (Member)
- Ariane Burgess (Member)
- Jim Fairlie (Member)
- Rachael Hamilton (Member)
- Jenni Minto (Member)
- Mercedes Villalba (Member)
1 Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take item 3 in private. The Committee also agreed to review the evidence heard on future agriculture policy in private at future meetings.
2 Future agriculture policy:
The Committee took evidence from—
Douglas Bell, Managing Director, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association;
Dr Gareth Hateley, Junior Vice President Scottish Branch, British Veterinary Association;
Donald MacKinnon, Chair, Scottish Crofting Federation;
Chloe McCulloch, Programme Leader, Farm Advisory Service;
Dr Andrew Midgley, Senior Land Use Policy Officer, Scottish Environment LINK;
Ian Muirhead, Policy Manager, Agricultural Industries Confederation Scotland;
Ross Paton, Chair, Scottish Organic Stakeholders Group;
Pete Ritchie, Director, Nourish Scotland;
Susan Robertson, Regional Officer, Unite the Union;
Denise Walton, Scotland Chair, Nature Friendly Farming Network;
Dr Tara Wight, Scotland Policy and Campaigns Coordinator, Landworkers’ Alliance;
Stephen Young, Head of Policy, Scottish Land and Estates.
3 Future agriculture policy:
The Committee reviewed the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.