Minutes: 05 November 2025

Wednesday, 05 November 2025

30th Meeting, 2025

Start time:09:08am

End time: 12:00pm

Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room

Published: Thursday, 06 November 2025

Committee Members Attendees:

Also Present:

Mark Ruskell, Maurice Golden, Rachael Hamilton and Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

Minutes

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard as part of its scrutiny of the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill in private at this and future meetings. The Committee also agreed to consider draft reports on the Bill in private at future meetings.

2. Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill:

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

Alison Irving, Principal Clerk, Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.

3. Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill:

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

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Andrew Voas, Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare and Keith White, Lawyer, Scottish Government.

4. Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2.

The following amendments were agreed to (without division): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

The following amendments were moved and, no member having objected, withdrawn:  19, 23, 29.

Amendment 24 was pre-empted.

The following amendments were not moved: 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31.


The following provisions were agreed to without amendment: sections 1, 6, 7, 8.


The following provisions were agreed to as amended: sections 2, 4 and the long title.

The Committee completed Stage 2 consideration of the Bill.

5. Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill(In private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.