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Chamber and committees

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

The Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on areas including:

  • farming
  • food and drink supply,
  • animal welfare,
  • fisheries and aquaculture,
  • crofting
  • issues relevant to the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 (external website)

Next meeting

17th Meeting, 2022

Agenda: Work programme, Annual report

09:00am, 25 May 2022

T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room

Find out more about this and other meetings

Get in touch

If you want to get in touch, you can contact Emma Johnston, the Clerk for the committee.

Address: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

Twitter: @SP_RuralAffairs

If you're appearing as a witness at a committee, take a look at our witness guide for more information.

Members

Members of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Current Members

Carson, Finlay

Finlay Carson

Convener

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency)

Wishart, Beatrice

Beatrice Wishart

Deputy Convener

Party: Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for: Shetland Islands (Constituency)

Adam, Karen

Karen Adam

Member

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: Banffshire and Buchan Coast (Constituency)

Allan, Dr Alasdair

Alasdair Allan

Member

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Constituency)

Burgess, Ariane

Ariane Burgess

Member

Party: Scottish Green Party

MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)

Fairlie, Jim

Jim Fairlie

Member

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: Perthshire South and Kinross-shire (Constituency)

Hamilton, Rachael

Rachael Hamilton

Member

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Constituency)

Minto, Jenni

Jenni Minto

Member

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: Argyll and Bute (Constituency)

Villalba, Mercedes

Mercedes Villalba

Member

Party: Scottish Labour

MSP for: North East Scotland (Region)

Substitute Members

Harper, Emma

Emma Harper

Substitute Member

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: South Scotland (Region)

McArthur, Liam

Liam McArthur

Substitute Member

Party: Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for: Orkney Islands (Constituency)

Mountain, Edward

Edward Mountain

Substitute Member

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)

Smyth, Colin

Colin Smyth

Substitute Member

Party: Scottish Labour

MSP for: South Scotland (Region)

Committee work

Current

Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

Petition PE1490 Control of wild goose numbers

Petition PE1758 End greyhound racing In Scotland

UK Common Frameworks

Previous

Draft Joint Fisheries Statement

Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) (No. 2) Order 2022 (SSI 2022/35)

Future

Summary of work programme – agreed 27 October 2021 

General

  • Climate and Nature emergencies – evidence sessions Nov/Dec 2021
  • Biodiversity strategy – impact on RAI remit
  • Natural environment bill - TBC
  • NPF4 – Dec/Jan 2021/22

Land use

  • Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
  • Inquiry into future agriculture and land based policy
  • Deer/grouse moor management and legislation – TBC 
  • Agriculture bill – 2023 TBC
  • Land reform bill - TBC 

Fisheries and aquaculture

  • Review of regulation of fish farms
  • Joint Fisheries Statement
  • Inquiry into blue economy 

Food and drink

  • Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill/good food plans 

Animal welfare

  • Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill – LCM
  • Wildlife crime annual reports
  • Scottish vetinerary service legislation – TBC  

Islands (Scotland) Act 2018

  • Annual reports and report on the operation of the Act; and
  • Associated funding commitments. 

Please note this work programme will be reviewed at regular intervals and does not preclude additional scrutiny being undertaken, where agreed by the Committee.

Correspondence

Committee correspondence

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Subordinate legislation - Non-commercial movement of pet animals (Scotland) amendment regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/131)

Letter fto the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, from the Convener, 23 May 2022

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

UK subordinate legislation - Official Controls (Plant Health) (Frequency of Checks) Regulations 2022 (PH/038) – Protocol With Scottish Parliament

Letter from the Minister for Green skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, to the Convener, 20 May 2022

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

UK subordinate legislation - Official Controls (Extension Of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 – Protocol With Scottish Parliament

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, to the Convener, 18 May 2022

See all of this committee's correspondence

Official Reports

Official Reports

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, European Union Exit: Impact on Rural Affairs and Islands Remit

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Subordinate Legislation, European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Islands (Scotland) Act 2018: Islands Plan Annual Report, European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Reports

Committee reports

20 May 2022

Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee on 18 May 2022

21 April 2022

Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee on 20 April 2022

17 March 2022

Stage 1 report on the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill

This report sets out the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee's consideration of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.

See all of this committee's reports

Remit

To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands.