Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
The Committee focuses on areas including:
- rural land use, including forestry, farming and crofting
- food and drink supply chain
- animal welfare and wildlife crime
- fisheries and aquaculture
- issues relevant to the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018
The Committee's name changed from Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee to Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 1 February 2023.
Next meeting of the committee
Start time:
9:00am, Wednesday 21 May 2025
Location: T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room
Agenda:
- Decision on taking business in private
- Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill
- Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill
- Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill (in private)
- Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill (in private)
- Annual report
Future meetings of the committee
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee usually meets weekly on Wednesdays.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
Committee advisers
Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill
Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill
National islands plan
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill
Petition PE1490 Control of wild goose numbers
Petition PE1758 End greyhound racing In Scotland
Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025
Completed work
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Amendment to the Joint Fisheries Statement
Budget scrutiny 2023 to 2024
Budget scrutiny 2024 to 2025
Budget scrutiny 2025 to 2026
Draft Joint Fisheries Statement
Future agriculture policy in Scotland
Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
Inshore fisheries
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Shark Fins Bill
Petition PE1951 Reinstate inshore coastal limit on the use of dredge and trawl fishing gears
Quality Meat Scotland (Amendment) Order 2023
Rural Development (Continuation of Operation) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024
Salmon farming in Scotland
Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) (No. 2) Order 2022 (SSI 2022/35)
Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024
UK Common frameworks
Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Future work
The Committee has agreed its work programme. Please note, this may be updated to reflect changing parliamentary business
Correspondence
Correspondence
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
15 May 2025
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener, 15 May 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Sandeel fishery closure dispute: update to Committee
13 May 2025
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands to the Convener, 13 May 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill letter from John Muir Trust and Trees for Life
9 May 2025
Joint letter from the John Muir Trust and Trees for Life to the Committee, 9 May 2025
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Meeting date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Interests, Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill:Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Future Agriculture Policy, A Climate Transition for Scottish Agriculture
Meeting date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, A Climate Transition for Scottish Agriculture
Meeting date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands”
Reports
Committee reports
Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 19 March 2025
This report details the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the draft Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment Order 2025.
Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 19 February 2025
This report details the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft].
Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 22 January 2025
This report details the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the Conservation of Salmon (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024.
Committee Remit
To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, with the exception of matters relating to land reform, natural resources and peatland, Scottish Land Commission, Crown Estate Scotland, and Royal Botanic Garden.
Current Members
Finlay Carson
Convener
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Beatrice Wishart
Deputy Convener
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Tim Eagle
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Rhoda Grant
Member
Scottish Labour
Emma Harper
Member
Scottish National Party
Emma Roddick
Member
Scottish National Party
Mark Ruskell
Member
Scottish Green Party
Evelyn Tweed
Member
Scottish National Party
Elena Whitham
Member
Scottish National Party
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members