Meetings

This is all meetings of Rural Affairs Committee held in 2026. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

7th Meeting

07 October

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Rural Support Plan
Show witnesses
• Gillian Martin
  Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Jim Fairlie
  Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
  Scottish Government
• Anna Densham
  Deputy Director, Land Reform, Rural & Islands Policy
  Scottish Government
• John Kerr
  Head of Agriculture Policy
  Scottish Government
• James Muldoon
  Head of Agriculture Support Policy Development Unit
  Scottish Government
3. Pre-Budget scrutiny and Programme for Government
Show witnesses
• Gillian Martin
  Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Jim Fairlie
  Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
  Scottish Government
• John Kerr
  Head of Agriculture Policy
  Scottish Government
• Clare Morley
  CARA Portfolio Finance Lead
  Scottish Government
• Sean Neill
  Director, Energy and Climate Change
  Scottish Government
4. Review of evidence: Rural Support Plan
5. Review of evidence: Pre-budget scrutiny and Programme for Government

6th Meeting

30 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Marine and fisheries – evidence
Show witnesses
• Alistair Bally Philp
  National Coordinator
  Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation
• Elspeth MacDonald
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Fishermen’s Federation
• Elaine Whyte
  Executive Secretary
  Communities Inshore Fisheries Alliance
and then from:
• Calum Duncan
  Principal Policy Specialist
  Marine Conservation Society
• Jessica Jones
  Convenor, Marine Group
  Scottish Environment LINK
• Annabel Lawrence
  Member of CAOLAS, Member group
  Coastal Communities Network
• Heather McFarlane
  Senior Project Manager
  Fidra
• Phil Taylor
  Director
  Open Seas
3. Marine and fisheries – evidence
4. Work programme

5th Meeting

23 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026 – evidence
Show witnesses
• Jim Fairlie
  Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
  Scottish Government
• Simon Girling
  Veterinary Advisor
  Scottish Government
• Grant McLarty
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026 – motion recommending approval
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Forestry
Show witnesses
• Stuart Goodall
  Chief Executive
  Confor
• Paul Lowe
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Forestry
• Simon Ritchie
  Policy and Advocacy Manager
  Woodland Trust Scotland
• Andy Rockall
  Chief Executive
  Community Woodlands Association
6. Peatlands
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• Professor Roxane Andersen
  Senior Research Fellow
  UHI North, West and Hebrides
• Andy Ford
  Director of Nature and Climate Change
  Cairngorms National Park Authority
• Peter Hutchinson
  Head of Peatland Programme and Strategy
  NatureScot
• Richard Lindsay
  Senior Research Advisor
  IUCN UK Peatland Programme
7. Review of evidence
8. Work programme

4th Meeting

16 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Rural Support Plan
Show witnesses
• Dr Vera Eory
  Reader in Sustainable Agriculture
  Scotland’s Rural College
• Michael Halliday
  Managing Director
  Scottish Tenant Farmers Association
• Artemis Pana
  National Coordinator
  Scottish Rural Action
• Pete Ritchie
  Director
  Nourish Scotland
• Dr Mike Robinson
  Chief Executive
  Royal Scottish Geographical Society
• Kate Rowell
  Chair
  Quality Meat Scotland
• Professor Steven Thomson
  Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy
  Scotland’s Rural College
3. Rural Support Plan – review of evidence

3rd Meeting

09 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Rural Support Plan
Show witnesses
• Tim Bailey
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society
• Ed Barker
  Head of Policy
  Agricultural Industries Confederation Scotland
• Kevin Cumming
  Deputy Convenor
  Scottish Rewilding Alliance
• Eleanor Kay
  Senior Policy Adviser for Agriculture and Climate Change
  Scottish Land and Estates
• Nim Kibbler
  Country Manager for Scotland
  Nature Friendly Farming Network
• Vicki Swales
  Head of Land Use Policy
  RSPB Scotland
4. Rural Support Plan – review of evidence
5. Work programme

2nd Meeting

02 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Rural Support Plan
Show witnesses
• Jonnie Hall
  Deputy CEO and Director of Policy
  National Farmers Union Scotland
• Martin Kennedy
  Former President, National Farmers Union Scotland
• Professor Davy McCracken
  Deputy Head of School of Natural & Social Sciences
  Scotland’s Rural College
• David McKay
  Co-Director
  Soil Association Scotland
• Professor Dave Reay
  Co-chair
  Just Transition Commission
• Donna Smith
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Crofting Federation
4. Rural Support Plan – review of evidence

1st Meeting

24 June

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Deputy Convener
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Work programme