Minutes: 07 October 2026

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private.

2. Rural Support Plan:

The Committee took evidence from—

Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, supported by John Kerr, Head of Agriculture Policy, Anna Densham, Deputy Director, Land Reform, Rural & Islands Policy and James Muldoon, Head of Agriculture Support Policy Development Unit, Scottish Government.

3. Pre-Budget scrutiny and Programme for Government:

The Committee took evidence as part of its scrutiny preceding the Scottish Government’s Budget 2026-27 from—

Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, Jim Fairlie,Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, supported by Sean Neill, Director, Energy and Climate Change, John Kerr, Head of Agriculture Policy and Clare Morley, CARA Portfolio Finance Lead, Scottish Government.

4. Review of evidence: Rural Support Plan

The Committee reviewed the evidence heard under agenda item 2.

5. Review of evidence: Pre-budget scrutiny and Programme for Government

The Committee reviewed the evidence heard under agenda item 3.