Minutes: 09 September 2026

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

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

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/240)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

3. Rural Support Plan:

The Committee took evidence from—

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:

The Committee reviewed the evidence heard under agenda item 3.

5. Work programme:

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands to discuss the Scottish Government’s Rural Support Plan, pre-budget scrutiny and the Programme for Government on 7 October.

The Committee agreed to seek to hold a Committee debate on the Scottish Government’s Rural Support Plan following publication of its report on the plan later in the year.

The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs asking for details on the Scottish Government’s current approach to rural and island proofing, and any developments they foresee in the next 12 months.

The Committee agreed to respond to a letter from a cross-party group of island MSPs regarding post-legislative scrutiny of the Islands Act.

The Committee agreed for the Convener to seek a meeting with the Conveners of the Climate Action and Criminal Justice Committees to discuss cross-committee working on the issue of wildfires.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government asking for timescales and scopes of the reviews into wildfires being carried out.

The Committee agreed to undertake an inquiry into outdoor access and consider an approach paper at a future meeting.

The Committee agreed to undertake an inquiry into wild salmon and consider an approach paper at a future meeting.

The Committee agreed to undertake an inquiry into inshore fisheries and consider an approach paper at a future meeting.

The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, setting out the Committee’s preferred approach to the appointment of the Land and Communities Commissioner.