Minutes: 23 September 2026

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.

2. Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026 – evidence:

The Committee took evidence on the Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026 (SG/2026/193) from—

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, supported by Simon Girling, Veterinary Advisor and Grant McLarty, Solicitor, Scottish Government.

3. Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026 – motion recommending approval:

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands moved—

S7M-01087—That the Rural Affairs Committee recommends that the Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026 (SG/2026/193) be approved.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the Charges for Residues Surveillance Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/249).

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

5. Forestry:

The Committee took evidence from—

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:

The Committee took evidence from—

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 (in private):

The Committee reviewed the evidence heard under agenda items 5 and 6.

8. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered its work programme. The Committee discussed its approach to an upcoming inquiry on outdoor access in Scotland. The Committee agreed a scope for the inquiry; to issue a public call for views; to seek to undertake up to two visits to support the inquiry; to consider at a later date a proposal for community engagement work; and to two groups of witnesses to begin the inquiry, delegating authority to the Convener to sign off a final list of witnesses for those two meetings.

The Committee also agreed to delegate authority to the Convener to sign off a report on the Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice (Revocation) (Scotland) Notice 2026.