Rural Affairs Committee
1st Meeting, 2026
Members of the Committee were invited to declare any relevant interests. Mark Ruskell declared an interest as an Honorary Associate Member of the British Veterinary Association. Andrew Baxter declared an interest as a Councillor for the Highland Council. Dawn Black declared an interest as a Councillor for Aberdeenshire Council. Finlay Carson declared an interest as an Honorary Associate Member of the British Veterinary Association. Other members said that they had no relevant interests to declare.
The Committee chose Andrew Baxter as Deputy Convener.
The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.
The Committee considered its work programme and agreed (1) to issue a targeted call for views on the Scottish Government’s Rural Support Plan; (2) to take oral evidence on the Rural Support Plan in September 2026; and (3) to hold a business planning event in August 2026. The Committee agreed to delegate final agreement of arrangements and witnesses to the Convener and for the Convener to consult the Deputy Convener on these matters.