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Two weeks ago, I had a meeting with Professor Karl Linklater of the Scottish Agricultural College. He is concerned about the future of the organisation and about its responsibilities. He and some of his senior officials are able to make a presentation to the committee in the near future to explain those concerns. I had hoped to arrange that for a Tuesday on which the committee is not meeting, but if that is not possible, I hope to find an alternative time before the April recess. Are members content to meet Karl Linklater and others from the Scottish Agricultural College for an informal briefing and to agree a date for that by correspondence?
I would be happy to have the briefing and the background information. I had a brief word with Karl Linklater on a recent visit to the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchencruive. I am concerned that the presentation should cover the widest possible range of work that is undertaken in the college, especially in the context of rural development and the links that are being made in the area of food safety and so on.
I understand that that is the professor's intention.
Given that the presentation will not be part of a committee meeting, would it be worth visiting the college and seeing at first hand the work that is going on there?
The Scottish Agricultural College is dispersed throughout Scotland—it would be difficult to meet in a single place.
I was thinking of Cathy Jamieson's area.
At this point, Professor Linklater is keen to come here—with some of his senior people—to make a presentation to us.
The nearest part of the Scottish Agricultural College is probably in West Lothian. Although it is not quite in my constituency, I am sure that the college would be happy to welcome us there.
People will probably know that the Scottish Agricultural College is planning to close its Thurso veterinary centre. Rumours and counter-rumours are flying around about that and about research grants to different parts of the college. It might be useful to have a report from the Scottish Executive on the research and monitoring work that it commissions from the college before we meet college representatives. I have been led to believe that some of the work that was being carried out at Thurso has been moved to other areas, so it would be important to find out on what basis work is given.
As part of the report from the Scottish Executive, could we have an analysis of the college's funding over the past five years, and projections of its proposed budget over the next three years? I understand that the college faces a possible substantial reduction in its funding. It would be useful to have a clear written statement on its finances before we have the presentation.
It may be worth obtaining views from the NFUS and the Scottish Crofters Union on how the areas covered by the Thurso office would be affected by the closure. I was in Shetland last week and spoke to people involved in farming up there. I felt that, of all the places covered by the Thurso centre, Shetland would be the least affected, given its transport and communication links with Aberdeen, but I was surprised to learn that people in Shetland have grave concerns. It would be useful to get information from Shetland and the other areas that are covered by Thurso.
We can do that. I will liaise with Professor Linklater's office and look for proposals to bring back to the committee.
A more general point is that we have not looked at the role of the Scottish agriculture and biological research institutes, which are funded by SERAD. I know that Cathy Jamieson has been active on a subject concerning one of the SABRIs in her constituency, in which I have a personal interest. That will be coming to an end shortly, so I can talk about it now.
I will contact Professor Linklater's office and bring back a proposal at the earliest opportunity. Are there any other comments on this item?
I would not mind a request for the Scottish Executive to produce a briefing.
Yes.
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