Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Official Report 569KB pdf

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Animals and Food (Transfer of Functions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

Welcome to the committee’s first meeting in 2019. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones so that they do not affect the broadcasting system.

The first item on the agenda is to consider a request to the committee from the Scottish Government, which wishes to consent to the United Kingdom Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to the Animals and Food (Transfer of Functions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018. The notification has also been sent to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee. This morning, we are being asked only to consider the elements of the notification that relate to our remit—that is, those elements concerning animal welfare and zootechnics.

The committee wrote to the Scottish Government before Christmas, seeking further information on a number of points, and a response was received yesterday. Members may consider that the response provides the information that the committee sought.

If there are no comments from members on the letter or the notification, is the committee content for the Scottish Government to give its consent for UK ministers to lay the regulations in the UK Parliament?

Members indicated agreement.

The committee will write to the Scottish Government on that basis. Is the committee happy for me to sign off on that letter?

Members indicated agreement.

At our next meeting, on 15 January, the committee will continue its 2019-20 budget scrutiny and take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work.

As previously agreed, the committee will now move into private session and I request that the public gallery be vacated.