Minutes: 03 June 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument— Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Highland Council) Designation Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/148)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to this instrument and also agreed to write to Highland Council for further information on enforcement.

3. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill:

 

The Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2. 

The following amendments were agreed to (without division): 12 and 13. 

The following amendments were disagreed to (by division)— 

310 (For 2, Against 5, Abstentions 0) 

389 (For 2, Against 5, Abstentions 0) 

The following amendments were moved and, no member having objected, withdrawn: 10 and 11. 

The Committee ended consideration of the Bill for the day, amendment 13 having been disposed of. 

Edward Mountain declared an interest in a farming partnership in Moray, as set out in the register of interests. Specifically, he declared an interest as owner of approximately 500 acres of farmed land, of which 50 acres is woodland. He also declared that he is a tenant of approximately 500 acres in Moray under a non-agricultural tenancy and that he has another farming tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. He also declared that he sometimes take on grass lets on an annual basis and that he is in receipt of agricultural subsidies.

Tim Eagle declared an interest as a sole trader and owner of Hillfords Farm, of Moray, a small sheep and arable farm. 

4. Work programme:

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee agreed to write to Scottish Government expressing concerns regarding the timeline for the laying of regulations to set the Scottish carbon budget.  

The Committee agreed to seek to hold an additional meeting to consider the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 and (if required) to request Parliamentary Bureau approval to holding a meeting when the Chamber is sitting 

The Committee agreed to send a response to the Public Audit Committee letter containing suggestions in relation to the Auditor General for Scotland's Work Programme. 

The Committee agreed to write to SEPA and Scottish Water regarding water scarcity.

In relation to discussion on the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill (in relation to which no decision was taken), Monica Lennon, Member in Charge of the Bill, absented herself from the discussion.