Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
The Committee focuses on areas including:
- rural land use, including forestry, farming and crofting
- food and drink supply chain
- animal welfare and wildlife crime
- fisheries and aquaculture
- issues relevant to the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018
The Committee's name changed from Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee to Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 1 February 2023.
Next meeting
Meeting details are not yet available. They will be published here in due course.
Get in touch
If you want to get in touch, you can contact Emma Johnston, the Clerk for the committee.
Tagh raon-ama: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5985 Find out about call charges.
Post-d: rural.committee@parliament.scot
X (previously known as Twitter): @SP_RuralAffairs
If you're appearing as a witness at a committee, take a look at our witness guide for more information.
Facal-luirg
Tagh raon-ama Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Facal-luirg
Finlay Carson
Convener
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency)
Beatrice Wishart
Deputy Convener
Party: Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for: Shetland Islands (Constituency)
Alasdair Allan
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Constituency)
Ariane Burgess
Member
Party: Scottish Green Party
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Kate Forbes
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch (Constituency)
Rhoda Grant
Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Rachael Hamilton
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Constituency)
Emma Harper
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: South Scotland (Region)
Elena Whitham
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Constituency)
Facal-luirg
Karen Adam
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Banffshire and Buchan Coast (Constituency)
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Liam McArthur
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for: Orkney Islands (Constituency)
Mark Ruskell
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Green Party
MSP for: Mid Scotland and Fife (Region)
Mercedes Villalba
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: North East Scotland (Region)
Committee work
Official Reports
Official Reports
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Shark Fins Bill, Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Budget 2023-24
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Subordinate Legislation, Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill, Avian Flu in Scotland, United Kingdom Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill, United Kingdom Subordinate Legislation, Petition
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Petition, Subordinate Legislation
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Common Frameworks, United Kingdom Subordinate Legislation
Reports
Committee reports
Subordinate legislation considered by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 20 March 2024
This report details the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the draft Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024.
Stage 1 report on the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
This report sets out the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.
Stage 1 report on the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill
This report sets out the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's consideration of the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.