Present:

Also Present: John Home Robertson, MSP

Apologies were received from: Mrs Cathy Peattie and Mr John Munro.

The meeting opened at 12.04 pm.

1. Nomination of members to attend discussion of the Highlands and Islands Draft Plan 2000- 2006: The Committee agreed that Rhoda Grant and Lewis Macdonald should attend the meeting of the European Committee which was scheduled to discuss this paper and report back.

2. Consideration of the ban on shellfish fishing due to Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP): The Committee considered the impact of the current ban on shellfishing and agreed to:

• add this issue to the Committee’s list of priorities as determined in previous meetings;

• Invite representatives from the fishing industry, processing sector, SERAD, the Marine Laboratory, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to give evidence on this issue during the meeting scheduled for 21 September 1999; and
• give the Convener the discretion to invite the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland to appear in front of them to answer questions regarding both the shellfishing ban and the beef on the bone ban; this meeting to take place as soon as possible, but before the 5th October 1999.

3. Consideration of future business: The Committee discussed a number of issues that it wished to consider at future meetings. In particular, the Committee agreed to ask the Minister and others to attend the Committee meeting on 7 September to discuss current issues in the sheep industry.

The meeting closed at 1.07 pm.