RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

MINUTES

10th Meeting, Session 1 (1999) 

3 December 1999

Mrs Cathy Peattie

Also Present for Public Items:

Mr Ross Finnie, Minister for Rural Affairs

Mr Jamie McGrigor, MSP

Mr Fergus Ewing, MSP

Mrs Margaret Ewing, MSP

Dr Winnie Ewing, MSP

The meeting opened at 9.35 am.

1. The Scottish Zone of British Fishery Limits (in private): The Committee resumed consideration of the draft report on this matter.

Following discussion, the Committee divided on the following amendments.

Dr Lewis Macdonald moved that the Committee omit the words ‘ the Committee heard arguments’ from line 1 of paragraph 13, and insert the words ‘some members of the Committee felt’; and that the word ‘However,’ (preceding ‘The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’) also be omitted from this paragraph.

The amendment was agreed to by division: For 8, Against 3.

 

For:	Mr Alex Johnstone	Against	Mr Richard Lochhead
	Mr John Munro		Mrs Irene McGugan
	Mr Mike Rumbles		Mr Alasdair Morgan
	Mrs Rhoda Grant
	Dr Lewis Macdonald
	Dr Elaine Murray
	Mrs Cathy Peattie
	Mr Alex Fergusson

Dr Lewis Macdonald moved that the words ‘on the balance of evidence received’ be omitted from paragraph 14 and that the words ‘after division’ be inserted after ‘the Committee decided’; and further that the words ‘after division’ be inserted at the beginning of paragraph 19, and omitted from the end of the paragraph.

The motion was disagreed to by division: For 5, Against 6.

 

For:	Dr Elaine Murray	Against	Mr John Munro
	Mrs Rhoda Grant		Mr Mike Rumbles
	Dr Lewis Macdonald		Mr Richard Lochhead
	Mrs Cathy Peattie		Mrs Irene McGugan
	Mr Alex Johnstone		Mr Alasdair Morgan
			Mr Alex Fergusson

Mr Mike Rumbles moved that all references to divisions of the Committee be removed from the body of the report and summary of recommendations and findings.

The Motion was agreed to by division: For 6, Against 5.

For:	Mr Richard Lochhead	Against	Mr Alex Johnstone
	Mrs Irene McGugan		Mrs Rhoda Grant
	Mr Alasdair Morgan		Dr Lewis Macdonald
	Mr John Munro		Dr Elaine Murray
	Mr Mike Rumbles		Mrs Cathy Peattie
	Mr Alex Fergusson

The Committee agreed to prepare a final draft of the report as amended, and approved the report for publication, subject to a final draft of the report being checked by Mr Richard Lochhead and Dr Lewis Macdonald.

Administrative arrangements for the launch of the report were also agreed.

The meeting was suspended at 10.12 am until 10.15 am.

2. Inquiry into the impact of changing employment patterns on rural communities: The Committee agreed to consider the views of Reporters on the appointment of a Committee Adviser in private, at the end of the meeting.

3. The Highlands and Islands Agricultural Programme: Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS): The Committee heard evidence from—

Mr Ross Finnie, Minister for Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Robertson, Chief Agricultural Officer and Ms Jan Polley, Head of Agricultural Policy Co-ordination and Rural Development, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department.

The Committee agreed to consider Item 3 further, in private, at the end of the meeting in order to take advice from the Parliament’s audit adviser.

 

4. Westminster Legislation: Sea Fishing Grants (Charges) Bill 1999: The Committee considered a memorandum by the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs and, having heard the Minister for Rural Affairs, agreed that the matter be dealt with at Westminster.

5. Petition: Scottish Homing Union on Raptor Predation: The Committee considered a research note on Petition PE8 (Save Our Sport) from the Scottish Homing Union and agreed to defer further consideration until the publication of the DETR report on Raptor Predation.

6. Petition: National Farmers Union of Scotland on Pesticides: The Committee considered petition PE24 (Proposal to oppose the introduction of a pesticide tax) from the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and agreed to forward the petition to the DETR, and ask for a response on this matter.

7. Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee: The Committee noted a report from Members who attended the 5^th Meeting of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee held in Inverness.

8. National Pig Association: The Committee considered a letter from the National Pig Association Scottish Support Group and agreed that the Convener should meet them. It was further agreed that the Committee would receive briefing on pig farming issues on Thursday 9^th December 1999.

9. Inquiry into the impact of changing employment patterns on rural communities (in private): The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report on the job specification of an adviser. The specification, as amended, was agreed.

10. The Highlands and Islands Agricultural Programme: Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) (in private): The Committee took advice from Mr Dave Fergusson, Audit Adviser to the Parliament. It was agreed that the Convener should write to the Audit Committee Convener, asking that the Comptroller and Auditor General be requested to audit the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme. The Committee agreed to copy this letter to the National Audit Office. The Committee also appointed Rhoda Grant as a Reporter to work with Clerks to prepare an interim report on this matter, for approval at the next meeting of the Committee.

The meeting closed at 1.17 pm.

Richard Davies
Clerk to the Committee