Committee
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee 10 December 2025 [Draft]
10 Dec 2025 · S6 · Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Item of business
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Good morning, and welcome to the 35th meeting of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in 2025. Before we begin, I ask everyone to ensure that their electronic devices are switched to silent. This morning, Rhoda Grant will join us remotely.
Our remaining item on today’s agenda is consideration of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at stage 2. We still have quite a few groupings to get through, so I ask everyone to be as succinct as possible when speaking to their amendments. I welcome Jim Fairlie, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, who is supported by Scottish Government officials. I also welcome other members who join us at stage 2. Officials seated at the table are here to support the minister, but they are not permitted to speak in the debates on amendments.
As we have a member who is participating remotely, I will briefly explain the procedure for hybrid stage 2. If at any stage we lose connection, I will suspend proceedings. Rhoda Grant’s camera will be kept on at all times, and Ms Grant should raise her hand at the appropriate time for each vote.
Section 33—Removal of requirements related to licensing to deal in venison
In the same item of business
The Convener (Finlay Carson)
Con
Good morning, and welcome to the 35th meeting of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in 2025. Before we begin, I ask everyone to ensure that their electr...
The Convener
Con
Amendment 321, in the name of Tim Eagle, is grouped with amendments 252, 322, 323, 75, 254 and 255.
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Good morning. To follow your suggestion, convener, I will try to be brief not only with my notes but also by not speaking very much to others’ amendments. S...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Amendment 75 seeks to set up a venison action plan. We need to better control deer numbers, and the bill seeks to improve deer control. Better control should...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
Amendment 254 would require ministers to introduce a venison action plan that sets out what action Scottish ministers will take to ensure that public bodies ...
The Convener
Con
Thank you for that bit of culture—I am just glad that it did not go to a tune. Laughter. It might be a bit early for a song.
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
I will get straight into it. We have a lot to get through, so I will be as brief as I possibly can be. On amendments 321 and 252, I fundamentally disagree w...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
Will the deer management plan have a specific reference to a review or action plan to address the fact that, since 1990, there is double the amount of deer? ...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I absolutely concur. As we start to develop the deer action plan, venison will be very much part of the process. I have said a number of times in this commit...
The Convener
Con
I invite Tim Eagle to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 321.
Tim Eagle
Con
I have nothing more to add. I press amendment 321.
The Convener
Con
The question is, that amendment 321 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
Con
There will be a division. For Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Against Allan, Alasdair (Na ...
The Convener
Con
The result of the division is: For 2, Against 7, Abstentions 0. Amendment 321 disagreed to. Amendment 252 not moved. Section 33 agreed to. After section ...
The Convener
Con
Amendment 74, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendment 253.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
At stage 1, a range of views were expressed by stakeholders, members and the committee, especially about the long-term impact and effectiveness of the propos...
Tim Eagle
Con
My amendment 253 would provide for a review to be carried out of the operation and effect of the powers in sections 13, 14, 15 and 16 after five years. I bel...
The Convener
Con
As no other members wish to speak, I invite the minister to wind up.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
Although amendment 253 is well intentioned, it contains a fundamental flaw. The provisions in the bill will not be commenced in unison—a staggered approach w...
The Convener
Con
I suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of ministers. 09:05 Meeting suspended. 09:07 On resuming—
The Convener
Con
Amendment 11, in the name of Mercedes Villalba, is grouped with amendments 13, 78 to 88, 158 to 164, 304, 304A and 304B. Amendments 304A and 304B are direct ...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Good morning. I want to start by thanking the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Parliament’s legislation team for their support in drafting these amendments...
The Convener
Con
Will the member give way?
Mercedes Villalba
Lab
Sure.
The Convener
Con
I wonder whether the member appreciates that deer fencing is not selective and that it is equally important for the establishment of new native woodland and ...
Mercedes Villalba
Lab
I am happy to agree with the member on that point. As I have said, the amendment seeks to address the risk of displacing the problem instead of its being tac...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I will speak to amendments 78 and 79 on behalf of Ariane Burgess. Amendment 78 would establish a requirement to consult with communities in relation to new ...
Tim Eagle
Con
I will touch on some of Mercedes Villalba’s amendments. I am sympathetic to amendment 13, regarding urban areas, but my understanding is that, through the Sc...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
I will say at the outset that I agree with many of the points of principle behind quite a few of Mercedes Villalba’s amendments in this group, and I am happy...
The Convener
Con
I call Mercedes Villalba to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 11.