Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Name	Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Legislature	Scottish Parliament
Type	Committee
Established	2021
Jurisdiction	Scotland
Chamber	Scottish Parliament

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee is a committee of the Scottish Parliament tasked with scrutiny of Scottish executive activity in rural, island and environmental matters. It examines legislation, conducts inquiries, reports to the Scottish Parliament, and engages with stakeholders from the Highlands and Islands, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Western Isles. The committee interacts with ministers such as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, and with bodies including NatureScot, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Crown Estate Scotland.

Background and remit

The committee was formed following committee reviews after the 2021 election, reflecting priorities articulated in debates at Holyrood, the 2021 Scottish Parliament election and policy platforms from parties such as the Scottish National Party, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour Party and Scottish Greens. Its remit covers administration of laws like the Agriculture (Retained EU Law) (Scotland) Act 2023 and areas overseen by ministers who succeeded holders of portfolios previously held by figures like Fergus Ewing and Mairi Gougeon. The committee scrutinises interactions among agencies including Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot), Marine Scotland, and statutory instruments deriving from frameworks such as the UK Fisheries Act 2020 and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Membership and officers

Membership comprises MSPs nominated from party groups represented at Holyrood, including members from the Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Conservatives, and Scottish Liberal Democrats. Officers typically include a convener and deputy conveners analogous to positions in the Finance and Public Administration Committee and the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. Past chairs and members have included MSPs who also served on cross-party groups relating to the Crofters Commission legacy, the National Farmers Union Scotland engagement, and island-specific interests tied to constituencies such as Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, and Argyll and Bute.

Procedures and meetings

The committee follows Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament, hears evidence sessions similar to those of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, and publishes agendas and minutes on the parliamentary website alongside reports like those of the Public Audit Committee. Meetings are held in committee rooms at Parliament House, Edinburgh and, where relevant, in towns across the Highlands, Isles of Lewis, Shetland, Kirkwall and Stornoway for take‑evidence sessions. It summons witnesses from organisations such as Scottish Forestry, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Scotland), and academic centres like the University of Aberdeen, University of Stirling, and Scottish Association for Marine Science.

Key inquiries and reports

Notable inquiries include investigations into the impact of Common Agricultural Policy withdrawal on Scottish farms, bespoke island proofing work following recommendations from reports like the National Islands Plan, and biodiversity-focused studies motivated by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity targets and the Aichi Targets. Reports have examined crofting reform in light of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 legacy, fisheries management linked to the London Fisheries Convention context, and peatlands and carbon sequestration reflecting commitments in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The committee has published recommendations addressed to Scottish Ministers, NatureScot, Crown Estate Scotland, and agencies including Scottish Water.

Impact and legislation

The committee’s recommendations have informed Scottish statutory instruments and contributed to amendments in primary legislation debated at Holyrood and considered by the Scottish Government. Its scrutiny influenced policies tied to the Scottish Rural Development Programme, island ferry services with relevance to operators like Caledonian MacBrayne and the Serco NorthLink Ferries contracts, and land management incentives interacting with the Scotland Act 1998 devolution settlement. The committee’s work has been cited during debates on the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 implementation, agricultural subsidy replacement schemes, and statutory guidance on peatland restoration.

Engagement with stakeholders and the public

Engagement includes joint sessions with bodies such as Local Government and Communities Committee, consultations with representative organisations like NFU Scotland, Community Land Scotland, Scottish Islands Federation, RSPB Scotland and town‑hall style evidence gatherings in island communities including Arran, Tiree and Mull. Public petitions lodged via the Petitions Committee have prompted referrals and collaborative evidence‑gathering, while submissions from academics at institutions including Edinburgh Napier University and University of Glasgow inform policy recommendations. Outreach uses tools employed across the Scottish Parliament, including written evidence portals, social media announcements on official MSP accounts, and engagement events in partnership with regional bodies such as the Highlands and Islands Enterprise and NHS boards like NHS Highland.

Category:Committees of the Scottish Parliament