Rural Affairs Committee to meet in south of Scotland on Friday, December 8
 

The town's Easterbrook Hall is the venue for this major meeting which will start at 1.30pm on Friday, December 8. A large number of public and media seating will be available (details in Background Notes).

The Rural Affairs Committee has been appointed by the Parliament to consider and report on the Bill. Its report will be debated by the full Parliament in the New Year, when a decision will be made on whether the general principles of the Bill should be agreed to.

The Committee undertook a period of consultation during the summer when 23 organisations were invited to present detailed observations, and over 4,000 letters were received from other groups and members of the public.

The theme for this fourth day of evidence is the wider implications of the Bill.

The Committee decided to hold this meeting in Dumfries in recognition of the special interests of those in the south of Scotland.

The first item on the agenda is the evidence taking session. Witnesses, who have a knowledge of land management, will be:

• The Earl of Dalhousie, representing the Scottish Landowners' Federation, and Mr Ian Melrose of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland.
• Representatives from the Borders' Foundation on Rural Sustainability.
• Dr Bob Crabtree on behalf of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute - an organisation which was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to report on the economic aspects of a ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland.

Convener of the Committee, Alex Johnstone said:

"Having accepted the requirement to report on this Bill, the Rural Affairs Committee has set about its task seriously, taking a broad range of evidence from both sides of the debate. I am sure that this meeting in Dumfries will add real value to our understanding of the Bill."

As well as the three previous evidence taking sessions, members of the Committee have spent a full day in the hills above Braemar with members of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, studying some of the techniques used by them to track and control wild mammals.

The Committee has also arranged a special showing for all Members of the Parliament of video evidence both for and against various activities using dogs.

BACKGROUND NOTES

The committee meeting is open to the public. Approximately 250 seats are available in the Easterbrook Hall. Members of the public wishing to guarantee a seat can book tickets by contacting the Visitor Centre on 0131 348 5411. However it is expected that some seats will be available on the day on a first come first served basis.

Media - both accredited and not accredited to the Parliament -are invited to attend. Seating for media will be reserved. Media identification (e.g. NUJ cards, etc) may be requested.

Press photographers: no formal photo opportunities have been arranged; however, photography will be allowed during the first three or four minutes at the start of the session.

The full agenda will be finalised early next week and will be posted on the Parliament's website.

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