At its meeting on 25 June 2008 the Committee agreed that its work for the next year should include:

• Food policy
• Waste management

This was in addition to the Committee's ongoing inquiry into rural housing and the forthcoming flooding Bill, which is likely to be referred to the Committee in the autumn. Other work to be undertaken in the autumn will include consideration of the 2009-10 Scottish Government budget proposals and discussion on the annual quotas proposed under the Common Fisheries Policy. Further information on these inquiries, Committee correspondence and information on petitions being considered by Committee, may be found on the Current Business page.

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Next Meeting: 15th Meeting, Tuesday 9 September 2008

• Papers 15 (1.25MB pdf first posted 05.09.2008)

The Committee will meet at 10.45 am in Committee Room 1.

1. Declaration of interests: Liam McArthur MSP will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether its consideration of evidence and draft reports on the budget process 2009-10 should be taken in private at future meetings.

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—

   the Water Environment (Relevant Enactments and Designation of Responsible Authorties and Functions) Order 2008 (SSI 2008/263)

4. Flood management legislation The Committee will consider its approach to forthcoming legislation on flood management.

5. Food policy: The Committee will take evidence from—

   Carey Coombs;

   Sally Crystal, Chair, Scottish Association of Farmers’ Markets;

   Michael Gibson, Managing Director, Macbeth's;

   Jim McLaren, President, National Farmers Union Scotland;

   Dr Karen Smyth, Rural Development Manager, Scottish Rural Property and Business Association;

   Professor Phil Thomas;

   and then from—

   Dr Peter Bowbrick, Food Policy Economist;

   Andrew Fairlie;

   Adam Harrison, Senior Food Policy Officer (Food and Agriculture), WWF Scotland;

   Hugh Raven, Director, Soil Association Scotland;

   Dr Alan Renwick, Land Economy and Environmental Research Group Manager, Scottish Agricultural College;

   Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland;

   Professor Bill Slee, Head of Socio-Economics Group, Macaulay Institute.

6. Work programme (in private): The Committee will consider its work programme.

7. Food policy (in private): The Committee will review the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

Last Meeting: 14th Meeting, Tuesday 2 September 2008

• Papers 14 (1.34MB pdf first posted 28.08.2008)
• Minute of Proceedings of Meeting 2 September 2008

Previous Meetings

View previous Committee meetings

Recent Committee Reports:

• 13 June 2008 4th Report 2008: Annual Report 2007-08
• 4 June 2008 3rd Report 2008: Subordinate Legislation
• 16 May 2008 2nd Report 2008: Flooding and Flood Management
• 7 February 2008 1st Report 2008: Subordinate Legislation
• 16 January 2008 Report to the Finance Committee on Stage 2 of the 2008-09 Budget Process
• 8 January 2008 Oral and written evidence received on the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007 (1.3MB pdf)
• 26 September 2007 2nd Report 2007, Voluntary Modulation Rates (SSI 2007/414)
  
  Previous Reports.