Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 12 in private.

2. Scottish Government response to COVID-19: The Committee will take evidence from-
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Scottish Government;
Roy Brannen, Chief Executive;
Alison Irvine, Director of Strategy and Analysis, Transport Scotland, Scottish Government.

3. Scottish Government response to COVID-19: The Committee will take evidence from-
Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Allan Gibb, Acting Deputy Director - Sea Fisheries, George Burgess, Deputy Director, Food & Drink, and Gerry Saddler, Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland & Head of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Direct Payments (Crop Diversification Derogation) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 from—
Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, George Burgess, Deputy Director, Food & Drink, and Gerry Saddler, Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland & Head of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Scottish Government.

5. Subordinate legislation: Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Tourism to move—
S5M-21632— That the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee recommends that the Direct Payments (Crop Diversification Derogation) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (SSI 2020/135) be approved.

6. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Supplementary Provision) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 from—
Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Gerry Saddler, Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland & Head of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), and George Burgess, Deputy Director, Food & Drink, Scottish Government.

7. Subordinate legislation: Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Tourism to move—
S5M-21670—That the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee recommends that the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Supplementary Provision) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 [draft] be approved.

8. Agriculture Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will take evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S5-38) Agriculture Bill from—
Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, and George Burgess, Deputy Director, Food & Drink, Scottish Government.

9. Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020: The Committee will consider a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the Act in relation to the following UK statutory instrument proposal—
Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

10. Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020: The Committee will consider a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the Act in relation to the following UK statutory instrument proposal—
The Direct Payments Ceilings Regulations 2020.

11. Annual report: The Committee will consider whether to agree its annual report by correspondence.

12. Impact of COVID-19 on the rural economy and connectivity: The Committee will consider its approach to a call for evidence.