Official Report: Minutes of Evidence

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): My apologies for making you wait, but we had some important legislation to attend to. I welcome the following officials to the meeting: Zita Hale, deputy director of agricultural policy; and Devina Park, head of the Farming with Nature transition policy branch. Are there any opening remarks that you would like to make on the draft statutory rule (SR) before we start? I just want to let you know that we are really time-constrained.

Ms Zita Hale (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs): To keep it short, I will say that you have already considered the original SR, which was then shared with the Examiner of Statutory Rules. She had a few minor comments on the SR, and, on the back of those, we redrafted it. We have relaid it, and that should be the copy that you have in front of you. I can run through the amendments, but they are very much technical and typos. They tighten up the SR a lot more and make it more readable and understandable.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): Thank you for that. Have members any other questions about what we have in our packs? Are there any questions, or do you seek any confirmation or clarification on this matter? Members, as the procedure is draft affirmative, there will be a debate in a plenary session. Are you content that the Committee supports the SR as drafted in the debate, pending the SR report, which will be available shortly?

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): You will never get a shorter witness session than that. I heard the Minister say that you could take the rest of the day off. I did not get that in writing, now. Thank you so much, and thank you for your patience.