1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3 and 4 in private.

2. Air quality in Scotland:

The Committee took evidence from—

Mark Roberts, Chief Executive and Jamie McGrandles, Head of Investigations, Standards and Compliance, Environmental Standards Scotland;

and then from—

Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition and Andrew Taylor, Air Quality Policy Manager, Scottish Government; and

Vincent McInally, Environment and Air Quality Manager, Transport Scotland.

Edward Mountain declared an interest as a Partner in Delfur Farms Farming Partnership, of Moray, a farming business with ancillary residential lettings.

3. Air quality in Scotland (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

The Committee agreed to make a request to the Parliamentary Bureau for a Committee Statement on its forthcoming report on air quality.

4. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee agreed—

• To invite the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition to give evidence at a future meeting on her departmental priorities;
• To invite COSLA to give evidence at a future meeting on the Scottish Government's response to the Committee's report on the role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland;
• To invite the Scottish Government to give evidence at a future meeting on the Deposit Return Scheme;
• To appoint Edward Mountain as Reporter to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding its future consideration of PE1992: Dual the A9 and improve road safety;
• To write to NatureScot to seek more information regarding a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with three private investment firms on investment in nature restoration; and
• To support Scottish Parliament attendance at the 2023 Arctic Circle Assembly and to have input into the visiting programme for any Scottish Parliament delegation to the Assembly.