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1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 5 in private.

2. Declaration of interests:

Stephanie Callaghan MSP was invited to declare any relevant interests and declared an interest as having served as a Councillor on South Lanarkshire Council.

Marie McNair MSP also declared an interest as having served as a Councillor on West Dunbartonshire Council.

3. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Marc Crothall, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Tourism Alliance;

Leon Thompson, Executive Director, UKHospitality Scotland;

Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Destination Development, Visit Scotland;

and then from—

Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh;

Gary Curley, Executive Chair, Skye Connect;

Cathy Earnshaw, Destination Strategy Manager, Venture North Cooperative Limited;

Donald Emslie, Chair, Edinburgh Tourism Action Group;

Sheila Gilmore, Chief Executive, Visit Arran and The Arran Trust;

Sarah Maclean, Chief Executive, Outer Hebrides Tourism.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

5. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard to a future meeting.

6. Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee agreed its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.