The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 759 contributions
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 1 March 2023
Jenni Minto
That has not really answered my question. It was not specifically about grassland; it was more about hill farming, which includes peatland that sequesters carbon. The argument that was made by the farming groups that we heard from earlier was that, if there is livestock on that land, it improves the peatland and allows it to absorb more.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 1 March 2023
Jenni Minto
Sure. The farmers in my area and across Scotland have been farming their land for generations, so they understand the land and they know the different types of soil—they know where the peat is. They can watch their livestock move around. They understand that the outputs from the livestock, if I may put it that way, are used as fertiliser. I am interested to know how the work that you have done relates to what I am hearing from farmers.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 1 March 2023
Jenni Minto
I represent Argyll and Bute, in which there is a mix of farming types. A lot of it is upland farming on islands and the mainland, and there is some dairy farming. I am interested to hear about reconciliation of your proposal to reduce cattle numbers with its direct impact on the sustainability of populations. In the previous panel session, which I am sure you listened to, we heard that, for a lot of hill farmers and crofters, having beasts on the land is improving that land’s ability to sequestrate carbon. I am interested to know your thoughts on that.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 February 2023
Jenni Minto
No improvisation, then. [Laughter.]
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 February 2023
Jenni Minto
Tommy, do you have anything to add?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 February 2023
Jenni Minto
This has been incredibly informative. I have to lay my cards on the table: I am an ex-BBC Scotland employee. I have to admit that it was Stephen Duffy who introduced me to jazz, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra that introduced me to classical music, and I would say the same about the World Pipe Band Championships and piping. Thank you very much for coming along.
I had been going to ask about the archive, but Professor McKerrell covered that point very well. There is something about a continuity of archive and knowledge of what is going on, and the ability to make other programmes from that, which is very important.
The content of the programmes is important, but I am also interested to hear your thoughts on how the loss of back-room staff and other experts in the different musical genres could be a loss to wider Scottish culture, and to ensuring that children can learn musical instruments in different genres. Professor McKerrell, do you want to start?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 February 2023
Jenni Minto
Thank you for that. I was doing a bit of reading as well, and the operating licence says that BBC Radio Scotland must provide
“content and music of particular relevance to Scotland.”
I would like to hear your thoughts on what the difference is in hearing somebody who is of Scotland introducing the programmes, and what that might add to the content.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 22 February 2023
Jenni Minto
I thank everyone who is here—it has been a really informative discussion so far.
I will keep my question, which I will direct to Doug Bell, very short. Ross Paton said that
“farming is a long-term job”.
I hear that all the time in Argyll and Bute. Doug, in your introductory statement, you talked about making tenant farming a “dynamic” sector. How can the new legislation support tenant farmers specifically in food production and a just transition? Thank you for your earlier comments on LFASS, because that would have been part of my question as well.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 February 2023
Jenni Minto
I thank both of you for those comprehensive answers.
Things really hit home when we realise the magnitude of what is going on across our local authorities and our third sector groups to support Ukrainian families that are here. My thanks go out for all the hard work that is happening to ensure that people are welcomed.
Two weeks ago, I spoke to the Ukrainian consul, Andrii Kuslii, about the heritage and culture of Ukrainians who are now living in Scotland. It is important for all of us to mark the anniversary of the start of the illegal conflict, but we also have to recognise the importance of the culture that families are bringing to us. One of the consul’s suggestions was to look at Ukrainian holidays and how we could support local authorities to recognise those. Given that “Culture” is also in your job title, I would like to hear your thoughts on how we could support the Ukrainians in that respect. In addition, given the length of the conflict and the damage that has happened, how can Scotland continue to support the country to rebuild once the dreadful conflict has ended?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 February 2023
Jenni Minto
How can Scotland’s cultural side support the rebuilding in the future?