Seòmar agus comataidhean

There were a number of questions in there.

The NFU stated that, if we took an ELMS approach in Scotland and phased out direct support and things such as less-favoured area support for more disadvantaged areas, that would almost be the death knell for Scottish agriculture. What other countries are doing in their policy is entirely up to them. However, as I have just said, I hope that there is respect for the devolved settlement to allow us to continue to do what we know is right for our farmers.

We have regular interministerial group meetings, which are chaired by the relevant minister, depending on which of the four nations is hosting. I think that the next one is supposed to be in Belfast. Unfortunately, I cannot attend it. I think that it might now be held online. We regularly have such conversations. Of course there will be differences of opinion on what is happening but, as long as that does not impinge on our ability to do what we need to do here, in Scotland, that is fine.

There has been no indication that there would be any issues with regard to trade or that any barriers would be put in place in relation to anything that we are doing. I do not anticipate that that would happen. If we got word that that was to happen, that would be disappointing, to put it diplomatically.

As I am sure you are aware, the Government is very supportive of integrating trees on farms. We know about the benefits that trees provide, which include shelter and shade. They also help us to tackle the climate change issues that we have talked about. The integrating trees network supports farmers and crofters across Scotland to develop their knowledge and understanding of planting and managing trees on their land. In recognition of those efforts, the network received the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s 2024 best practice knowledge sharing award.

There is a lot of information out there to help farmers to integrate trees on their land. I regularly tweet about programmes on farms that are designed to look at what people are doing. That goes back to the point that I made earlier: farmers talking to one another peer to peer is probably the best way of disseminating information. I regularly see such initiatives by the integrating trees network, and I will put information about them on social media to let people know that they are happening.

We would absolutely encourage farmers to take up agroforestry, and there is help there for those who want to do so.

The Scottish Government puts out regular social media posts on various platforms.

If members are on social media and see them, I ask them to please get the posts out there, because farmers will be following your accounts and that helps us to get the information out to people as and when events are happening. It is useful for people to know about them, and we want to encourage people in relation to them.

Iain Carmichael is the best person to answer on all the work that we will do, because he is very much part of the system that is doing the consultation.

All those things are being taken into consideration. I was just trying to find a list of all the work, but James Muldoon has covered most of it. We have had feedback from the NFUS and ARIOB. A whole host of things are happening in that space.

There is physical, IT and community support. Although I said that I am not giving you a financial commitment, that support could be taken as a financial commitment because it costs money to provide it. The support is there and is being discussed, and I am more than happy to continue that conversation.

I did not say that it was a mess; I said that it was messy. Let us be clear about that.

To answer the first question, the 2024 act will be implemented this year. We will use both acts as we introduce new legislation. If it is a legacy matter, the 2020 act will be used; if we introduce new provisions, the 2024 act will be used. That will be the process.

Everybody recognises that coming out of the EU was a fundamental shift for all of us, because we had worked with the common agricultural policy for the period of our membership and we are now working with a completely new system. That shift has had to be made in conjunction with the industry, the sectors that are affected and the Government to allow everyone to get into the position that we are now in. We are now in a fairly positive place in that we are delivering on the objectives of the policies that the Government has set and on the farming industry’s requirements. The issue is how we will work as a community to deliver the outcomes. I hope that that answers your question.