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First, we do not know what the overall quantum of the budget will be, and, secondly, we are still to design some of the future tiers of the new framework. We set out in the route map when we expect each of the new tiers to be introduced, and we are working according to that timeline.

There is a lot in there, so I will try to get through as much as I can and then I might turn to Donald Henderson for more information.

We are already delivering on that through a number of mechanisms and streams of work that we are taking forward through the agricultural reform programme, as well as through other current work and programmes. You are, no doubt, aware of the agri-environment climate scheme—AICS—which we use to help to deliver on our biodiversity ambitions.

There are also conditions that are being introduced next year in relation to farming support and the introduction of the foundations of a whole farm plan. Part of that plan is a package of audits, and we expect farmers and crofters to undertake at least two out of the five audit options that are there. One of them is biodiversity auditing. We have also been working with NatureScot on the development of a biodiversity app that will help to garner information on what is on farm.

Quite a lot of work is under way that will help us with that wider delivery. Donald Henderson can add more information.

The delivery of those is embedded in the policies as we work through them. In terms of the work that we are taking through in fisheries and aquaculture—

I understand that I will be coming to the committee in a few weeks to discuss aquaculture and our progress in relation to that. There are a number of pressures in our seas, which impact not just on aquaculture but on fish stocks more generally.

We have also been working on development. We have introduced interim measures in relation to some of our inshore fishery stocks, and we are looking at wider measures more generally. Some of the work that we are taking forward is outlined in the programme for government.

I emphasise that the work on climate change and biodiversity is not happening in isolation from other policy areas. It is very much embedded in the changes and the transformation that we are implementing, and it very much features in all policy areas across the portfolio.

Again, there is no getting around the fact that the marine directorate and all other directorates across the Government are under pressure, and the focus is on delivering on the Government’s priorities. With regard to our inshore fisheries, in particular, a number of pieces of work are under way in that respect, and we aim to progress them as much as we possibly can. We have been spending about £9 million a year on fisheries science as a whole, and that figure has been relatively consistent over the past few years.

It is also important to remember that we continue to fund some schemes in Scotland that simply do not exist elsewhere in the UK now or in Europe and that directly help our farmers and crofters. The less favoured area support scheme is an example of that. We have made a commitment to continue that funding, in recognition of how important it is for our farmers and crofters.

That is something that we continue to fund that is not being funded elsewhere. Funding has moved to a completely different model elsewhere in Europe, too. We have to ensure that we are utilising our funding and doing what is best for farmers and crofters in Scotland, and that is exactly the programme that we are developing and delivering.

There have been a number of improvements—for example, to the forestry grant scheme. Of the planting that has been done in the past couple of years, about 50 per cent was native woodland. Of the approximately 15,000 hectares of planting that has been done in the past year, about 50 per cent was native species.

In addition, we will soon see the introduction of the new UK forestry standard, which will apply to all forestry applications after 1 October this year. It contains quite significant changes on species diversity planting on peatland, so we will see a number of improvements through that.

We will be aiming to publish the rural support plan next year. As I hope you can appreciate, and as I just outlined in relation to the amendments that have been made to the legislation, a number of requirements are set out for the engagement that we must undertake for preparation of the rural support plan. We could not take forward that work without having the legislation passed first—without knowing what must be included.

As I said, the intention is to publish the plan next year. As the timelines become clearer, I will, of course, keep the committee up to date.

In relation to the work on tier 2, I am concerned to hear those stakeholders’ views on the rural support plan. The plan was strengthened during the legislative process by the amendments that were lodged on what the plan has to set out. The vehicle for delivering the change will be in secondary legislation, which we will introduce in due course, as I outlined in my response to Rachael Hamilton. We will notify the committee once we are a bit clearer on what the timeframe for that will look like.

We have not yet introduced the tier 2 measures. That work is still very much under development, and we are discussing it. I would not write off any of the tier 2 measures at the moment. Just before the summer, as part of the update to the route map, we announced that we would be using the greening mechanism. For users, essentially, nothing will change in how they interact with our systems over the next three years. We want to be ambitious with the programme, but we realise that there will be a transition period, which is why the route map sets out when the changes will be introduced. Again, that is very much a work in progress.

No problem. As with many other areas of the portfolio, an awful lot of work is going on in relation to the issue. As you highlighted, forestry is critically important not just for our rural economy but for our wider economy. As you outlined, it is worth £1.1 billion to our economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs. However, there is a great deal more potential there. Statistics show that we are one of the biggest importers of timber in the world, and we could provide more of our own timber and use more of our own supply—that would be the aim.

There is no getting around the fact that this has been a difficult year for forestry in terms of the budget—I touched on some of the figures earlier, and I mentioned the cut to the forestry grant scheme this year.

As I noted, in the past year, we have planted 15,000 hectares of new trees, and half of that was native woodland—that is the highest-ever level of planting. With the funding that we have, we will be able to plant about 10,000 hectares over this year and the coming year, which is lower than the previous year’s figure but still represents about 75 per cent of the overall planting that is happening in the UK.

I mentioned work on updates to the UK forestry standard, which will apply to new projects as of next month. That has been an important piece of work.

We have undertaken a review and implemented some changes to the forestry grant scheme over the past year. That touches on some of the points that were raised in the RSE’s report. We are considering ways of delivering more planting alongside rivers, and we want to ensure that farmers and crofters are also able to plant more trees. We have upped the support that is available at the smaller scale to enable more of that to happen.

The integrating trees network has been critical in showcasing examples of how trees can be integrated into farming businesses as well. The focus this year has been on maximising the funding that we have, using it as best we can and getting the trees into the ground.

In relation to the RSE report, Ariane Burgess and I had discussions with the RSE and Scottish Forestry, and amendments to the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill were lodged before the summer. Although there are points in the report that we welcome, there were concerns about some issues that were raised in it, and the dialogue between Scottish Forestry and the RSE is on-going in relation to those matters.