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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 25 November 2024
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Displaying 1736 contributions

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Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

I do not believe so, but I am happy to follow up with the committee in writing and to provide the information as to exactly how that £15 million has been split and where the changes in the budget lines would be, if that is helpful.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

You are absolutely right. This has been a long on-going process. There are proposals relating to offshore MPAs as well as to inshore MPAs and priority marine features. I am sure that David Signorini will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the consultation is due to commence towards the end of this year. I think that that is the current timescale.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

Absolutely. Within my broader portfolio, we can look at spending that will be relevant. I was asked a question earlier about funding for crofting, which is, of course, a vital and important spend for our island communities. We also have funding for the islands growth deal, which is developing and delivering some very important projects.

On wider spend across the piece, I come to the committee every year and talk about the national islands plan, which ultimately outlines and showcases how every portfolio is delivering for the islands against the strategic objectives that have been set out in the islands plan. It is not just funding through the islands programme that is relevant: various other funds are relevant—for example, housing, health and education funding—and will have an impact on our islands.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

It is in the overall national islands plan and the report that we can do on that. Of course, addressing depopulation does not come down to just one specific intervention. You will see that spend right across portfolios in what we are doing in housing, skills, transport and other areas.

We will try to capture that within the addressing depopulation action plan, which will set out the different actions that we are taking across Government to address some of the challenges. I am afraid that I do not have a straightforward answer, because all portfolios have to work on it together. That is why the majority of portfolios are represented on the population task force—because it is within everyone’s interests and we all have a part to play in delivering on that. However, the detail will be in the document that we will publish.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

No, in the overall settlement to the Scottish Government, the real-terms cut is 1.2 per cent .

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

Keeping it at the same level, though, is a real-terms cut.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

First, I want to clarify that the funding for that does exist—we are continuing to fund the animal health and welfare plans, the carbon audits and the soil testing within the national test programme. Funding of £12 million has been allocated to that in the coming financial year.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

It has been switched, yes.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

Yes, you are absolutely right. I recognise how vital that support is, which is why we have maintained that funding during the current financial year.

No doubt, the committee will be aware of the information that we have published about the route map for future support. We continue to support LFA funding and will maintain our commitment to doing so until such time as we transition to new parts of the future framework.

I met the NFUS’s LFA committee just before the recess to hear its thoughts on future support. I understand from visiting farmers and crofters across the country the importance of LFASS and the support that we provide for that. Maintaining that funding has been a priority.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 17 January 2024

Mairi Gougeon

I am talking about pillar 1 other payments.