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Of course, we want to remove the barriers that can prevent communities from considering ownership and, ultimately, to make the process as straightforward as possible. We have to make sure that there are checks and balances in place, obviously, so ensuring that we get that balance is critical. However, I think that we can learn the lessons from previous pieces of legislation that have been passed and identify where any of those challenges might be and what might prevent communities from considering ownership as an option.

I think that we are seeing a positive trajectory on community ownership in Scotland. A report that was done in 2021 showed that the amount of assets that were owned by the community had increased by more than 7 per cent on the previous year, and I know that the Scottish land fund is seeing quite a good pipeline of projects coming through, so I think that the appetite is there. We are seeing that clear appetite from communities and things are heading in the right direction. I hope that, through the land reform bill that we will introduce, we will continue to see that positive trajectory.

Thank you, convener. I am pleased to be here with the committee today to outline my priorities in relation to land reform, as well as the environmental matters within my remit.

As we have set out in the new programme for government, we are clear that responding to the climate and nature crises will remain at the very heart of the Government’s approach. They are the existential threat of our times and we are seeing their devastating impacts, particularly on the world’s poorest, with increasing frequency.

We do not underestimate what that change means for daily life, especially during these particularly tough times. Ensuring that our approach is fair and actively tackles inequalities through a just transition is a key element of our planning. However, if managed well, addressing, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and protecting and restoring nature, will also bring us huge benefits. Those are major challenges, but they will also create opportunities.

As highlighted in the programme for government, caring for Scotland’s peatlands is a critical element of our approach to tackling the linked climate and nature emergencies. Our new peatland programme will deliver an increasingly integrated and evidence-led approach to peatland restoration, management and protection.

To that end, the Government has committed £250 million over 10 years to restoring 250,000 hectares of degraded peatlands by 2030. That will complement the work that we are already doing to address the concentration and transparency of land ownership and to support more communities into land ownership through a new land reform bill.

The bill stems from work done by the Scottish Land Commission, which was established under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, and the consultation that we undertook last year. It will build on existing land reform measures, such as the register of persons holding a controlled interest in land, and complement existing community right-to-buy mechanisms to ensure that Scottish communities derive greater benefits from Scotland’s land. The Scottish Government will help rural communities to take advantage of the opportunities to become more sustainable, productive and prosperous through supporting those good, green jobs in the rural economy. That investment will also play a critical part in Scotland’s just transition to net zero by 2045.

I look forward to our discussion and am happy to take any questions from the committee.

I do not have that information to hand, and I do not know whether George Burgess would have any information on that. However, I would be happy to follow up on that and give the information to the committee.

We talked about the different steps that need to be taken before an interest can be registered and how the process moves forward. Ensuring that we have all the checks in place is important in ensuring that, as far as possible, the community right to buy is exercised sustainably. However, I will look into the matter and provide the information to the committee.

Absolutely.

We know that more needs to be done to accelerate peatland restoration, but there are a number of challenges in that. First of all, there is only a short season in which the work can take place. There is also a challenge in skills capacity. I think that there were also challenges in the past in relation to the overall future commitment to funding, but—of course—we now have the 10-year funding commitment of £250 million.

There are a number of factors at play, but we are taking action to address the key bottlenecks. NatureScot is leading on a peatland skills action plan. We also have a delivery improvement plan to identify the key challenges and the actions that we will take to mitigate and address them.

To end my response on a positive note, I highlight that, even though the peatland restoration rate is not what we would like, and we know that we need to go further and do more, the trajectory is in the right direction. Our target this year, which we set out in the PFG, was to restore 10,700 hectares. That is a 40 per cent increase on the restoration rate that we saw in the previous year, in which 7,500 hectares were restored. Even those 7,500 hectares represent a 35 per cent increase on the previous year. Therefore, even though we are not where we need to be, the trajectory is strong and we are, because we know that we need to do more, taking action to address the challenges that we know exist.

It is important to clarify that George Burgess was not saying that it is the committee’s fault that the process is late. We have been getting to grips with the new process that we are following with the Ethical Standards Commissioner—we are by no means blaming the committee. I am happy to follow up on that with the convener afterwards, but I just want to clarify that point.

I would be interested to hear the committee’s thoughts on that. Byelaws are an important mechanism for trying to manage risks relating to irresponsible behaviour, or to address issues of public safety, but we also know of successful campaigns in areas where byelaws have not been used. A good example is the “Lek it be” campaign that is being run in the Cairngorms. It seeks to manage the really difficult issue that I referred to earlier, of allowing free access while trying to protect what is a hugely important species—the capercaillie—for us in Scotland. That work, which has been carried out with ecologists and other groups, has been shown to be successful.

It is also right that the national parks have the mechanism to introduce byelaws when they think that they are necessary. Enforcement is only ever a last resort, but it is an important mechanism that the parks have; indeed, there has recently been a review of the byelaws in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park, after an increase in incidents at the loch resulting from greater numbers of people being outdoors. We have heard about the tragic incidents there. It is important that the national park is able to take measures to address such issues when it can, in the interests of public safety, while enabling people’s enjoyment of and access to the outdoors. I think that we have struck the right balance in enabling those things but—again—I am more than happy to hear the committee’s thoughts and views on the matter.

Again, I suppose, as with anything, where there are challenges, there are also opportunities. We see that with the work that we are doing with climate change on the islands. They will be at the forefront of the climate change impacts that we see, but I think that they have the capabilities to deal with that. I see the same with the circular economy.

As part of the work on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, there has been an island communities impact assessment, which shows that benefits are expected for businesses on the islands. We are trying to support that work already, including through the islands programme and the funding that we offer through it. Earlier this year, I visited Shetland to announce which projects we were providing funding for. A particular one is a project that will look at the circular economy there and how we can improve it.

Again, there is no getting around the fact that there probably will be issues, but it is important that our islands feature in the work, as we go forward. Part of the bill is about a circular economy strategy, so I know that there will be engagement with island local authorities. It is critical that they are part of the process, because they can devise many of the solutions in what we are trying to achieve.

I know that the assessment has been undertaken. I presume that it has been published, but I can double check that for you.