Seòmar agus comataidhean

Sorry, but I—

I have a question for Eleanor Kay about the eligibility criteria for support. The bill does not necessarily say which farmers can participate—for example, it does not refer to tenant farmers. Should tenant farmers be explicitly referred to in that section of the bill?

On the issue of transparency on land ownership, is it possible for the land register of Scotland to ensure transparency on land ownership?

Should tenant farmers be specifically referred to so that they can get access to some of the possible tier 3 and 4 activities?

Will you say, specifically, whether that should be in the bill, and if so, whether it should be an extra to those objectives or within section 1(c)?

On the reference to the CAP, I would not say that the outcomes of the previous support mechanism supported farmers 100 per cent.

Davy McCracken talked about the flooding in the north-east, which is being replicated across Scotland as the climate changes. I want to drill down into a bit more detail from David Harley, SEPA and Davy McCracken on some of the objectives. I am concerned that

“the facilitation of on-farm nature restoration, climate mitigation and adaptation”,

which is the objective in section 1(c), will not support farmers and ensure that they can protect the food—protein—that they are growing on their land. Should the bill contain more detail to ensure that farmers have the opportunity to work with organisations such as SEPA and others? That would ensure that farmers are part of the conversation, because, so far, their participation has been very piecemeal. Where could that detail, specifically around a catchment management approach, be added to the objectives?

I will combine a number of questions so that panellists can pick or choose which one they answer.

First, when would you like to see a draft rural support plan? Secondly, should there be a statutory requirement to consult on such a plan? Thirdly, given yesterday’s painful news of cuts to the agriculture budget, do you feel confident that the plan will be accompanied by the resources that are needed to achieve the four objectives that we discussed earlier? Fourthly, what role does the Parliament have in the scrutiny of the plan? Finally, which areas should ministers have regard to when producing the plan?

It was about which other plans or legislation they should have regard to.

Alastair Seaman mentioned the real-terms cut to the Scottish forestry budget of £33.6 million. Stuart Goodall, what impact will that have on the Scottish Government’s climate change plan, particularly with regard to the Scottish forestry strategy? Will it have an impact or create a burden that will transfer to other agricultural activities in Scottish farming?

I can back that up with a quote from Scottish Agritourism’s contribution to the consultation. It said that,

“without a profitable farming enterprise producing food, it is challenging to undertake these restoration and adaptation measures.”

Vicki, the financial memorandum does not include Scottish Government funding for the peatland action fund in the context of the bill.