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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-15068

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to replace funding for land managers for mechanical or chemical bracken control, in light of its decision to cease funding for these elements through the 2023 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme application round.

To maximise the benefits of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) in mitigating climate change, the 2023 round will target support for agri-environment, organics and slurry storage applications. This approach will focus on enabling options within the scheme, offering support to as wide a number of beneficiaries as possible.

Significant budget cuts arising from the UK Government reneging on public commitments that farmers and crofters would not be worse off as a result of the EU Exit, has led to the difficult decision to suspend some elements of the 2023 round, including public funding for the mechanised and chemical control of bracken.

The suspension of mechanical and chemical bracken control applies to applications for AECS funding in 2023 and there are no plans to offer alternative funding in 2023.

Manual bracken control continues to be offered, and this is often the preferred treatment method on species rich grassland and other habitats offering high biodiversity value.

Those with existing AECS contracts or new contracts, following the 2022 AECS awards announced on 19 January 2023, which contain bracken control through chemical and mechanical means will continue to be supported.

Decisions on future rounds of AECS will be taken once detail is confirmed on the budgetary position for 2024 onwards.

Question reference: S6W-15069

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) biodiversity and (b) carbon sequestration assessments were carried out ahead of its decision to suspend heather restoration from the 2023 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme application round.

Support for heather restoration through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) has been suspended since 2020 following advice from NatureScot that the commonly used chemical treatment was not tested for use in rough grazing and upland areas. This treatment had negative implications for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

As there is no suitable alternative, this option was suspended. If in future, a chemical treatment is approved by the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) for use in upland areas this decision will be reviewed. Existing commitments at the time of suspension were removed without penalty.

Question reference: S6W-14876

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what the reasons are for and (b) whether it will provide the assessment that led to its decisions to (i) suspend heather restoration and (ii) discontinue capital funding for muirburn and heather cutting from the 2023 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme application round.

To maximise the benefits of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), the 2023 round will target support for agri-environment, organics and slurry storage applications. This approach will focus on enabling options within the scheme, offering support to as wide a number of beneficiaries as possible.

Faced with significant budget cuts resulting from the UK Government reneging on public commitments that farmers and crofters would not be worse off as a result of the EU Exit, this has led to the difficult decision to suspend some elements of the 2023 round, including public funding for muirburn and heather cutting.

Those with existing AECS contracts or new contracts, following the 2022 AECS awards announced on 19 January 2023, which contain muirburn and heather cutting will continue to be supported.

Support for heather restoration through AECS has been suspended since 2020 following advice from NatureScot that the commonly used chemical treatment was not tested for use in rough grazing and upland areas. This treatment had negative implications for biodiversity and carbon sequestration. As there is no suitable alternative, this option was suspended. If in future, a chemical treatment is approved by the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) for use in upland areas this decision will be reviewed. Existing commitments at the time of suspension were removed without penalty.

Pesticide products can only be authorised where the available evidence shows that they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health, animals and the environment.

Question reference: S6W-15043

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it works with the Scottish Venison Association to promote wild venison products.

The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the Scottish Venison Association.

We have provided funding for a variety of projects to help with promotion of wild venison products. For example, Scottish Government funded a £60,000 online promotion campaign in 2021 as part of the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership Covid recovery programme. Further funding is being provided for ongoing market research through Scotland Food and Drink, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Scotland and The Knowledge Bank to make available data on key venison markets and trends in London, South East England and Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-15042

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that the game and venison sector is competitive.

Scottish Government works to support the development of the game and more particularly the venison sector in Scotland as part of its wider ambition to grow the food and drink sector.

The strategy for the venison sector, ‘Beyond the Glen’, is industry-led and through this, the industry aims to raise their profile and promote sustainability and growth. We support the sector in delivery of the strategy through ongoing engagement to understand and respond to the challenges they face.

Scottish Government has provided support in delivery of the strategy, including though funding of £60,000 for an online promotion campaign in 2021 and £80,000 from the Covid Recovery Opportunities Fund for an ongoing pilot project for new local chill and processing facilities.

Scottish Government is also providing funding of £20,000 for an industry project which is currently underway to assess current capacity and infrastructure through Approved Game Handling Establishments, collection centres, chills and other smaller local processing enterprises. The project is looking ahead towards projected cull increases over the next 10 years so that all carcasses where possible can be accepted into - and processed - for the human food chain.

We will continue to explore ways that we can work with the industry to ensure its continued development.

Question reference: S6W-15045

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in delivering the recommendations set out in Beyond the Glen: a strategy for the Scottish Venison Sector to 2030.

“Beyond the Glen” is an industry-led strategy and therefore responsibility for delivery does not lie with Scottish Government. We work to support the industry in development of the sector, including through delivery of the strategy, and we have provided additional funding where possible.

The Scottish Venison Association (SVA) is proposing that a review of the strategy should be undertaken in 2023. Part of this activity will include an internal review of the SVA.

Question reference: S6W-15044

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06730 by Mairi Gougeon on 8 March 2022, how many new local chill and processing units have been established through the £80,000 Covid Recovery Opportunities Fund.

Three pilot projects are being supported through this fund. These are located in North Argyll, Moray, and South West Scotland. All three have seen estimated costs increase significantly since the original funding offers were made and have had to adapt plans and budgets accordingly. Subject to planning consent in one instance, work is anticipated to commence within the next few weeks.

An announcement will be made as soon as all three projects get underway. A programme of open days and knowledge transfer is an important element of this project.

Question reference: S6O-01930

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the possible extension of the Borders Railway through Hawick to Carlisle.

Question reference: S6W-14543

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to its executive agencies regarding the criteria for risk assessments conducted which may allow transgender individuals to access single sex spaces.

The Scottish Government does not issue guidance on the Equality Act 2010. Legal responsibility for this lies with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). On 4 April 2022 the EHRC published a practical guide to law on single sex spaces. This guidance is available on the EHRC website here: Guidance published for providers of single-sex services | Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com)

Question reference: S6W-14337

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on pilot schemes to fast-track applications for blue badges for disabled parking for people with motor neurone disease.

Following the successful completion of a two-year Scotland-wide pilot in 2022, the new fast-track Prescribed Blue Badge model for people with motor neurone disease (MND) was launched on 9 May 2022 via the provision of updated guidance for local authorities.

MND specialist nurses in Scotland now have the power to prescribe a Blue Badge for people with an MND diagnosis should their MND specialist nurse deem them as meeting the eligibility criteria. This means that such applicants can bypass the Local Authority assessment process and experience significantly shorter waiting times.