- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to set up any steering groups or taskforces within the rural affairs portfolio and, if so, what they will focus on.
Answer
As part of the Scottish Government’s 100 Days commitments within the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, we have established:
- the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board which will contribute to the Scottish Government’s work to implement policy reform, incorporating the relevant recommendations of the farmer-led groups to cut emissions across agriculture, support the production of sustainable, high quality food, and design a new support system and approach. A National Test Programme will include early progress on reducing livestock emissions and the package should be implemented by spring 2022, with recruitment of farmers and crofters expected to begin this Autumn;
- the Commission for the Land-based Learning Review, a short-term advisory group which will undertake a root and branch review of learning in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors - from early years to adulthood - to provide opportunities and qualifications through school, college, university and work-based learning, including apprenticeship, for more people, and specifically more women, to work with and on the land, particularly in green skills. The Commission has a reporting deadline of December 2022 and;
- the Scottish Agritourism Sector Group, which will explore how agritourism can deliver a range of Scottish Government policies across tourism, agriculture and food and drink and create a national strategy for agritourism focused around consumer demand, quality of experience, sustainability and a clearly defined sector and customer experience. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands will be launching the growth strategy at the Scottish Agritourism Conference in November.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the 15 recommendations in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045; whether it plans to implement any of them, and, if so, within what timeframe.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcomes the Farming for 1.5 report and will consider the recommendations carefully along with the other reports recently received, including the five farming sector farmer-led groups.
We have established the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board which will contribute to the Scottish Government’s work to implement policy reform, incorporating the relevant recommendations of the farmer-led groups to cut emissions across agriculture, support the production of sustainable, high quality food, and design a new support system and approach.
The Board will create a package of measures, which we will fund, that can be agreed as part of our approach to COP 26. This National Test Programme will include early progress on reducing livestock emissions and the package should be implemented by spring 2022 with recruitment of farmers and crofters expected to begin this autumn. It should also be noted that Mike Robinson, co-chair of Farming 1.5, is a member of the Board.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will continue the Suckler Beef Climate Scheme (SBCS), in light of the findings in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045.
Answer
We are committed to supporting our world-class producers thrive whilst contributing to our world-leading climate change agenda and response to the biodiversity crisis.
The concept of a Suckler Beef Climate Scheme (SBCS) was one output of the Farmer Led Group initiative, which has been followed by the recent establishment of the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), and the publication of the consultation on a sustainable agriculture transition. The ARIOB will help to develop new proposals for sustainable farm support by considering the Climate Change Plan Update and the Farmer-led Groups recommendations, alongside industry reports like Farming for 1.5C. The group will place farmers and crofters at the heart of a future support framework and help Scottish agriculture become more economically and environmentally sustainable.
The ARIOB has been asked to create a package of measures, which we will fund, that can be agreed as part of our approach to COP 26. This National Test Programme will include early progress on reducing livestock emissions and the package should be implemented by spring 2022, with recruitment of farmers and crofters expected to begin this autumn, advancing the work undertaken by the Suckler Beef Group.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop further farm policy, in light of the findings in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045, pointing to an urgent need for forward planning.
Answer
We have established the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board which will contribute to the Scottish Government’s work to implement policy reform to cut emissions across agriculture, support the production of sustainable, high quality food, and design a new support system and approach. The Board will consider the Farming 1.5 Report together with the recommendations of the Farmer-led Groups, WWF Scotland, Just Transition, NFUS, the Climate Change Plan update and Scotland's Climate Assembly's Recommendations for Action Report when devising practical measures for delivery. It should also be noted that Mike Robinson, co-chair of Farming 1.5, is a member of the Board.
The Board will create a package of measures, which we will fund, that can be agreed as part of our approach to COP 26. This National Test Programme will include early progress on reducing livestock emissions and the package should be implemented by spring 2022 with recruitment of farmers and crofters expected to begin this autumn.
We are committed to working with industry and partners to best enable the agriculture sector to contribute to our world-leading emissions targets, support biodiversity and ensure a Just Transition for all involved. We therefore have launched a consultation which will ensure everyone can play their part in shaping the future of farming, food production and land use in Scotland.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of recommendation eight in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045, which states that "From 2024, Scottish Government should introduce emissions reduction contracts across all farm types underpinned by a management plan that fits their system and its future development, with a limited number of management interventions."
Answer
We have committed to shift half of all funding for farming and crofting to conditional support by 2025, which will see farmers and crofters rewarded for their key role in delivering wider biodiversity and environmental benefits.
Scotland will continue to provide support to farmers and crofters for the work they do in producing food but with that support comes the requirement to farm in the most sustainable way possible.
The newly established Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board’s immediate priority and focus will be on how to make progress on cutting emissions from the livestock sector, including suckler beef. The Board will consider the Farming 1.5 Report together with the recommendations of the Farmer-led Groups, WWF Scotland, Just Transition, NFUS, the Climate Change Plan update and Scotland's Climate Assembly's Recommendations for Action Reportwhen devising practical measures for delivery. It should also be noted that Mike Robinson, co-chair of Farming 1.5, is a member of the Board.
The Board will create a package of measures, which we will fund, that can be agreed as part of our approach to COP 26. This National Test Programme will include early progress on reducing livestock emissions and the package should be implemented by spring 2022 with recruitment of farmers and crofters expected to begin this autumn.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 6 August 2021 regarding the review's commencement, what (a) the first phase and (b) any subsequent phases of the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming will entail.
Answer
An overview of the expected phases of the external review of the current regulatory processes involved in fish farming can be found on the Scottish Government website at: Aquaculture: external review of the current regulatory processes involved in fish farming - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement recommendation 11 in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045, which states that "There should be a public interest test applied if more than 50% of a holding is planned to be afforested".
Answer
Scotland already has robust assessment processes in place to support decisions regarding woodland creation proposals on agricultural land. This approach is based on the findings of The Woodland Expansion Advisory Group (WEAG). This group was established to provide advice to ministers on which types of land are best for tree planting in Scotland and its membership included the National Farmers Union and the National Sheep Association. Key to the WEAG recommendations and the current decision-making process are the principles that the focus of woodland expansion should be away from prime agricultural land, and that while grazing land has significant potential for the creation of high quality and high value woodlands, woodland creation should avoid adverse impacts on local patterns of agriculture.
Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) (Forestry) 2017 regulations, all woodland creation cases above the threshold size of 20 hectares, are required to be screened. Screening assesses the likelihood of a significant impact on the environment (including any potential impacts on land-use) and whether a full environmental assessment is required. For sensitive areas, no threshold size applies. Where a full assessment is required, before Scottish Forestry reaches a decision on whether or not to grant consent, the applicant must prepare an environmental report, which is subject to public consultation.
As such, the Scottish Government currently has no plans to implement recommendation 11 of the Farming for 1.5C report, that “There should be a public interest test applied if more than 50% of a holding is planned to be afforested”.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its current forestry targets, in light of the specific recommendations in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045.
Answer
In December 2020, the Scottish Government published an Update to the Climate Change Plan 2018-2032, which sets out the Scottish Government's pathway to our new and ambitious targets set by the Climate Change Act 2019 . In the development of this update, the Scottish Government reviewed its woodland creation targets and, as a result, increased them, committing to a new target of 18,000 hectares per annum by 2024-25.
The Scottish Government is grateful to the Farming for 1.5C Inquiry for contributing to the discussion about how we collectively reach our climate change targets. We will consider the recommendations of the report as policies and implementation mechanisms in this area are developed.
These will build on the range of policies and initiatives that the Scottish Government has in place to support this ambition and to help farmers, crofters and land managers to become more aware of the multiple benefits that woodland creation can have for their businesses. For example, working with partners, the Scottish Government currently supports advisory visits to farms to identify opportunities for farm and croft woodlands and agroforestry.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports schools in delivering high-quality education for children with additional support needs.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2021
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2018 report by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Salmon Farming in Scotland, which states "that if the industry is to grow, the 'status quo' in terms of regulation and enforcement is not acceptable" and that "urgent and meaningful action needs to be taken to address regulatory deficiencies as well as fish health and environmental issues before the industry can expand", and the potential delay in addressing such concerns due to the commencement of the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming, to be conducted by Professor Russel Griggs, whether it will give immediate consideration to halting any further expansion of salmon farming until a satisfactory new regulatory regime is in place.
Answer
We do not support the halting of further expansion of salmon farming. The 2018 report by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Salmon Farming in Scotland , noted calls for a moratorium on new salmon farm developments and expansion of existing sides, but considered that there was insufficient evidence to support this. The Scottish Government agreed with the Committee’s recommendations that the status quo was not an option.
Since then, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s new finfish regulatory framework has launched and, through the Farmed Fish Health Framework, we have delivered a strengthened farmed fish sea lice compliance regime, including sea lice reporting legislation which came into force in May.
We are also committed to taking forward an immediate programme of work to better protect wildlife and the environment, including a response to the Salmon Interactions Working Group in September 2021; consultation on a spatially adaptive sea lice risk assessment framework for fish farms by the end of the year; and strengthened controls on sea lice, wrasse and fish escapes in the course of 2021-22. There are no grounds to support a moratorium.