Chamber and committees

I thank everyone who is here—it has been a really informative discussion so far.

I will keep my question, which I will direct to Doug Bell, very short. Ross Paton said that

“farming is a long-term job”.

I hear that all the time in Argyll and Bute. Doug, in your introductory statement, you talked about making tenant farming a “dynamic” sector. How can the new legislation support tenant farmers specifically in food production and a just transition? Thank you for your earlier comments on LFASS, because that would have been part of my question as well.

I thank both of you for those comprehensive answers.

Things really hit home when we realise the magnitude of what is going on across our local authorities and our third sector groups to support Ukrainian families that are here. My thanks go out for all the hard work that is happening to ensure that people are welcomed.

Two weeks ago, I spoke to the Ukrainian consul, Andrii Kuslii, about the heritage and culture of Ukrainians who are now living in Scotland. It is important for all of us to mark the anniversary of the start of the illegal conflict, but we also have to recognise the importance of the culture that families are bringing to us. One of the consul’s suggestions was to look at Ukrainian holidays and how we could support local authorities to recognise those. Given that “Culture” is also in your job title, I would like to hear your thoughts on how we could support the Ukrainians in that respect. In addition, given the length of the conflict and the damage that has happened, how can Scotland continue to support the country to rebuild once the dreadful conflict has ended?

How can Scotland’s cultural side support the rebuilding in the future?

In your evidence, you have touched on co-operation and co-ordination with other Governments across the UK and with Ireland. Will you expand a wee bit more on that?

I am also interested in delving a bit more into the change in council funding and the decrease from £10,500 to £5,900, as mandated by the UK Government. I would be interested in getting your thoughts on how that will impact on local authorities here.

In some of your earlier comments, Bally, you touched on the risk of a 3-mile limit resulting in more creel fishermen. I am interested in your views on how we can measure that and what measures we can bring in to control that.

I have a final question. Clearly, because you are a creel fisherman, we have focused on that area, but I am interested in hearing about what discussions or agreements you have had with other types of fishers on the 3-mile limit.

Thank you for coming along, Bally. For the record, will you say why you think that a modern inshore coastal limit is needed?

I agree with Karen Adam. We heard very thorough evidence today and we need to take account of it. However, it is important that we hear from other groups of fishermen, so I agree that we should make the issue an important part of any further scrutiny that we do of fishing issues.

As an example, an established creel fisherman with 650 creels might think, “Oh, a 3-mile limit—great. I will increase to 1,000 creels.” Do you propose a limit to the number of creels?

I thank the witnesses for joining us today. Like Dr Allan, I represent a rural constituency. Last week, we heard comments from the consul about the difficulties that Ukrainian families may experience in more remote areas, so I am interested in hearing about that. Ms Chisholm, perhaps you can comment on that and explain what Highland Council, as a more rural local authority, is doing to support Ukrainian families who have been placed outwith our cities.