Chamber and committees

If you could update us on that, that would be great.

We have been hearing from a number of stakeholders about their concerns with the forestry grant scheme. We heard the Woodland Trust outline that there must be sufficient funding for forestry, peatland restoration, the nature restoration fund, agricultural environment schemes and the relevant agencies, including those that focus on skills development. It is my understanding that the recent 41 per cent cut to the forestry grant scheme budget is predicted to cause a significant fall from previous years in the amount of new woodland that will be created in 2024-25, and that it will be one of the biggest gaps between target and delivery. That cut is also undermining sectoral confidence.

How does the Scottish Government propose to respond to the view that cutting planting funding will reduce the possibility of the Scottish Government meeting its own annual targets?

Okay—thank you.

Abdool, do you have anything to add?

Abdool, do you have anything to add?

Yes. There is certainly a lot to think about.

That brings us to the end of our questions. I thank the witnesses for what has been an interesting and insightful discussion. It has been great to get some of your thoughts on what we can do better in Scotland and how we can learn from what is happening in England.

We previously agreed to take our next two items in private.

Before we move on, I will pick up on the indicators. Blyth Deans said that there might need to be new indicators. Should we wait until your report is published in January for that response?

Thank you for that detail. I will bring in Miles Briggs.

Thanks very much for that. Jonathan Carr-West, do you have anything to add on how we break into the system and reduce demand?

Thanks very much.