Chamber and committees

Again, the £61 million was largely from unspent funds—

I am sorry, but the figure that you are referencing there—I know that there is the £61 million of ring-fenced funding, but in relation to that—

In the work that we are taking forward, we already know that we have stringent targets to meet. Regardless of when the climate change plan might be published, our overall ambition is still to achieve net zero by 2045, and we still have to report annually on how we are doing on emissions. The targets that we have had on agriculture, for example, are really stretching. The programme of work that we have set out and the timeline for it have been important in allowing us to illustrate how we intend to reduce emissions over that period and how we will do so through the framework of future support and incentivising the behaviours that we want.

We already know that we have stringent targets to meet. Regardless of when the climate change plan might come through, that will not stop or inhibit any of that work, because we know that we need to continue to work at pace to implement those changes.

It is as has been set out. All the areas that we must have regard to are described in detail in the legislation that we passed, through various amendments to the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill on the rural support plan. We are not dealing with these policies in isolation. Whatever is set out in relation to the biodiversity strategy and the delivery plan—there will also be a natural environment bill, which will underpin some of that in legislation—will feature in our development of the future agricultural support system and framework.

I thank the committee for all the work that it did during the passage of the bill that became that act, because some of the amendments that were made greatly strengthened the legislation. When we develop our future policy, we will have regard to everything in the act, including the point that you mention, so that will feature in our plans. Again, I cannot say definitively that that will form part of some of our programmes or funding streams, but we will have regard to it.

Again, we have tried to set out as much information as we can through the route map about when more information will become available. As I have said, the rural support plan is going to be published next year, before the new part of the future framework is implemented with the enhanced tier, which is due to be introduced in 2026. There will, of course, be more information in relation to that, and I will keep the committee updated.

There are some important details within that. There were particular times when Forestry and Land Scotland would not have been able to engage with people living on the estate because of when that transaction took place. Again, I am more than happy to follow up on those details, because it is important to get the facts correct.

We certainly do not want to see depopulation of the glens. If anything, we want to see the opposite and people being encouraged to come into that area. That is very much the approach that is being taken. I will investigate any concerns, which I take really seriously, as I must, because that is an important responsibility. I am more than happy to follow that up.

The woodland carbon code, and the additionality tests that are set out in it, plays a hugely important part in that. We want a system that is ethical and one that people can invest in and rely on.

We have made some changes to the woodland carbon code and have put in additionality tests, which I think have improved the scheme. I can follow up on those specific examples, because there are all sorts of clawbacks that can be taken from schemes. I would be happy to look into that and to furnish the committee with further information on how we are monitoring those schemes, if that is the wider point that you are getting at.

I have been engaging with industry on that, as have officials in Scottish Forestry, because strong relationships exist there. I can only reiterate what I have already said—I hope that we get back on that positive trajectory.

Forestry is a hugely important sector for Scotland, and we have so much more potential not just for our wider economy but for the circular economy and for helping us to meet our emissions targets. As I said earlier, our key focus this year has been on ensuring that we get the absolute maximum value from the funding that is available this year, and I very much want to continue that.

I would be happy to follow up with you on that particular issue. Perhaps I will meet forestry officials to ask about that.