Chamber and committees

We definitely learn lessons from what has happened in the past. Again, it is about getting the right mix with, as you said, the right trees in the right places.

Yes, I am happy to do so, and I will be happy to keep the committee updated on the unit’s work as it develops.

As I outlined in last week’s debate, the Scottish Government’s food security unit is now up and running. Initially, it will focus on monitoring the risks and potential threats to the supply chain. Last year, we had the report from the food security and supply task force. That was a really useful piece of work because it highlighted where some of the evidence gaps might be and where further work needs to be done. It was helpful in making recommendations for us to pick up. The food security unit can continue that work.

Essentially, the work of the unit is about monitoring the risks and identifying what we can do in the short term. Although it is, of course, impossible to know what challenges might come down the road, the unit is seeking to identify any potential threats that could harm our food security in the future.

I have outlined the initial piece of work that it will be doing. You asked for specific information about what the unit will be looking at.

That follows on from the discussion that we had last week, when we talked about the national islands plan. A lot of cross-Government work goes on, particularly by islands officials, that relates to that. I was in Shetland the other week and similar issues were raised. We liaise with our colleagues across Government to ensure that we tackle those issues as best we can.

There are currently no spatially explicit measures in the national marine plan. However, with regard to our marine planning, the measures that are outlined in the national planning framework 4 and our regional marine plans all look to develop that spatial planning further.

We are developing a new national marine plan: NMP2. I believe that there will be a national planning forum meeting on that in the next month so that stakeholders can feed into that process. That specific spatial ask is being considered as part of the work that is being taken forward in relation to NMP2. Annabel Turpie might want to add some further information.

In the engagement that I have had, I have certainly met a lot of passionate people in each of their sectors, who all greatly value and know the importance of the sustainability of the stocks that they fish and catch—

You are absolutely right that we have used biennial closures, and this will be the second closure that we have had. We had a consultation in the lead-up to the previous closure, so we will undertake another consultation. I cannot give a definitive timescale for that yet, but we are looking to do it soon. We will continue to keep the committee updated on that.

I want to be clear that we will absolutely do that engagement. There have been frustrations about the pace that the bill has moved at. We have been trying to get answers to those questions so that we can get the correct processes in place. As far as I am aware, those discussions are on-going. George Burgess may have more information.

I can give a quick assurance that that will be part of the consultation. We will be looking to announce that and take those licensing proposals forward in the coming weeks.

As the committee will be aware, our consultation on proposals for a future agriculture bill closed last December. We have been analysing the consultation results, and we will be in a position to publish the response to the consultation shortly. As I have previously outlined, we have a commitment to introducing an agriculture bill to the Parliament this year, and we are still on track to deliver that.