Chamber and committees

I would like to take on some of the questions that we have just heard about funding and investment. In particular, the deputy convener brought up farming. I note that there is a commitment in the draft strategy to shifting half of all funding for farming and crofting from unconditional to conditional support by 2025. Minister, how much is half of all funding and what are the likely new conditions that farmers will have to meet? Is a lead time of presumably fewer than 18 months from finalisation long enough to allow farmers and crofters to adjust?

The deputy convener’s questions are really pertinent. According to an ACS graphic that I saw recently, the suggestion seems to be that, if a retail outlet cannot afford a reverse vending machine or it has no space for one, it should put the returns in bins behind the counter. What if it has no space for that? What if it is in a rural area and therefore cannot apply for the exemptions that have been mentioned? Would that approach be right for the health and safety of staff?

Good morning, minister. You said that the Scottish biodiversity strategy was published in draft form so that it could be updated following COP15 and the GBF. Now that we are beyond them, what areas in the draft strategy need to be strengthened as a result of the COP15 outcomes?

I am very grateful to you, convener, and to Mark Ruskell for letting me in.

One trade association has warned that around 40 per cent of products could disappear from shelves in Scotland. Does the Scottish Government recognise that as a possibility? Did that happen in other countries that you looked at? If so, is the Scottish Government making any moves, or can it do something to counteract that?

I understand that, and I understand that it is a complex question, but it is part of the draft strategy, which I think is under your remit, minister. I therefore wonder, again, whether you are able—although perhaps it would be fairer to ask whether you are unable—to tell the committee at this stage what half of the funding is, what the conditions are, and whether there will be a substantial lead time despite the fact that it is in the draft biodiversity strategy. Is that the case?

It will be late summer, but the committee heard last week that we have less than seven years to meet the targets. We are obviously talking about delivery plans. Following Jackie Dunbar’s questions, something that concerns me is that we surely cannot meaningfully make delivery plans unless the strategy is finalised.

Also, minister, you listed a huge number of impressive Scottish Government investments in biodiversity. However, there is no strategy underlying the investment, and there will not be one for at least another six months. I could reflect back to you that that means that you are funding a load of things without a strategy for why you are funding them. Is that a fair criticism, minister?

I will stick with funding. Framework target 19 requires a significant upscaling of finance for biodiversity, and it talks about “leveraging private finance”. Part of the draft strategy is an investment plan. Will that plan be produced, consulted on and finalised in the timeframe that we heard about earlier in which the delivery plan and the strategy will be finalised? Matthew Bird might answer that question.

Mr Bird, I will press you on “broadly”. Earlier, you told me—I cannot remember your precise words—that the delivery plan and the strategy are being consulted on in the spring and summer and will be finalised around the autumn. The investment plan is very much a part of the strategy, so will it be concluded in the same timeframe or is it likely to slip?

Will you commit to publishing it, minister? Alternatively, could you come back to me with an answer as to whether it will be published and, if so, when?

Very briefly, what interest rate will that bridging loan be subject to?