Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government wants to legislate to ensure that women in agriculture have an equal right of succession. The women in agriculture report in 2019 looked at barriers to women coming into agriculture, such as childcare responsibilities, access to land, finance, training and education. Sally Shortall, will legislation drive the changes that are being sought, or do the barriers that I have mentioned need to be addressed first?

Beatrice Morrice, how does the NFUS encourage women into leadership positions in its organisation?

Does Christopher Nicholson believe that the new entrants scheme and environmental schemes are too limited? Obviously the budget has been cut in those schemes. Does that have an impact on how tenant farmers can look to the future?

NatureScot’s website states that the Scottish marine environmental enhancement fund will be launched imminently. Do the witnesses from NatureScot have a date for that? Can you outline where that money is coming from, how the fund will operate and whether funding will be conditional in the way that funds in the programme for government are?

I will open up the discussion to the rest of the panel. Might future funding gaps appear as we move towards a just transition? How will the fishing and aquaculture industries play a part in shaping the fund?

Can I open the question up to the rest of the witnesses, please?

This is a question for Cathy Tilbrook. On licensing and planning, you mentioned the environmental impact that you will take into account, but will jobs and the local economy also be considered in relation to potential locations?

The panel will be aware that, in the previous parliamentary session, we had inquiries on salmon farming. There was also a report from the salmon interactions working group, which highlighted the challenges in the sector and the need to bring about regulatory change to improve efficiency and meet the environmental objectives that have been highlighted. How will you move beyond the status quo to ensure that the current regulatory framework is as efficient and as effective as it can be? I assume that Tavish Scott will want to start off on that question.

You commissioned research on the abuse of Scottish gamekeepers. I am wondering why that is not included in the programme for government and whether you have any intention to progress the issue on behalf of rural workers.

The programme for government says:

“A preliminary package of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture will be developed by COP26.”

That is a very tight timeframe. I also note that gene editing is not mentioned in the programme for government. I would have thought that, by going for close alignment with the European Union, you would be almost shutting the door on innovation with regard to reducing emissions. Do you have plans in that regard that you can share with the committee?