Chamber and committees

On the back of that, I understand that the process for monitoring how the standards are being implemented and delivered using a dispersed model and a tiered approach will involve self-assessment. Is that an acceptable approach?

Is that response based on work that is already being done in NHS reporting systems?

So, that will mean continuing to work with Food Standards Scotland and the Animal and Plant Health Agency on animal welfare concerns. However, we are constrained, because visa applications are controlled by Westminster. Is this a case for our making another plea for greater control and choice over visas and immigration in Scotland?

Good morning. I know that forestry is a big industry for Scotland—I think that it is worth £1.1 billion to Scotland’s economy and supports 34,000 jobs, and it is really important in the South Scotland region. I have a question about the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s report on forestry, which was published in February, but first I would be interested in hearing an update on forthcoming workstreams and challenges for forestry and woodland creation.

It was claimed that exit from the EU would reduce red tape. Do such challenges show that there is actually more red tape? That sort of thing should be sorted as a matter of urgency.

I have a wee final question. You mentioned 65 per cent. When people criticise tree planting, they talk about blanket Sitka, but the new guidance means that 65 per cent of the planting scheme would be conifer and the other 35 per cent would be native trees. Am I right that that is the current standard? It is not just blanket Sitka—it is a mix of native broad-leaf species as well as conifer.

When Food Standards Scotland wrote to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in April about the challenge of recruiting veterinarians, it cited a number of concurrent issues, many of which have arisen as a consequence of EU exit. Another concern about food standards relates to the Government’s decision not to progress with the establishment of a Scottish veterinary service. I would be interested in hearing a wee bit about that and about how we will support animal welfare.

We spoke earlier about the Windsor framework, which I know was created to benefit Ireland and Northern Ireland and to promote continued good cross-border relationships. You said that there are west coast challenges with regard to the ports of Cairnryan, Larne and Belfast. How will the Scottish Government support negotiations with the UK Government on the better phytosanitary, sanitary and food standards that we have talked about?

The boundary that is proposed is quite a wiggly line and includes bits of East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. There are real concerns. Folks have asked whether they can directly engage face to face and have said that it cannot just be a desk exercise. NatureScot has committed to being on the ground to engage. Can you provide an assurance that the engagement process for local people will happen on the ground?

The RSE made 16 recommendations. Riparian planting was part of that, and it looked at other issues, such as planting on peatland or deep peat being exempted.

The report, which I have in front of me, talks about landowners getting public money, but the Scottish Government owns more than 1 million hectares of land, the National Trust owns land and RSPB Scotland owns land. It is not just about private landowners getting forestry grants.

I was also looking at a response from Daniel Ridley-Ellis, who is the head of the centre for wood science and technology at Edinburgh Napier University. He brought out some points from the report. I note that you say that there are parts of the report that are positive, that you agree with and that we can take on board, but there are other parts about relying on products that come from other countries—for instance, we import 80 per cent of our timber. I am interested in that aspect of the report. We need to do what we can to be less reliant on timber coming from elsewhere. If we improved planting and supported more forestation and woodland creation, would we be less reliant on timber from other countries?