Chamber and committees

The industry is planting seedlings and growing trees. What can you say that will give it confidence that there will be support and that the targets will rise in the future? I know that we do not know what the budget is, but what is your vision for future planting?

Certainly.

Before we move on again, I have a question. You touched on progress on the key deliverables in the draft biodiversity delivery plan. How will those affect the rural support plan when it is published?

You said that you are proud that you have continued to pay farmers at that level, but an independent review—the Bew review—suggested that Scottish farmers were being short-changed by £61 million. Where should that £61 million be spent? Are you saying that farmers do not actually need it, that they can get through and that the payments are adequate? As Rhoda Grant said, it was identified that Scottish farmers were being underpaid by £61 million. Where are the challenges in the budget that mean that that £61 million is not being paid out to farmers?

I suppose that the question is what the impact is on farmers of not having that £61 million, which was identified by an independent inquiry.

No, no. The Bew review identified that Scottish farmers should get paid an additional £61 million.

Okay. Maybe I should start from the other side. What is your understanding of the Bew review and the money that was identified as extra money? What is your understanding of the Bew review?

Okay, so it is likely that the date will slip.

Thank you. We will move on to animal health and welfare with a question from Emma Harper.

I was asking my question on the back of your consideration of that matter. After all, it is you, as minister, who will decide whether a licensing scheme is something that the Government will take on board—it is not for the committee to ask you to do that.