Chamber and committees

The Crofting Commission publishes its application processing times in its Annual Report & Accounts. The median turnaround times for applications completed during Q1 of 2023-24 is as follows:

Croft House decrofting: 11 weeks

Apportionment: 117 weeks

The croft registration process belongs to Registers of Scotland, therefore these figures are not readily available.

Whilst the Commission’s capacity for processing casework declined in 2021-22, an increase to its budget in the last two years has enabled it to expand its staff resource and improvements are being made. The apportionment cases now being cleared include some of those affected by delays in 2021-22, or earlier.

NHS Highland’s oncology service is currently provided by a mix of substantive staff, locum consultants and some support from consultants based in other boards. This arrangement is ensuring all patients are receiving the treatment they need. Efforts to recruit additional substantive staff are ongoing, however this is difficult because of the current UK national shortage of doctors who are qualified oncologists.

Today I am pleased to announce to Parliament the launch of our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture in Scotland.

This Vision sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain, with the aim of ensuring our industry is sustainable, diverse, competitive and economically viable.

Scottish Aquaculture produces the UK’s biggest food export – Scottish farmed salmon. The sector is already a significant contributor to our economy through trade, employment and investment in infrastructure such as housing, broadband and harbour facilities. It supports a wide range of highly skilled and well-paid jobs across farming operations, supply chain businesses, research institutes and new innovative enterprises. Many of these jobs are located in some of Scotland’s most fragile rural and island communities where they help to underpin valuable economic development. Aligning with our Blue Economy Vision, our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture also sets out our aspirations for the growth of other fish, seafood and seaweed aquaculture.

We have consulted widely across the sector and with other stakeholders to develop our Vision and it includes a series of outcomes that will help drive progress in key areas such as the environment and biodiversity, consenting, community benefit, business and health and welfare.

The Scottish Government will work with all stakeholders, including industry, regulators, government, enterprise agencies, academia, NGOs and communities to deliver our positive Vision for a thriving aquaculture sector in Scotland that is globally recognised as innovative, productive, successful and sustainable.

On 16 June 2023, the First Minister represented the Scottish Government at the Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council hosted by the Government of Jersey. The meeting was attended by Ministers from seven of the eight of the BIC Member Administrations with Northern Ireland represented by senior officials in an observational capacity.

The Summit meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister of Jersey Kristina Moore, who welcomed delegates to Jersey at a dinner on the Thursday evening ahead of the Summit.

The Summit focussed on “Building for the Future: Green and Affordable” which offered the opportunity to discuss housing challenges faced by all of the BIC member administrations. This included affordable housing, decarbonisation of heat and modern methods of construction and whilst in Jersey, the First Minister attended a site visit to a building project in St Helier which employs offsite construction methods.

This discussion followed on from a meeting of the BIC Housing Ministers on 5 June at which I represented the Scottish Government. I welcome the opportunity that this forum presents the Governments of these islands for closer collaboration and look forward to increased engagement around the common challenges we face.

On the latest Political Developments item, the First Minster reflected on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the importance of re-establishing political institutions in Northern Ireland. The First Minister highlighted the continued importance of developing measures to help support households and business during the cost-of-living crisis, EU relations intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom, and voiced continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The First Minister also took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Taoiseach, the Tnaiste, the First Minister of Wales, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and had introductory meetings with the Chief Ministers of the Crown Dependencies.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at: britishirishcouncil.org.

The Scottish Government welcomes this report, commends the working group for its detailed work and recognises the important part that the recommendations play in creating a secure future for Gaelic in Scotland. The report’s recommendations will be allocated to appropriate policy areas within the Scottish Government for response and a combined response will be provided to the Short Life Working Group, the authors of this report. The Cabinet Secretary will also meet with the Chair of the working group responsible for this report. In addition, the Scottish Government will also consider if progress could be made with any of the recommendations of the report by means of including relevant provisions in the Scottish Languages Bill or the forthcoming version of the National Gaelic Language Plan.

I have today published on the Scottish Government web pages a revised and updated Agricultural Reform Route Map . The overarching aim of the Route Map is to help farmers and crofters prepare for the change needed to deliver the ambitious aims set out in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture.

This second edition sets out the process for changing to a new agricultural support framework. It includes information on important dates, the measures being considered now, when current schemes will transition or end and the support available now.

It focusses on preparing for the first changes from 2025, which include:

• the maintenance of existing cross compliance requirements as a minimum on future support;
• the introduction of new protections for Peatlands and Wetlands as a new condition on basic payments;
• the foundations of a Whole Farm Plan, including soil testing, animal health and welfare declaration, carbon audits, biodiversity audits and supported business planning;
• the introduction of new conditions to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme linked to calving intervals to encourage livestock keepers to reduce the emissions intensity of their cattle production systems.

To help farmers and crofters prepare for these forthcoming changes, the Scottish Government will now begin an intensive engagement programme. This includes producing leaflet for use both digitally and physically. These cover getting ready for 2025 as well as specific information on Animal Health and Welfare interventions, Soil Analysis and Carbon Audits. The programme will also include targeted stakeholder communications and roadshow attendance at a series of forthcoming agricultural and local shows, and Autumn markets.