Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has participated in good faith in the Common Frameworks process since 2017. The frameworks process, which is designed to manage policy differences on the basis of agreement and which is founded on respect for devolution, is all that is needed to manage the practical regulatory and market implications of the UK leaving the EU. Frameworks are clear evidence that, as well as posing a significant threat to the devolution settlement, the UK Government’s Internal market proposals are completely unnecessary.

Significant progress has been made on delivering frameworks. Although the current public health crisis has impacted on joint work by the UK Government and the devolved administrations to deliver frameworks, the four administrations have agreed a revised delivery plan which will ensure that there are full or provisional frameworks in place across all relevant policy areas by the end of the transition period. It is now the intention of the four administrations that seven frameworks, six of which relate to Scotland, will be agreed and implemented by the end of December 2020, with provisional frameworks being established in the 25 remaining policy areas. Provisional frameworks will consist of a framework outline agreement and accompanying concordat, including essential arrangements required for the framework to operate at the end of the transition period. The development and agreement of provisional frameworks will be on the same basis as full frameworks, requiring adherence to the principles for common frameworks set out by JMC (EN) and including technical scrutiny with stakeholders and engagement with legislatures. Work to finalise provisional frameworks as full frameworks will continue during 2021.

Technical stakeholder engagement for several of the frameworks is currently taking place and progressing well, ensuring that stakeholders are able to feed into the development of frameworks.

Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with Committee Clerks to provide updates on Common Frameworks development, agree process and a timetable for parliamentary scrutiny. Scottish Government officials are discussing with Committee Clerks the expected level of parliamentary scrutiny for each framework and will ensure that lead Committees also receive a summary of each provisional framework and an update on its progress before the end of 2020. Two frameworks, the Nutrition Composition, Labelling and Standards Framework and the Hazardous Substances (Planning) Framework, will be shared with the relevant lead Committees shortly.

A full list of the Common Frameworks by lead Committee can be found in my letter to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 11 August , which set out the Scottish Government’s initial response to the UK Government White Paper on the Internal Market.

There is a place for well-targeted, limited deer fencing on Scotland’s national forests and land, however FLS already maintains around 2,250 km of deer fences, which it is looking to reduce, and its core focus remains strongly on the effective management of its wild deer populations.

In recent years FLS has spent around £250,000 annually on deer fencing. The agency Scottish Forestry has allocated around 70% (£13 million) of its grant expenditure to private land holdings over a five year period in relation to erecting, modifying or enhancing deer fences.

FLS has recently revised its deer fencing policy and has communicated this to a range of stakeholders via the Association of Deer Management Groups and their network of contacts. Any proposed deer fencing project on Scotland’s national forests and land must be accompanied by a supporting business case and the expectation is that costs will be shared with neighbouring landowners. Deer fencing projects must be delivered in conjunction with a reduction cull in order to prevent displacement of deer onto neighbouring land.

FLS’s preferred option for deer management is to work collaboratively with neighbouring land managers to reduce deer numbers and densities to sustainable levels and consequently to reduce deer damage impacts and the need for deer fencing.

Wild deer numbers in Scotland have increased in recent years and are now thought to be nearing 1 million as noted in the Independent Deer Working Group’s report in December 2019. The Scottish Government has not changed its policy regarding the authorisation for the culling of female deer during the closed season since the introduction of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) does not have an estimated cost per carcass relating specifically to the culling of juvenile deer, however the average sale weights of red and roe deer juvenile carcasses from across Scotland’s national forests and land in FY 2019-20 were 24.8 kg and 9.3 kg respectively.

Since 2013, land managers have been able to able to operate under a General Authorisation when controlling red deer outwith the open season to protect against damage. In order to operate under this General Authorisation land managers must meet certain criteria and conditions. This approach was reviewed in 2016.

During the period of highest welfare, between 1 April and 31 August, the culling of female deer can only be carried out under specific authorisation from NatureScot and only in exceptional circumstances.

In developing this approach, NatureScot commissioned research into birth and weaning dates across wild deer in Scotland to strike a balance between safeguarding deer welfare and protecting Scotland’s land and forestry against ecological damage.

Deer are present across the whole of Scotland’s national forests and land, and, being mobile animals, can damage a wide range of tree crops and habitats. Deer impacts can have a significant and negative effect on Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS), core objectives including climate change mitigation measures and biodiversity targets as well as timber production and operating costs.

In order to deliver proactive and effective deer management on Scotland’s national forests and land, FLS annually applies to NatureScot for authorisation to shoot deer out of season across the whole landholding.

Out of season shooting is however evidence-led, prioritised and targeted at the most vulnerable areas of woodland or open habitat currently at risk of, or subject to, deer damage impacts. Evidence and relevant data to inform the targeting of culling of deer is sourced from the FLS Wildlife Management System database and formal damage assessment of crops carried out by independent surveyors. Additional localised culling may also be necessary for human safety or deer welfare reasons.

Support for the venison sector is being considered as part of wider recovery planning for Scotland’s farming, fishing, food and drink sector in response to Covid and Brexit. The Scottish Government continues to support our national venison strategy and we have provided project funding towards a better understanding of the market for Scottish venison. We have also, along with Food Standards Scotland, funded research into wild deer health which is due to be published in the next few months.

I was pleased to support Scottish Venison Day on 4 September, an initiative designed to promote, strengthen and celebrate the importance of Scottish venison as a local food product.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) contacted individuals whose GTCS registration has recently lapsed, including recently retired teachers to ensure records were up to date to facilitate any contact with employers to establish their willingness and availability to return to teaching, should this be required based on local need. There has been no formal call as yet.

We are currently working with local authorities to establish what additional staff are needed. Once we know that, we will work with local authorities to meet that demand.