Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not have a formal definition for a “cluster” of farmers. The term has been used in relation to the Farming with Nature programme NatureScot delivers in partnership with the Scottish Government, specifically the Piloting an Outcomes Based Approach in Scotland (POBAS) project. The term ‘cluster’ has been used where there are a number of farms and crofts in a region participating or involved with the project. Further information on the project’s Phase 1 and Phases 2 and 3 is available on NatureScot’s website.

Information on how many nurses have been employed in the NHS in each of the last three years, also broken down by NHS board, can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at:

NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

The NatureScot licensing team will prioritise applications for practitioners to use more than two dogs as a means of controlling predators for preventing serious damage, and where there is a high risk of imminent damage, applications can be turned around within 48 hours.

As stated in the Scottish Policy Prospectus, I am committed to reform crofting law by 2026, subject to agreement by parliament, to support the future of crofting. The Programme for Government 2023-24 commits the Scottish Government to developing and consulting on proposals to reform crofting law. That is a key and necessary part of the process to develop and introduce a bill. We remain committed to doing so in this Parliamentary term.

Work is already underway to create a new payment structure, and as with the current one, which has seen 2023 Basic payments begin at the earliest point ever in September year in a row, our intention is for the future structure and system to make payments in a timely manner.

The Scottish Government defines a “Just Transition” as both an outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the process that must be undertaken in partnership with those impacted by the transition.

The Agriculture Bill recognises the importance of both this outcome and approach.

The Scottish Government has made clear on a number of occasions its intention to maintain direct payments in support of active farming, and to continue to fund farming and food production in a way that delivers for climate and nature.

The Agriculture Bill has now been published and introduced to Parliament.

Engagement with stakeholders will continue during the Bill process, and the Scottish Government looks forward to hearing and seeing the evidence that organisations and individuals provide as part of Stage 1 of the bill process.

This week the Scottish Government has launched a further stakeholder engagement programme on the bill measures and tiered approach, which will include interviews, surveys, workshops, testing and trials, and anyone can take part. More information is available here .

Implementation of the new support framework will deliver effective, cost efficient public services, and the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board has been engaged in and provided feedback on the tiered approach.

This week the Scottish Government has launched a further stakeholder engagement programme on the bill measures and tiered approach, which will include interviews, surveys, workshops, testing and trials, and anyone can take part. More information is available here .

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill has now been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

Information on the Bill can be found on the Parliament website here, and all supporting evidence and analysis relating to the Bill can be found here .