Chamber and committees

It is not possible to provide exact numbers on either current deer populations or future sustainable populations. For the purposes of protecting natural regeneration, tree-planting and peatland, in order restore and enhance natural systems that will deliver carbon and biodiversity benefits we need to focus on deer densities and impacts. We have already indicated in our response to the Deer Working Group report, that we support an overall density of no more than 10 deer per square kilometre. However we know that in many places we will need to achieve densities significantly lower than this in order to allow nature restoration projects to succeed.

We will aim to achieve the necessary reductions in deer populations through a combination of regulation and incentives. We are working to develop policies in this area, building on existing legislation and grant schemes.

At present our operational priority is to assess and identify priority areas where there is evidence of, or a high risk of deer damage, to ensure deer management efforts are focused and coordinated where there is the greatest need.

Scottish Government are already supporting a range of interventions to help the wellbeing of our rural communities.

Between 2021-2023 £36 million was made available to grassroots community groups through the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing fund to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities.

Land Based rural workers have been supported by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) who provide emotional, practical and financial assistance to people living and working in Scottish agriculture. In the 2022-23 financial year SG committed £50,000 to supporting RSABI taking the total Scottish Government support to £515,000 over the last five years.

The Scottish Government takes all crime, including that committed in rural areas, extremely seriously. One of the key Aims of our Vision for Justice, published in 2022, is to ensure that we have a society in which people feel, and are, safer in their communities. In January this year, we revised our Strategic Police Priorities, which underpin the statutory policing principles that the main purpose of policing is to improve the safety and wellbeing of persons, localities and communities in Scotland.

The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), is chaired by Police Scotland and draws together key stakeholders from across the justice and rural sectors, including Scottish Government, to provide a robust, multi-agency approach to rural crime and support activity at local level.

SPARC published an updated Strategy last year which set out 7 key priority areas and detailed the Rural Watch Scotland initiative focused on preventative activity undertaken and delivered by Neighbourhood Watch Scotland working through SPARC.

The Scottish Government recognises the role that the private rented sector plays in meeting Scotland’s housing need. However, tax is just one of a wide range of financial, regulatory and other considerations that landlords will need to consider when making their investment decisions.

The Scottish Government continuously monitors and considers all available data regarding the impact of LBTT and the ADS on the housing market. Furthermore, I would note that the Scottish Government is continuing to support the emergence of the large-scale private rented sector through the exemption from ADS for purchases of 6 or more properties.

Increasing the ADS is expected to raise an additional £34m in 2023-24, with the ADS forecast to raise £165m in total. This rate increase protects opportunities for first-time buyers and raises vital revenue to support high national priorities, including education and health.

The Scottish Government has made it clear that this agreement, will not compensate for the damaging impact of the UK leaving the EU. The UK Government’s own modelling suggests that CPTPP membership will result in a mere 0.08% increase in UK GDP. In contrast the Office for Budgetary Responsibility has forecast that Brexit will reduce the UK’s potential growth by 4%.

Whilst there are some welcome gains for Scottish businesses, such as the reduction in high Scotch Whisky tariffs, these must not be at the expense of other sectors vital to our economy.

We have consistently expressed concerns to the UK Government that joining CPTPP could place Scottish producers at a disadvantage by opening the door to cheaper imports produced to lower safety, animal welfare, environmental or labour standards. We are also unclear how the UK Government will protect domestic standards given the arbitration processes of the agreement.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific assessment of the impact of delays in ferry replacement on island economies.

The ferries network has seen significant improvements in the last decade a result of the 2013 Ferries Plan. Scottish Government and Transport Scotland are keenly aware of the importance of reliable ferry services upon which our island communities depend. With 6 major vessels currently in construction, and more vessel replacement projects ongoing, the future ferries network will be more reliable and resilient bringing travel to and from the islands communities up to meet their needs.

The Scottish Government will set out its timetable for commencing all sections of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 in due course.

At present, the Scottish Government does not provide any funding to the third sector organisation HIV Scotland.

In the last financial year, the Scottish Government provided HIV Scotland with core funding of £45,000. Additionally, we provided £120,000 to continue the HIV self-testing pilot in 2022-23.

The First Minister confirmed in the Chamber on Tuesday that the Bute House Agreement will continue. The Scottish Government is committed to working with the Green Party in the coming years to continue to focus on delivering our net zero targets and protecting the people of Scotland from the harm inflicted by the cost of living crisis.

There are currently no plans to procure a federated data platform for the NHS in Scotland. However, we want to make sure that we have the technology and infrastructure in place to equip health and care professionals to better collect, store and use data.