- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of fox control measures in relation to the reported decline in capercaillie numbers.
Answer
The decline in capercaillie numbers is of real concern, NatureScot recently published a Review of Capercaillie Conservation and Management - Report to the Scientific Advisory Committee | NatureScot
The report found, inter alia, that it is likely that “ reductions in the numbers of predators (foxes, pine martens, crows) would rapidly improve the breeding success of Capercaillie” . However the evidence is unclear as to whether reductions of fox populations alone would benefit capercaillie without management of other predator species due to the interactions between predator species.
NatureScot are working closely with the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project to support capercaillie conservation in Scotland, and have recently published an outline of the measures, beyond those which are already being undertaken, that are being considered to save capercaillie. These include:
- Carefully designed and monitored diversionary feeding of predators, currently being investigated, being expanded to provide alternative food during the breeding season.
- Additional predator control to remove crows, foxes and including pine martens. In the case of pine marten this would be non-lethal, through trap and release as part of reintroduction to other parts of the UK.
- Seasonal visitor management to create larger refuges from human disturbance in collaboration with communities.
- Extend deer fence marking and removal.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to make CCTV mandatory in fish slaughterhouses, in line with the Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses (Scotland) Regulations 2020, which mandates the use of CCTV in all slaughterhouses for terrestrial farmed animals, but excludes fish slaughterhouses.
Answer
The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all farmed animals very seriously and has recently introduced measures to monitor fish welfare at slaughter. The UK Animal Welfare Committee is currently considering the welfare of farmed fish at slaughter and we will explore the need for any changes to current practice or legislation once the committee publishes its findings.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of public value for money in funding RSPB Scotland's Abernethy National Nature Reserve, in light of the reported continued decline in capercaillie numbers.
Answer
As I outlined in my response to S6W-07615 on 25 April 2022, funding allocated to Abernethy is for a range of purposes and is our assessment that this has been of value for money despite the decline in capercaillie numbers.
While the status of the capercaillie population in Scotland remains vulnerable, without the investment that has been made to the likes of Abernethy it is likely that we would have lost capercaillie from Scotland.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding RSPB Scotland received annually, in each of the last five years, to manage the Abernethy National Nature Reserve.
Answer
NatureScot’s investment in Abernethy over the past 3 years has principally been support through the Peatland Action Fund that is delivering SG objectives to tackle the twin crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss. A further project supported a number of seasonal rangers, helping to ensure responsible use of the NNR. They have also provided support for RSPB staff posts for their work on Capercaillie.
The following tables below show the funding allocation from both NatureScot and the Forestry Grant Scheme to Abernethy National Nature Reserve, this funding may have been for a range of purposes, and funding may have been allocated indirectly via other partners so a complete breakdown is not available. It is important to note that the Capercaillie officer funding is mainly for the wider co-ordination of Capercaillie, and not specific to Abernethy.
NatureScot Abernethy Funding Allocation
Project Title | Paid 2018-19 | Paid 2019-20 | Paid 2020-21 | Paid 2021-22 | Total |
RSPB Capercaillie Officers and Assistants 2018-2023 | 16,421 | 10,600.43 | 8,695.63 | 13,128.00 | 48,845 |
BPF2 - Welcome Back to Nature at Abernethy | | | | 14,205.96 | 14,206 |
Peatland Action - Abernethy Access Work | | | | 20,587.64 | 20,588 |
Peatland Action - Restoration at Abernethy Phase 1 - Restoration element | | | 174,041.95 | 609.89 | 174,652 |
Peatland Action - Restoration at Abernethy Phase 1 - Water Monitoring element | | 5,165.16 | | | 5,168 |
Peatland Action - Abernethy Forest Mires Study | | 10,062.87 | | | 10,063 |
Forest Grant Scheme Abernethy Allocation
Option | Claim year | Contract value |
Woodland Improvement Grant Forest Plan Renewal | 2020 | £10000 |
Woodland Improvement Grant– Habitats and Species | 2019 | £81900 |
Woodland Improvement Grant– Habitats and Species | 2020 | £11250 |
Sustainable Management of Forests – Native Woodlands | 2020 | £142675 |
Sustainable Management of Forests – Native Woodlands | 2021 | £142675 |
Sustainable Management of Forests – Native Woodlands | 2022 | £142675 |
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider offering financial support to gamekeepers to help with conservation in order to tackle the reported decline in capercaillie numbers.
Answer
The Scottish Government, it’s partners and agencies have funded actions to support capercaillie conservation across Scotland through a range of schemes. Funding has been awarded to estates as well as eNGO’s and individuals and we expect this to continue.
Funding is awarded to projects that would benefit capercaillie conservation but are not specifically for this purpose. This could include supporting new pine wood planting in capercaillie areas, the management and improvement of existing habitat as well as it's extension through actions such as controlling deer numbers, fence marking or removal, and thinning to improve light levels.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide data on capercaillie lek and brood counts from RSPB Scotland's Abernethy National Nature Reserve in each of the last five years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when the Food Security and Supply Taskforce will report on its work.
Answer
The Food Security and Supply Taskforce met for the third time on 20 April and continues its work to monitor, identify and respond to any potential disruption to the food and drink supply chain resulting from to the impact of the war in Ukraine. The Taskforce plans to publish details of its work in the near future.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on establishing a gamekeeping taskforce.
Answer
I am committed to engagement of the type I think Ms Hamilton is suggesting. I, and my officials, frequently meet with land management stakeholders, including organisations representing gamekeepers, and I am due to meet again with the Scottish Gamekeepers Association shortly. We expect to continue to engage with those stakeholders on issues affecting the sector, including specific issues relating to gamekeeping now and as we move forwards with tackling the biodiversity and climate emergencies.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on establishing a Venison Hub, as set out in Beyond the Glen: a strategy for the Scottish Venison Sector to 2030.
Answer
The “Beyond the Glen” strategy for the Scottish venison sector included an action to establish a “go to” Venison Hub for market research and industry technical advice. The Scottish Venison Association has taken on the role of the Venison Hub.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress of the actions set out on page 8 of Beyond the Glen, A strategy for the Scottish Venison Sector to 2030.
Answer
The “Beyond the Glen” strategy for the Scottish venison sector is an industry-led strategy, the implementation of which is being co-ordinated by the Scottish Venison Association.
In common with other food and related rural businesses, the Covid pandemic has caused major uncertainty and market disruption in the last two years and has impacted on producer confidence and price. EU exit has also impacted on exports. Work on the strategy has been impacted but despite this, some good progress has been made, for example in exploring new routes for local chills, processing, and supply; developing market insight; and deer health research. Scottish Government funded £60,000 of online marketing in spring 2021 to support Scottish producers and processors. £80,000 has also been made available through the Covid Recovery Plan Opportunities Fund to create new local chill and processing units for wild venison.