Chamber and committees

We published a high level statement of intent on biodiversity on 14 December 2020 in order to take account of delays in agreeing a new global biodiversity framework at CoP15. We are closely engaged in discussions with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on negotiation of the new framework.

The Statement of Intent signals our ambitions for biodiversity in Scotland, our international action, and announces our commitment to publish a new biodiversity strategy by October 2022 which will define high level outcomes to address the ongoing decline in biodiversity. This will be supported by a delivery plan published within six months of the new strategy.

The direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services provide a useful high-level summary framework, and alongside other analyses such as Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 and the State of Nature report for Scotland provide a substantial evidence base around which to design our new strategy. However, it is a thorough and comprehensive understanding of Scotland’s particular needs which will most effectively shape our strategic framework and enable us to deliver improvements in biodiversity in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has set up a Commission to undertake a review of learning in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors, to provide opportunities and qualifications through early years, school, college, university and work-based learning - including apprenticeships - for more people, and specifically more women and young people, to work with and on the land, particularly in green skills.

This review will provide recommendations on how to attract more people into these sectors. The Commission will provide independent, evidence-based advice and recommendations to Scottish Ministers by December 2022.

In addition, the Scottish Government’s Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland (2019-21) sets out our strategic approach to support the skills needs of the rural economy by addressing skills shortages, talent retention and attraction, and demographic challenges through enhanced work-based learning pathways and by increasing access to education and skills provision in rural areas.

The Scottish Government also provides funding support to Lantra Scotland. Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for Scotland’s land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation sectors, aiming to ensure that these sectors can meet their skills needs and have the right people and promotion of learning opportunities for new entrants. Lantra promote the land-based sector as a rewarding career choice, and help to ensure that learning and training provision address industry requirements and skills gaps.

Lantra’s "#NoTwoDaysTheSame in Land-based and Aquaculture" provides the opportunity for school students to find out about the wide range of careers available in the land-based and aquaculture sectors and how young people can get there. It is delivered in partnership with Developing Young Workforce Live.

In 2019 and 2020 the Crofting Commission recorded over 830 new entrants into crofting, with 44% of these being women, and 32% being aged 40 or under. Given the positive work being undertaken by the Commission and the Development Officers, we expect to see similar positive numbers when the Crofting Commission produces its figures for 2021-22.

The Scottish Government does not have specific data across all of its funding schemes to separate the financial support it provides to new entrant crofters from the funding support it provides to existing crofters. In round terms, however, the Scottish Government provides croft businesses with over £40m in support each year.

New entrants to crofting can access the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme, which has a higher grant rate for those crofters under 41 years of age who have been head of the croft business for less than 5 years. New entrants can also access the Croft House Grant, Forestry Grant Scheme, Farm Advisory Service, Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme and can also access the basic Pillar 1 type payments.

The National Development Plan for Crofting, published in March 2021, forms a critical part of the support this Government will be offering to crofters and crofting communities, to ensure that crofting remains at the heart of our rural and island communities.

In 2021 the Crofting Commission expanded its Residency and Land Use team to enable it to increase its work in addressing absenteeism and bringing crofts back into productive use.

The Commission also appointed its islands-based Crofting Development Officers who will work with crofting communities and strengthen links between the Commission and the communities it serves by building constructive local relations. The new Officers will work with local assessors and liaise with landlords and townships to encourage opportunities for new entrants and active croft use.

The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of any potential need for a public awareness campaign on the symptoms of heart valve disease.

However, the Heart Disease Action Plan, published in 2021, clearly sets out our strategic direction to minimise preventable heart disease and ensure that everyone with suspected heart disease in Scotland has timely and equitable access to diagnosis, treatment and care. This includes prioritizing the awareness of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Further, we have made commitments in the Women’s Health Plan to improve information and public awareness of heart disease symptoms and risks for women.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05548 on 31 January 2022. 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

At present there are no plans to undertake a workforce audit. However, it is recognised that in delivering Scottish Government priorities for climate change and biodiversity, that there is a skills shortage in the rural sector, in particular in peatland restoration.

The Scottish Government is committed, through the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan, to support the creation of additional green jobs in rural and island areas of Scotland, with associated skills development and training. We recognise the key role crofting communities have to play in peatland restoration. In the National Development Plan for Crofting we committed to working in partnership with NatureScot and the Crofting Commission to identify the areas of degraded peatland in the crofting counties with a view to prioritising engagement with crofters and common grazing committees and identify opportunities for restoration.

There is also a commitment through the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland to ensure people in our rural areas have the necessary skills, which will support inclusive growth. The Crofting Commission Development Officers engage with crofting communities to encourage croft occupancy, active croft use and management of common grazings. Working closely with local assessors the Officers liaise with landlords and townships to encourage opportunities and diversification of crofting activities, including initiatives to help crofting align with this Government’s priorities for climate change and biodiversity.

Crofters can access the Forestry Grant Scheme, introduced in 2015, which has a specific premium option aimed at the Northern Isles, Western Isles and crofting counties where establishing trees can be more expensive.

In addition, the Small Woodlands Loan Scheme, introduced in April 2021, aims to reduce cash flow barriers that crofters may face when considering tree-planting. The loan works alongside the Forestry Grant Scheme and is aimed at woodland creation projects of up to 20 hectares in size. It provides up to half of the upfront costs associated with planting a new woodland.

Scottish Forestry is also a partner in the Croft Woodlands Project, run by The Woodland Trust Scotland, which provides free help and advice to crofters, smallholders and common grazings committees.

During the Pillar Two programme period (2014-20) LEADER funding supported Community Led Local Development to deliver a range of thematic activity, which included a range of farm and crofting diversification projects.

The Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme provides grants for agricultural buildings, and the Croft House Grant provides grant funding towards the costs of croft house improvements or a new build croft house.

While the Scottish Government has not met or corresponded with UK Government on this question specifically, we meet and correspond with UKG regularly about funding in general. Over the course of the pandemic we have worked closely with the self-catering accommodation sector and Scottish Tourism Alliance on the recovery and support for the sector and we will continue to do so.

The Scottish Government recognises that the self-catering accommodation sector, alongside many other businesses across Scotland has been adversely affected by Covid-19. In addition to the regular Strategic Framework Business Fund which previously supported small accommodation providers, a range of tailored support to meet the needs of tourism businesses was developed. This included the Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund (SAP-CTF) which eligible Bed & Breakfasts, Guesthouses, small serviced accommodation providers and other self-catering businesses that paid council tax were able to access. Other targeted funds included the large self-catering grant and support for the B&B sector via a fund of up to £3 million to support those B&Bs with no business bank account. Equivalent tailored funds have not generally been available in England.

We will continue to engage in dialogue with the UK Government on issues of funding and to monitor the impacts of COVID on Scotland’s tourist industry.