Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-00175

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the aspects of the Strategic Transport Projects Review regarding the Scottish Borders.

Question reference: S6W-02238

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide assistance to Scottish research and innovation bodies to implement recommendation six in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045, which states that "The Board should establish a farmers’ advisory panel to act as a reference group for the Strategic Research Programme. Scottish Government should continue to invest in the Rural Innovation Support Scheme".

The Scottish Government published its Strategy for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research in March 2021 which sets out future research priorities and governance arrangements. This was informed by extensive consultation including within the agricultural sector. The future governance structure for the research programme will provide for input from a range of stakeholders across the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

With regard to your suggestion that support continues to be provided for the Rural Innovation Support Service I would advise that this service was delivered under a procurement contract which concluded on 31 March 2021. Decisions on whether and/or how future funding support will be provided in this area are currently under consideration.

Question reference: S6W-02244

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will trial agroforestry pilot schemes, in light of the findings in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045.

Through Scotland’s Third Land Use Strategy 2021-2026 , we have set out our vision, and objectives to deliver multiple benefits through sustainable productive mixed land-use, including forestry and farming. To achieve our vison, we will continue to support the management of Scotland’s land in an integrated way.

The Scottish Government currently encourages the uptake of agroforestry through the Forestry Grant Scheme within the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2014-20. As we develop future agricultural and forestry support to replace the current Common Agricultural Policy, the Agricultural Reform Implementation Oversight Board will carefully consider the recommendations of the Farming 1.5 report, as well as the Farmer-led Groups, WWF Scotland, Just Transition, NFUS, Scotland's Climate Assembly's Recommendations for Action Report, the Climate Change Plan update and the Forestry Grant Scheme Customer Representatives Group, when devising practical measures for delivery.

NatureScot is developing a Natural Capital Pilot Programme that will run until 2024 and we are working closely with them to ensure linkages are made to the work underway on designing future agri-environment support. This will help deliver a sustainable, long-term approach that addresses the specific needs of Scotland’s rural landscapes.

We also work closely with farming stakeholders to encourage greater levels of woodland planting as part of farming enterprises. For example, facilitated by Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry, a new farmer-led initiative has recently been established called Integrating Trees Network . This network hosts events for farmers and crofters across Scotland and brings them together, along with experts, to share their practical knowledge, experiences and advice about the processes, objectives, challenges and outcomes of planting trees.

Question reference: S6W-02237

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), in light of the findings in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045, and whether it plans to allocate additional funding to the scheme.

We know how important agri-environment support is to farmers and crofters in helping them to deliver a wide range of environmental measures. That is why we have prioritised agri-environment support in the face of significant cuts to the budget resulting from the UK Government reneging on public commitments that farmers and crofters would not be worse off as a result of leaving the EU.

The latest application round of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme closed at the end of June, decisions on approvals will be made by the end of 2021 and this will build on the £214 million of support committed to since 2015.

The farmer led groups also considered biodiversity and environmental outcomes and the recently announced Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board will carefully consider these recommendations, and those from other reports such as Farming for 1.5, as they contribute to our work to implement policy reform. We are also working closely with NatureScot on their pilot programme on a range of approaches, including a farmer-led outcomes based approach to inform what rural support could look like after CAP.

Question reference: S6W-02541

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the terms of reference of the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming, to be conducted by Professor Russel Griggs.

Question reference: S6W-02542

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of the selection process for the appointment of Professor Russel Griggs to undertake the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming.

Professor Russel Griggs is already appointed by the Scottish Ministers as the Chair of the Regulatory Review Group which considers regulation, finds ways of improving the regulatory system, advises Ministers on all aspects of Better Regulation and acts as an independent and informed judge of Scottish Government and its regulatory agencies’ Better Regulation performance.

Professor Russel Griggs has been appointed due to his knowledge and previous experience of considering the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory systems.

Question reference: S6W-02544

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming, to be conducted by Professor Russel Griggs, fits in with the (a) 2018 report by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Salmon Farming in Scotland, and (b) work of the technical working group of statutory bodies and regulators that has been examining the regulation of salmon farming in relation to any negative interactions with wild salmon and sea trout in Scottish waters.

We asked the Salmon Interactions Working Group to consider the conclusions of the 2018 report by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Salmon Farming in Scotland , and to provide recommendations on a future interactions approach.

As committed to in the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party shared policy programme, we will respond to the Salmon Interactions Working Group Report this month and there will be a consultation on the spatially adaptive sea lice risk assessment framework for fish farms which has been progressed by the technical working group of statutory bodies.

The regulatory review will help to inform what more can be done within the current regime to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory framework and consider options on how to deliver further reform in the longer term.

Question reference: S6W-02545

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement in its news release on 6 August 2021 that fish farming is "an essential part of our green recovery and transition to net zero", what its position is on whether this statement (a) prejudges the external review of the regulatory process involved in fish farming, to be conducted by Professor Russel Griggs, and (b) disregards the conclusion of the 2018 report by Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Salmon Farming in Scotland, that "if the industry is to grow, the 'status quo' in terms of regulation and enforcement is not acceptable".

The 2017-18 parliamentary inquiries on Salmon Farming in Scotland; and the Salmon Interactions Working Group report of 2020 highlighted the challenges which the sector faces and the need for improved efficiency and regulatory change.

We are committed to moving beyond the status quo and ensuring that the current regulatory framework is as efficient and effective as it can be. This work is being progressed through the independent review of Scotland’s regulatory framework for aquaculture being led by Professor Russel Griggs.

We remain committed to an aquaculture industry that is sustainable, diverse, competitive and economically viable and recognise the many benefits which it brings to Scotland’s rural communities and islands. We will consider the recommendations made by Professor Russel Griggs at the end of this year and work to set out our Vision for the sector in 2022.

Question reference: S6W-02246

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the report, Farming for 1.5C: From here to 2045, what approach it plans to take to land-use management, and whether, in future, land-use management will be part of the farm policy agenda.

The Climate Change Plan update provides a pathway to transform farming and food production in Scotland and to optimise land use. In 2021, we are piloting Regional Land Use Partnerships, which aim to facilitate collaboration between local and national government, communities, land owners, land managers and wider stakeholders. They will enable natural capital-led consideration, at a regional level, of how to maximise the contribution that our land can make to addressing the climate and environment crises.

The proposals set out in the Climate Change Plan update for agriculture are founded on a co-development approach and we will work with the industry to consider the complex issues around multi-faceted land use and decisions that impact on them, while we identify the best way to ensure delivery of these outcomes. This partnership working will be continued through the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board. The Board will carefully consider the recommendations of the Farmer-led Groups, Farming 1.5, WWF Scotland, Just Transition, NFUS, the Climate Change Plan update and Scotland's Climate Assembly's Recommendations for Action Report when devising practical measures for delivery.

Question reference: S6W-02248

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role of the agricultural sector in helping reduce carbon emissions, and what discussions it has had with farmers and farming organisations on this issue.

Sustainable agriculture in Scotland has a vital role in producing high quality food for the nation, helping to reduce carbon emissions, delivering wider environmental benefits and improved biodiversity, and ensuring we use appropriate land to allow us to meet our climate change targets.

We are taking a partnership approach to addressing climate change within agriculture. We are building on the work of the farmer-led groups, through the establishment of the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board which is co-chaired by the President of the NFUS and has a number of farmers on the Board, and we are seeking wider stakeholder views through our consultation on ‘Agricultural Transition in Scotland: first steps towards our national policy’ which is open until 17 November 2021. We also have other existing networks through which we engage with farmers and land managers, including the Agriculture and Rural Development Stakeholder Group, the Farm Advisory Service, Farming for a Better Climate initiative, the Crofting Commission, the Integrating Trees Network and new initiatives being established for new entrants to farming.

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