Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10548 on 15 August 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government wrote to the European Commission on 21 June to request an extension to the end-June deadline for CAP Pillar 1 payments. The Commission responded to indicate that it does not propose to offer an extension and, as noted in the answer given to question S5W-10309 on 25 July 2017, the Scottish Government subsequently made a further request. The Commission responded on 2 August to confirm there will be an opportunity to make further representations on these issues once they have undertaken initial penalty calculations in the Autumn. The Scottish Government will consider whether further action is required at that time.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Carbon audit tools can help farmers and crofters manage and reduce the carbon footprint of farming and crofting. By using resources more efficiently it can also potentially improve profitability.

The agriculture chapter in our draft Climate Change Action Plan commits to consulting on how best to ensure maximum uptake of carbon audits. Use of such tools is also promoted through the Scottish Government’s Farm Advisory Service.

Participation in the Beef Efficiency Scheme will also involve beef farmers in conducting carbon audits – 1880 beef farmers have signed up to take part in that scheme.

Marine Scotland is organising two workshop events (one in Glasgow and on in the North West) in early June which will be focussed on obtaining industry stakeholder views on the location of the proposed electrofishing trials. The findings from these workshops will assist in shaping discussions with other public sector partners and the relevant local authorities in defining the boundaries of the trial areas. It is anticipated that the location of the trail sites will be confirmed over the summer.

The UK Government, as EU member state, has responsibility for sharing information, seeking input from devolved administrations at appropriate stages and co ordinating the work being undertaken by devolved administrations to ensure that the UK strategy can be submitted in time to allow continued participation under the new EU school milk scheme.

The UK strategy must be submitted to the EC by 1 August 2017 (the same date the new scheme arrangements begin).

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) administer the EU school milk scheme on behalf of Scotland, England and Wales. Due to the changes to the scheme, new secondary legislation is required to be in place by 1 August 2017 to allow RPA to continue in this role.

Earlier in the process we had been led to believe that a UK SI would be prepared to allow all four UK nations to continue claiming under the new EU school milk scheme. However in March, Defra advised that they preferred devolved administrations to enact their own legislation, leaving Scotland with just 12 weeks to draft and lay a SSI (and undertake necessary stakeholder consultation) to ensure it can complete its Parliamentary journey before the Scottish Parliament begins recess on 30 June 2017.

Due to the UK General Election (GE) being called, the UK Government recently advised that they no longer feel they are in a position to share much of the information that we had hoped to share with stakeholders, as we undertake necessary consultation and engagement prior to the SSI being laid in the Scottish Parliament. This includes the strategy, the application forms and accompanying guidance. The GE does not cause the same issues for the UK Government consultation or SI as their Parliament does not rise until several weeks after our own.

Both of these factors - the lack of definitive material on which to consult and the slowness on the part of Defra in communicating its decision on secondary legislation - are most unfortunate. Nevertheless, we have moved quickly to allow stakeholders to consider the proposed approach in Scotland and to ensure the necessary legislative changes are made to allow Scotland’s schoolchildren to continue to benefit from the subsidised school milk scheme. A consultation on the EU School Milk scheme began on 5 May and can be accessed via the following link:-

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/food-and-drink/eu-milk-scheme/

The risk of incursion of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 into poultry or captive birds in Scotland, either from non-migratory wild birds or contaminated environment was assessed by experts on 18 April, as being “LOW” (reduced from “MEDIUM”). This means “rare but could occur” and falls within the parameters of what we consider to be “typical” of the disease risk from AI in Scotland, year-round. 

Wild bird surveillance in Scotland shows that since 1 December 2016, 51 birds were tested in Scotland and only one tested positive (on 23 Dec 2016) for HPAI H5N8. Furthermore, all suspect notifiable disease investigations in domestic flocks, reported over the same time period, were negated. 

Based on the information above and in consultation with ornithological experts and vets, Scottish Ministers took the decision not to renew the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone when it expired on 30 April 2017.

Of course, it is essential that bird keepers maintain effective biosecurity throughout the year, and not just when a prevention zone is in place. Any businesses with existing contingency plans should also consider reviewing them, given the new perspective this season’s outbreaks of H5N8 has provided.

The Scottish Government values greatly, those who undertake the vital role of caring for our youngest children and our Blueprint for 2020 Action Plan sets out a range of actions we will take, over the course of the next year, to improve the attractiveness of a career in the ELC sector. These include:

 Increasing the number of ELC Modern Apprenticeships by 10% year on year up to 2020.

Launching a recruitment marketing campaign in autumn 2017.

Working with Skills Development Scotland to produce updated guidance on opportunities in ELC for careers advice organisations; and

Working with delivery partners, who already have excellent links to communities across Scotland, to raise the profile of a career in ELC amongst underrepresented groups.

We are also encouraging Fair Work practices across the ELC Sector and will provide up to £50 million of additional revenue to extend payment of the Living Wage to all childcare staff delivering the funded entitlement in private and third sector nurseries by the end of this parliament.

Scotland’s health and social care sectors benefit enormously from the contribution of staff from across the EU. We greatly value our non-UK EU citizens and their wider contribution to our society; we are working to see that their rights and place in our nation are protected. Any reports that the NHS in Scotland could lose any doctors and nurses are deeply concerning and underlines the real risk the UK Government’s hard Brexit policy poses to our health and social care services.

The Scottish Government and Scotland Food and Drink engages regularly with grocery retailers to encourage increased sourcing of Scottish produce. Recently Marks and Spencer announced a commitment to stock 100% Scottish Lamb all year round. Additionally Quality meat Scotland carry out a lamb marketing campaign each year which includes in store activities.