Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-35690

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many times its (a) ministers and (b) officials have met with the advertising website, Escort Scotland, in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S6W-35360

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30676 by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2024, whether it has now modelled any potential contingent liability implications from its policy to encourage private investment in nature recovery; what any such modelling shows in relation to any potential public expenditure implications for every £100 million of private investment, and whether it will publish any such modelling that has been undertaken.

Question reference: S6W-35357

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 26 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26881 by Jim Fairlie on 5 June 2024, what engagement took place with (a) communities and (b) land managers to test the appetite for nature finance and to design the potential investment; what the results of this engagement were; whether a report on the engagement will be published, and, regarding the Wild Heart Expansion Project, when it will be announced; how many private finance partners will be involved; what the value is of that private investment, and what the total amount is of public funding.

Question reference: S6W-35310

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the paper, Sustainable Farming Scheme: proposed scheme outline (2024), which was published by the Welsh Government on 25 November 2024, and whether it plans to propose a similar scheme to deliver sustainable farming practices, including high-quality food production.

We have been following the development of the Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) with interest. As well as the paper which was published in November, we also have regular discussions with the other UK nations, including Wales, regarding future agriculture policy proposals as part of the provisional Agricultural Support Common Framework. Whilst each nation has its own unique situation, and tailors their support accordingly, we also have shared challenges and goals. These discussions under the Framework enable all four nations to collaborate, coordinate, and cooperate regarding plans for future agricultural support.

While our proposals for future support are set out as a framework, as opposed to a single scheme, there are a number of similarities with the Welsh proposals. The Welsh “Sustainable Land Management” objectives, which the SFS is based on, are similar to our overarching objectives for future Scottish agriculture policy, which are set out in the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 and include the adoption and use of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and high quality food production.

A number of the “Universal Actions” proposed as part of the SFS, such as on soil health planning, Integrated Pest Management and habitat maintenance, also echo our proposals for future support. For example, as set out in our Agricultural Reform Route Map, the requirements we are putting in place under the Whole Farm Plan include soil analysis, a biodiversity audit, and an Integrated Pest Management plan. These are intended to help farmers and crofters prepare for the fact that from 2026 at least half of all funding for farming and crofting will be targeted towards outcomes for biodiversity gain and climate mitigation and adaption.

Question reference: S6W-35309

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to The Seventh Carbon Budget, which was published by the Climate Change Committee on 26 February 2025, in particular section 7.4 on agriculture and land use data, which is based on GWP100 metric data.

We recognise that reaching net zero will require all our farmers, crofters, and land managers to be ambitious and continue to help address climate change, alongside other outcomes including sustainable food production, enhancing biodiversity and supporting our rural communities. This will build on the good work that is already being done though adoption of low carbon farming practices, planting trees and hedges and restoring peatlands.

We firmly believe there is no contradiction between high quality food production and producing it in a way that delivers for the climate and nature and it is important that we do not offshore our emissions as we work towards net zero.

Importantly, the Whole Farm Plan will help farmers and crofters measure their businesses’ impact and find ways to become more efficient and to cut emissions. We continue to explore new, innovative ways to help mitigate emissions from agriculture, measure and build carbon sequestration, while continuing to produce high quality food and improve biodiversity.

We will bring forward a draft Climate Change Plan in the coming year that will set out policies and proposals for how the agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry sectors will continue to play their part in meeting our ambitious net zero national target by 2045.

The use of GWP100 is set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.

Question reference: S6W-35308

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to re-evaluate funding for the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Support Scheme (HIVSS); what its response is to the reported concerns in the sector that HIVSS funding has lagged behind inflation, and what action is being taken to ensure that vets who use HIVSS are supported.

The Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme (HIVSS) is crucial support to ensure that crofters and small farmers in remote areas of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have access to veterinary care to protect the health and welfare of their animals, and to ensure veterinary surveillance for notifiable diseases in these areas. HIVSS subsidises the travel costs of veterinary practices serving eligible clients to remove the significant financial disadvantage such clients would otherwise have relative to similar clients closer to urban areas.

Scheme funding is demand-led rather than inflation led. It is based on the number of visits made by veterinary practices to eligible clients over the last 3 years and the mileage covered doing so, along with the payment of receipted travel expenses and time spent waiting during journeys.

A number of factors affect the calculation of both grant and expenses payments. These are currently under review. However, the mileage and supplementary travel rates are based rates dictated by HMRC; the waiting time rate is based on the payment rate for Official Veterinarians; the standard visit fees payable by clients is based on the average rate of fee charges as per the salary survey by the Society for Practicing Veterinary Surgeons; and overnight accommodation payment is based on average B&B prices in the Highlands and Islands. These are all kept under review to ensure that the payments made reflect the actual travel costs faced by veterinary practices as closely as possible.

Question reference: S6W-35356

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26881 by Jim Fairlie on 5 June 2024, in relation to financing natural capital, how much private finance was (a) arranged under the support of the Natural Investment Partnership and (b) spent on (i) tree planting and (ii) peatland restoration between 1 March 2024 and the last day of February 2025; who the private finance providers involved were; how much was invested, and on which projects.

Question reference: S6W-35358

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Natural Capital Market Framework and further to the answer to question S6W-30678 by Mairi Gougeon on 29 October 2024, whether it considers offshore private finance investments as ethical investments under the terms of the Framework.

The Scottish Government’s Natural Capital Market Framework applies only to investment within Scotland and, where relevant, to governance within the wider UK for UK emissions and impacts.

Responsible private investment in Scotland’s natural capital through the Peatland Code (PC) and the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) is already supporting our response to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The WCC and PC generate high-integrity, independently verified carbon units from woodland creation and peatland restoration respectively. Companies can use these units to support appropriate neutrality or net zero claims on their UK-based carbon emissions.

Question reference: S6W-35346

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 February 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities have been made for new entrants to farming through publicly owned land.

Question reference: S6W-35345

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 February 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies it has contacted regarding the offer of farming opportunities to new entrants.

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