The National Council of Rural Advisers will provide an interim report on the implications of Brexit before the end of 2017. Their final recommendations report on policy and principles for future rural support will be published in late spring 2018.

a) In July 2017 I wrote to over 200 rural stakeholders inviting them to submit views and evidence to the National Council of Rural Advisers. In addition, anyone can contact the National Council via the mailbox ncra@gov.scot. Contact details are published on the National Council of Rural Advisers webpage of the Scottish Government website.

b) Any stakeholder can contact the Agriculture Champions via the mailbox champions-of-agriculture@gov.scot to submit evidence through the secretariat provided by the Scottish Government.

Several stakeholder organisations have already taken the opportunity to submit reports and papers to both the Champions and the National Council.

The Scottish Government has noted the findings of the Dogs Trust report ‘Puppy Smuggling- A Tragedy Ignored’ and the recommendations contained therein. It is particularly concerning that the report indicates that there are veterinarians in some Member States that were allegedly prepared to falsify documentation and carriers that had transported puppies with little regard for their welfare. Such behaviour is clearly unacceptable.

The Scottish Government is committed to ending any illegal and irresponsible trade in puppies and wider abuses of the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This is why our Programme for Government includes a commitment to work with charities and enforcement agencies to take forward the recommendations of research that we commissioned on illegal importation and sales from puppy farms. This work will include the delivery of a communications campaign highlighting the risks of buying puppies advertised online and rehoming of dogs supplied from abroad.

Responsibility for tackling illegal trade in puppies and indeed any other animal does of course begin in the country of origin and the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer has already written to those Member States highlighted in the Report to highlight the problem and remind them of their duty to ensure that animal welfare is safeguarded and EU Pet Travel Scheme rules be fully complied with. As far as border checks are concerned, every pet travelling with its owner on an approved route is checked for compliance with the pet travel regime and the Border Force carry out a wide range of checks on animals arriving in the UK. Stringent penalties already exist for those found breaking the law by smuggling animals and/or using false documentation.

In developing any deal proposals, we expect Local Authorities to ensure that they engage and consult their communities of place and interest alongside the broader public sector, local businesses, industry and academia, to ensure that propositions have been informed by the principles of inclusive growth. In our Enterprise and Skills Review, we emphasised the importance of demonstrating engagement and inclusive growth to inform deals where government funding is sought.

Local Authorities are responsible for producing Local Development Plans, therefore we would expect Local Authorities to take cognisance of these in developing any deal proposals.

Agreement of a deal does not circumvent any statutory requirements and we expect local authorities to take this into account.

Under devolved powers, the Scottish Government commissions new rail lines or stations to be built on Scotland’s main rail network. Network Rail is responsible for the design and construction of the majority of new railway infrastructure.

The ORR is currently responsible for holding Network Rail to account for the efficient and timely delivery of its rail projects portfolio and for authorising new infrastructure as being ready for passenger or freight services to commence, including compliance with safety requirements and standards.

HM Treasury has no role in the commission, design or build of new lines or stations in Scotland. However, HM Treasury is responsible for making available adequate funds for rail infrastructure in Scotland, including new stations, in a manner consistent with the principles agreed at the time of devolution of rail powers to the Scottish Government in 2005.

The Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study report, prepared by Fife Council, has been undertaken in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and not the Governance for Railway Projects (GRIP).

The evidence from a completed and robust transport appraisal in line with STAG is needed before consideration can be given to progressing the development of an emerging rail project through GRIP Stage 3.

Stakeholder engagement is an important part of Transport Appraisal and I would expect to see the outcomes of such engagement included in the study report. The choice to use rail freight is a commercial decision for the freight service provider and customer, however, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of the rail freight sector in moving vital goods and materials across the country in a safe and sustainable way. A transformative programme of investment in the railway infrastructure to 2019, including the dedicated £30 million Scottish Strategic Rail Freight Investment Fund, will support improvements in the capacity and capability of the railway infrastructure for freight services in addition to taking forward the actions in our Rail Freight Strategy.

Until such time as a robust transport appraisal in line with STAG has been completed and thereafter, for any emerging rail project, successful development through the GRIP3 and 4 process has been achieved, it is not possible to define the role of any party in the promotion of a project.