The remit of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (the Commission) is primarily to provide expert, independent advice on wild and companion animal welfare. It will also provide scientific and ethical advice to government on related matters. The provision of advice to Ministers on livestock welfare generally falls to the UK AWC. Where however there are specific issues of relevance to Scotland and the Scottish livestock sector, the Commission may be asked to consider them and provide advice to the Scottish Ministers.

The Commission will specifically look at:

• how the welfare needs of sentient animals are being met by devolved policy
• possible legislative and non-legislative routes to further protect the welfare of sentient animals
• research requirements to provide an evidence base for future policy development

The recruitment of the Members appointed to serve on the Commission was conducted in accordance with the principles of merit, integrity, diversity and equality set out in the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments. Applications were welcomed from anyone with the appropriate mix of experience and expertise and from all sectors. Those appointed to serve on the Commission comprise of a range of experts from different disciplines relevant to animal welfare, including some with farm livestock knowledge and experience.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) in Scotland has been deferred to allow for issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption to be resolved. As such, the current UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates and bands continue to apply in Scotland.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s most recent illustrative forecast from February 2020 – produced before the COVID-19 lockdown began - estimated a Scottish share of APD for 2020-21 of £297 million, though noting significant uncertainty. This illustrative forecast has not yet been updated to consider the impact of the pandemic – the SFC expects to produce its next forecasts including the effect of COVID-19 later this year.

The Scottish Government is committed to helping businesses with the impact of the pandemic and has put in place a package of business support measures worth over £2.3 billion.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) in Scotland has been deferred to allow for issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption to be resolved. As such, the current UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates and bands continue to apply in Scotland.

In May 2019 the Scottish Government announced that reducing ADT was no longer compatible with its new emissions reduction targets. The Scottish Government will accordingly engage with HM Treasury’s forthcoming consultation on APD reform, to find a solution for aviation that remains consistent with our climate ambitions.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) in Scotland has been deferred to allow for issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption to be resolved. As such, the current UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates and bands continue to apply in Scotland.

EU State Aid rules remain in force during the transition period. The ongoing uncertainty regarding level playing field negotiations between the UK and EU is such that the likelihood of any future alignment with State Aid rules, and consequently the implications for future policy decisions, is unknown.

The answer to S5W-30141 refers to the determination of planning applications.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP, 2014) sets out policies which reflect Scottish Ministers’ priorities for the operation of the planning system and is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. Paragraph 34 states that:

“Where a plan is under review, it may be appropriate in some circumstances to consider whether granting planning permission would prejudice the emerging plan. Such circumstances are only likely to apply where the development proposed is so substantial, or its cumulative effect would be so significant, that to grant permission would undermine the plan-making process by pre-determining decisions about the scale, location or phasing of new developments that are central to the emerging plan. Prematurity will be more relevant as a consideration the closer the plan is to adoption or approval.”

Planning authorities are required to consider any valid application submitted to them.

Under planning legislation, applications are determined in accordance with the development plan for the area unless material planning considerations justify a departure from it.

It is for the planning authority to identify relevant material planning considerations on a case-by-case basis, and what weight to attach to each material consideration in determining the application.

Scottish Planning Policy (2014) sets out development considerations in and around designated sites, which all planning authorities and National Parks need to take into account in their development plans and decision making on planning applications.

National Parks are designated under the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 and have four aims; to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area; promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area; promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public; and to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities. Planning policy is clear that these aims should be pursued collectively, but that where is a conflict between them, then greater weight must be given to the first aim.

In both the private and public sectors the supply of PPE is primarily the responsibility of social care providers themselves, including care homes. However, when these private supply chains failed we set up from the 19th of March provision to make PPE supplies available from our national NHS stock.

To make sure that we could get the right PPE to the right people, we created direct distribution routes, including local PPE hubs for social care providers, which covers care homes. That was and continues to be a remarkable logistical achievement by the people who are involved. This is supporting the whole social care sector including care homes, with their PPE needs where their normal supply routes fail. Through these routes collectively, over 65 million items of PPE have been distributed to over 1,000 locations across Scotland for social care to date.

At present, the PPE top ups through the Hubs are being provided free of charge to all social care providers, including care homes which have consumed the majority of the over 65 million items of PPE distributed to date.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28451 on 25 June 2020. 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

Across areas of Scotland, land use and river catchment/basin management are intrinsically linked. The river basin management plan for the Scotland river basin district: 2015–2027 highlights the importance of this relationship and the potential risks.

The Scottish Government understands that the condition of the water environment can be threatened by wider scale changes including shifts in land uses or practices that may increase diffuse pollution risks.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering improved and enduring benefits to Scotland’s natural environment. This is a commitment that has been re-iterated in the first outcome of The Environment Strategy for Scotland: vision and outcomes document which was published in February of this year.