Scottish Parliament Q&A

Ken Thomson

Members of the Scottish Parliament ask questions of Ministers to elicit data and/or statements from the Scottish Government (SG). Some recent Q&As are given below (in edited form) with website reference numbers. Lorna Slater (Greens) is Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, and Màiri McAllan (SNP) is Minister for Environment and Land Reform.

Deer

Donald Cameron (S6W-09828): What progress has NatureScot made in introducing a pilot for community deer management in Scotland? Lorna Slater: NatureScot, together a number of local people, has recently launched a pilot scheme at Creag Meagaidh NNR, which will include access to deer stalking opportunities, and offer those who have appropriate qualifications and are competent the opportunity to undertake deer stalking. Those interested but with little or no experience in deer stalking will be supported to progress to harvesting wild food for their own consumption.

Mark Ruskell (S6W-1007): Will the SG provide an update on replacing the current Wild Deer: a National Approach (WDNA) vision with a deer population management strategy using deer population and cull data? Lorna Slater: The operational delivery workstream of the SG’s new deer project board is responsible for identifying priority areas where a focused and coordinated approach to deer management is required.

Mark Ruskell (S6W-10075): When will NatureScot publish deer cull data for (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22? Lorna Slater replied on 22/8/2022, but the table below gives recent (March 2023) figures, with in/out season dates those for red deer:

Rachael Hamilton (S6W-10732): What assessment has the SG made of how the scale of landholdings affects the ability of land managers to effectively manage deer? Màiri McAllan: The extent of deer management is more dependent on the species and land type rather than any minimum size. For 'territorial' species such as roe deer the scale of management will often be at the individual farm unit; whereas for open hill red deer … the management scale expands to Deer Management Groups that cover many thousands of hectares.

Alexander Burnett S6W-11496): Will the SG provide an update on current game licensing plans for deer management? Lorna Slater: … Legislative amendments to modernise the licensing of venison dealers and improve information gathering ... are being taken forward via the Deer Management Strategic Board.

Rachael Hamilton (S6W-11823): Will the SG provide an update on any plans it has to introduce legislation in relation to deer management? Lorna Slater: … The SG response to the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) report is at gov.scot/news/deer-working-group-response. The legislative recommendations will be implemented in this parliamentary session.

Ariane Burgess (S6W-12683): Will the SG provide an update on how it is taking forward recommendation 75 of the Deer Working Group, regarding a short committee inquiry into the use of section 7 control agreements in the Caenlochan area? Lorna Slater: … Ben Macpherson (MSP, then Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment) wrote to the convener of the ECCLR committee on 24 March 2021 to bring this recommendation to their attention and offer the support of Ministers and officials in taking it forward.

Mark Ruskell (S6W-10076): What does the SG consider to be a sustainable deer population level in Scotland to meet Scottish Biodiversity Strategy targets for 2030? Lorna Slater: The SG does not consider setting a nationwide target for sustainable deer populations to be the most effective method. Our approach is to assess and identify priority areas where there is evidence of, or a high risk of, deer damage. … [W]ork is being taken forward as part of our new deer project under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Programme Board, via four workstreams focusing on: legislation; regulation; incentives; and operational delivery.

Muirburn

Rachael Hamilton (S6W-1109): Will the SG outline its (a) rationale and (b) evidential basis for the licensing of muirburn? Màiri McAllan: The SG accepted the Grouse Moor Management Group's recommendation that muirburn should be subject to tighter regulation and only be undertaken under licence. In considering our response, we took into account a wide range of reports and evidence, including: Phases 1 and 2 of the SG-commissioned research on the socio-economic impacts of grouse moor management; the recommendations of the Independent Deer Working Group; and the Climate Change Committee report published in January 2020. … We recognise the benefits muirburn can have for certain types of land management, and although some aspects of muirburn are already controlled, eg close seasons, our assessment is that increased monitoring and regulation will reduce the negative impacts muirburn can have on biodiversity and carbon management.

Rachael Hamilton (S6W-1109): Will the SG define any harm or ill it seeks to prevent through the licensing of muirburn? Màiri McAllan: Muirburn undertaken inappropriately has the potential to have serious negative impacts on wildlife, soil quality, carbon sequestration, and the wider environment. … Increased regulatory control through licensing linked to compliance with the Muirburn Code will mitigate these negative impacts.

Paul McLennan (S6W-11944: Will the licensing of grouse moor management include a proactive monitoring regime to ensure that licences are revoked should breaches occur? Màiri McAllan: NatureScot will be responsible for the issuing and monitoring of licences, and will work closely with Police Scotland and other key stakeholders to address any suspected breach of licensing conditions.

Rachael Hamilton (S6W-12745): Will the SG assess whether rewilding on deep peat caused by a lack of management risks reducing (a) carbon sequestration and (b) populations of ground nesting bird species? Màiri McAllan: … NatureScot's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) have been asked to provide advice on the circumstances under which muirburn, including muirburn on peat, could be permitted under licence, and where it would not be appropriate. The SG will take into account evidence from the NatureScot research and the SAC advice alongside information provided by stakeholders.

Wildlife

Donald Cameron (S6W-09830): What assessment has the SG made of the international consensus principles for ethical wildlife control, and how these relate to the Shared Approach to Wildlife Management? Màiri McAllan: The SG is aware of the international consensus principles for ethical wildlife control. I met with OneKind to discuss those principles in more detail, and last month SG officials attended a workshop organised by both John Muir Trust and OneKind on the principles and how they could be applied in deer management. … NatureScot has invited stakeholders such as the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and the Wild Animal Welfare Committee to work with them on exploring where they think we can go further.

Brian Whittle (S6W-13128): Will the SG provide an update on progress towards its target of halting nature loss in Scotland by 2030 and reversing it by 2045? Lorna Slater: The SG published its new draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy on 13 December, outlining 26 priority actions and 5 year delivery plans, and the Natural Environment Bill will include statutory targets for nature recovery. … Our continued commitments to restore peatlands, introduce at least one new National Park, ensure Nature Networks in all local authority areas, and protect 30% of our land for nature by 2030, will all contribute. The new strategy can be accessed at: gov.scot/publications/scottish-biodiversity-strategy-2045-tackling-nature-emergency-scotland

Woodland

Graham Simpson (S6W-12595): What enhancements to the Forestry Grant Scheme does the SG plan to bring forward in order to improve the condition of ancient woodland? Màiri McAllan: The FGS already provides an extensive package of support through the Woodland Improvement Grant Habitats and Species option. This offers capital grant support to remove invasive species such as Rhododendron, for fencing costs, felling and tree removal. Forest management and enhancement is also supported through 5 year management agreements covering habitat monitoring and deer control as well as stock management support for grazed woodland. For SSSIs or Natura 2000 sites, the support available can cover 100% of the costs. Since 2016 the FGS has supported over 210 projects to restore native woodlands, with a combined value of over £12m.

Alexander Burnett S6W-12672: Has the SG any plans to reduce the planting limit of Sitka spruce in a forestry plantation to 50%? Màiri McAllan: Stakeholders are currently being consulted on a revised draft of the UK Forestry Standard which includes a proposed reduction in the maximum threshold for use of a single species from 75% to 65%. It will not alter the balance of objectives and does not change the proportion of fast-growing conifers that can be used.

Cairngorm, Glenprosen and Other

Donald Cameron (S6W-12726): What additional funding has been given to HIE for the refurbishment of the Cairngorm funicular, and what future funding does it envisage that the funicular will need to remain in operation? Ivan McKee: The SG approved funding of £10.16m to repair the funicular and undertake associated capital works when it approved the business case submitted by HIE in 2020. Following cost increases to the project, HIE concluded that reinstatement of the funicular was still the recommended option, and the SG agreed to provide additional funding of £7m. SG funding is expected to reduce once the funicular is operational.

Graeme Dey (S6O-01789): What plans has Forestry and Land Scotland [FLS] for the Glenprosen estate? Màiri McAllan: The estate will be managed by FLS in accordance with SG policy aims to benefit people, nature, the climate and the local economy. FLS and the wider SG are keen to lead a partnership approach to land management and habitat restoration on a landscape scale across the Angus glens and in the Cairngorms national park.

Graeme Dey: I thank FLS for its engagement with me, as the local MSP, on the purchase of the estate and the implications for employees, two of whom secured housing tenancies as a result of those discussions, and a part-time employment opportunity for an estate staff member. Màiri McAllan: FLS will actively engage with all stakeholders, including the local community and neighbouring landowners. As well as employment of those who worked on the former sporting estate and an opportunity for landscape-scale restoration, the acquisition presents opportunities for community engagement, which was limited under the former use, and we can expect employment opportunities from woodland creation, among other pursuits.

Liam Kerr: The purchase of the Glenprosen estate is one of the largest land deals involving settled land for years. Despite the warm words that we have just heard about future consultation, the £18million purchase happened entirely off market and behind closed doors with no meetings or consultations with any of the local community. Given the recent public and media attention about so-called green lairds, does the minister consider that the purchase process was appropriate? Màiri McAllan: FLS operates in a competitive commercial land market, where its job is to work to optimise benefits for the people of Scotland. It was one of a small number of potentially interested parties that were approached by the agents to bid. Given the enormous strategic opportunity that the former sporting estate presented for SG objectives, FLS opted to offer. As Liam Kerr has taken the opportunity to state on the record what the actual sale price was, I hope that he and his colleagues will consider some of the more spurious figures that they have used in the chamber before, which I was unable to correct owing to confidentiality.

Peatland

Rhoda Grant (S6W-13682) asked about peatland restoration funding to estates within the Monadhliath Deer Management Group. Màiri McAllan provided figures, averaging £1.3 million over each of the last 4 years, for payments to individual estates.

Jamie Greene (S6W-14774): is the SG committed to restoring 20,000 ha of Scottish peatland annually, and why did it reportedly fall 14,630 ha short of this target in 2021-22? Màiri McAllan: We plan to invest more than £250 million over ten years to restore at least 250,000 ha of degraded peatlands by 2030, and have delivered around 64,000 ha to date at an annual rate of around 6,000 ha in recent years. This is below target for a number of reasons, including the fact that peatland restoration is a sector in its infancy and has not yet developed significant supply capacity.

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