- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to consult stakeholders on the future of the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024.
Answer
Following the 2025 closure there will be a public consultation on future management. That consultation will assess any changes that have happened since 2022 and make recommendations for the future on that basis.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what surveys of Scotland-based fishermen it has carried out since 1 January 2021 regarding their views on the EU Common Fisheries Policy, and what the outcome was.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not carried out a survey, since 1 January 2021, of Scotland-based fishers which specifically asked about their views on the EU Common Fisheries Policy. However, officials engage with Scottish fishers regularly on a range of matters, including through our main fisheries co-management stakeholder group, FMAC.
The Scottish Government also collects views from Scotland-based fishers and other stakeholders via other means. This includes research projects as part of evaluations for specific programmes or policies. In the past year, this has included surveying fishers and other stakeholders regarding current compliance mechanisms and Quota Management Groups. Both projects raised issues related to the EU Common Fisheries Policy and both projects are due to be published this year.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates its Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group has met since 2016, and when it will next meet.
Answer
Meeting 1 | 14 December 2016 |
Meeting 2 | 10 March 2017 |
Meeting 3 | 09 June 2017 |
Meeting 4 | 06 October 2017 |
Meeting 5 | 07 December 2017 |
Meeting 6 | 09 February 2018 |
Meeting 7 | 15 June 2018 |
Meeting 8 | 05 October 2018 |
Meeting 9 | 01 February 2019 |
Meeting 10 | 14 June 2019 |
Meeting 11 | 27 September 2019 |
Meeting 12 | 06 December 2019 |
Meeting 13 | 05 June 2020 |
Meeting 14 | 02 October 2020 |
Meeting 15 | 18 December 2020 |
Meeting 16 | 12 March 2021 |
Meeting 17 | 23 June 2021 |
Meeting 18 | 06 October 2021 |
Meeting 19 | 08 December 2021 |
Meeting 20 | 07 June 2022 |
Meeting 21 | 08 September 2022 |
Meeting 22 | 08 December 2022 |
Meeting 23 | 16 March 2023 |
Meeting 24 | 14 June 2023 |
Meeting 25 | 14 September 2023 |
Meeting 26 | 07 December 2023 |
Meeting 27 | 14 March 2024 |
Meeting 28 | 06 June 2024 |
Meeting 29 | 12 September 2024 |
Meeting 30 | 12 December 2024 |
The 31st meeting is scheduled to take place on 13 March 2025.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the current balance is of the Victim Surcharge Fund.
Answer
After awarding £1,124,350 to Victim Support Organisations in December the balance in the fund as at December 2024 is £188,525.92.
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- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations have received funding from the Victim Surcharge Fund since 31 March 2024, also broken down by how much each received.
Answer
The following organisations have received funding from the victim surcharge fund since 31 March 2024
Victim Support Scotland | £850,000 |
The Moira Fund | £14,500 |
Dumbarton District Women's Aid | £13,500 |
Survivors of Human Trafficking Scotland (SOHTIS) | £27,465 |
Central Advocacy Partners | £5,000 |
Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus | £10,000 |
Migrant Help | £73,985 |
Action Against Stalking | £16,000 |
AberNecessities | £67,100 |
Women's Aid South Lanarkshire & East Renfrewshire (WASLER) | £31,800 |
Jubilee House | £10,000 |
6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café | £5,000 |
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for support from the Victim Surcharge Fund have been rejected since 31 March 2024.
Answer
Since 31 March 2024 three organisations have been unsuccessful in applying for support from the Victim Surcharge Fund.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the priority to "provide complementary governance of new entrant support provided by the Scottish Government [including for the] Scottish Land Matching Service, Next Generation Practical Training Fund, Machinery Ring Pre-apprenticeship Programme and emerging New Entrants Support" as set out by the permanent members of its Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group for 2024-25 has been achieved and, if so, by what method.
Answer
Yes. FONE has provided considerable and ongoing governance support to each of these Scottish Government funded programmes. FONE group members discuss the SLMS’ progress against its objectives and highlight opportunities for succession that are relevant to the service. It scrutinises progress made against the Scottish Government’s initiative to relaunch the Next Generation Practical Training Fund and takes a similar approach regarding the Land-Based Pre-Apprenticeship Programme. The FONE group is actively considering what further new entrant and next generation support the Scottish Government could consider in the future.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the priority to "highlight promotional material to include guidance, support, case studies, and signposting for new entrants and the next generation" as set out by the council members of its Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group for 2024-25 has been achieved and, if so, by what method.
Answer
Yes. The FONE group meets on a quarterly basis and members are routinely provided the opportunity to share what promotional material, including guidance, support, case studies and signposting for new entrants and the next generation is being offered. Additionally, agricultural opportunities are regularly signposted on the individual stakeholders’ websites, such as:
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the priority to "advocate the importance and prominence of new entrants in the sector [including] ensuring new entrants’ and the next generations’ interests are represented in future governmental and non-governmental policy" as set out by the council members of its Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group for 2024-25 has been achieved and, if so, by what method.
Answer
The FONE is a collaborative group dedicated to supporting agricultural new entrants and the next generation of Scottish farmers and crofters. Each of the members looks to ensure that their organisation is giving due consideration to new entrant opportunities and further support they can provide.
The group’s success can be evidenced by the 8,272 hectares of land that have been made available to new entrants since 2016. This represents a combined effort from public bodies to maximise new entrant opportunities on public land.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 28 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the priority to "work with stakeholders to develop a consistent narrative of what is possible in terms of making best use of crofts and attracting new entrants" as set out by the council members of its Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group for 2024-25 has been achieved and, if so, by what method.
Answer
Yes. The FONE group’s membership comprises of crofting stakeholders who regularly discuss and consider what further efforts can be made to make the best use of crofts and attract new entrants to crofting.