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NatureScot operates a beaver advice and mitigation scheme for land managers experiencing significant detrimental impacts from beavers.

The operating budget for this in the financial year 2020-21 was £91,000. However, due to the impact of the Covid pandemic the progress of some key projects has been delayed and the actual spend is therefore likely to be approximately £40,000.

 refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35895 on 19 March 2021 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

NatureScot did not issue or refuse any applications relating to the removal of beaver dams to prevent restriction of fish passage in 2020.

We will be working with our local authority partners to expand provision of universal free school meals to all primary children. The amended Regulations governing the nutritional requirements for food and drink served in schools will come into force on 8 April 2021, and all meals served as a part of our universal expansion programme will be required to meet these standards.

We have supported the Soil Association’s Food For Life Programme since 2012. Our support has helped 16 local authorities to achieve accreditation for their school meals under the Food for Life Served Here award framework. We will continue to support the Food for Life programme and encourage local authorities to sign up to it.

Under Article 17 of the European Union (EU) Habitats Directive, the UK was required to assess and report on the conservation status of species listed in Annexes I, II, IV and V. The most recent report was submitted in 2019 and the UK assessments can be found on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee website. The assessments set out the criteria and data taken into account in determining whether or not a species is considered to be in Favourable Conservation Status.

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Regulation 3ZA of the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994 places a duty on Scottish Ministers to continue publishing assessments of conservation status every six years. There are no current plans to change the assessment methodology used.

The ScotWind lease option structure is currently under review and the timeline for completion of ScotWind is under consideration as part of that review.

Aquaculture companies use a range of non-lethal management measures to protect their stock including robust netting material and anti-predator nets. Information detailing the relative use of anti-predator or Seal-Pro nets by Cooke Aquaculture Scotland and the Scottish Salmon Company is provided in answer to S5W-35394 on 10 March 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .

A European Protected Species licence can only be granted provided that it meets three tests, including that there must be no satisfactory alternative. We will give due consideration to any European Protected Species licence applications that are submitted on the merits of each individual case and taking account of all relevant factors. It would be inappropriate to pre-determine any part of this process.

We will give due consideration to any European Protected Species licence applications that are submitted on the merits of each individual case and taking account of all relevant factors. It would be inappropriate to pre-determine any part of this process.

There is no statutory requirement to undertake a public consultation process for individual EPS licence applications. However, in the spirit of openness and transparency, all EPS licences and applications will be placed in the public domain after a determination has been made alongside the reasons for our decisions.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a successful offshore wind sector in Scotland. Our Offshore Wind Policy Statement and Sectoral Marine Plan set out our ambitions and identified the key barriers to consents. The offshore wind plan also provides key information for developers preparing applications through detailed assessments and regional locational guidance.

Scottish Ministers regularly engage with officials on matters in relation to the consenting system for offshore energy, including demands arising from ScotWind.

We are also taking steps to increase efficiency in licensing/consenting processes and, in line with our response to the report by the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, to optimise consenting and planning resources ahead of ScotWind applications. In addition, our extensive Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme (“ScotMER”) is actively seeking to tackle difficult evidence gaps and is working collaboratively with industry and other regulators to reduce uncertainty in consenting decisions.

Marine Scotland, a part of core Scottish Government that is responsible for marine licensing and consenting, also stresses to all offshore renewables applicants the importance of submitting a well-evidenced application, supported by a thorough, concise environmental impact assessment covering the pertinent issues. The Marine Scotland , available on the Scottish Government website, can help facilitate this.

Scotland is an ideal location for offshore wind, with substantial resources and opportunity for investment. An integral part of ScotWind are the Supply Chain Development Statements that applicants must complete and commit to when applying for a lease option. These statements will provide a transparent explanation of the supply chain content to be included within developments, with a view to maximising local content. Within the bounds of competition law, developers will face penalties if these commitments are not met.

ScotWind follows from our recent Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy that has identified 15 Plan options, capable of delivering up to 10 GW in Scottish waters.

The ScotWind seabed leasing process is the next step in delivering economic and social benefit to Scotland whilst actively tackling climate change, developing a green recovery from the pandemic and building on our successful blue economy in Scotland.