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Our Consultation on Good Food Nation Proposals for Legislation concluded on 18 April and we will give further consideration to next steps once the analysis of responses is complete.

The Scottish Government’s Good Food Nation ambitions include that Scottish producers ensure that what they produce is increasingly healthy and environmentally sound. The outcome will be a reduction of the impact of food production on the environment.

Knowledge gained from international sustainable global food systems is potentially relevant to policies on food that the Scottish Ministers and other public bodies would be required to prepare under our Good Food Nation proposals, so will be considered at the appropriate point.

The most recent estimate of the economic value of pollinators for honey and crop production in Scotland is understood to be in the order of £43 million per year (source: Aspinall, R. et al. (2011). Status and Changes in Ecosystems and their Services to Society: Scotland. UK National Ecosystem Assessment: Technical Report. Cambridge. UNEP-WCMC, p. 895-977). .

The Natural Capital Asset Index (NCAI), produced by Scottish Natural Heritage shows that Scotland’s stock of natural capital continues to increase. This index compiles a range of benefits which the environment provides to society, and the ability of Scotland’s habitats to support pollinators is included in the NCAI.

Our natural environment plays a central role in addressing the new public health priorities, and particular those around place, early years, physical activity, diet and mental health.

Contact with nature is now embedded in a range of Scottish Government policies and programmes on biodiversity, health, physical activity, active travel, education and early years. The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) led ‘Our Natural Health Service’ (ONHS) programme was referred to in the 2018-2019 Programme for Government, the Mental Health Strategy 2017, The Active Scotland Delivery Plan for Physical Activity and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Route Map to 2020.

An evaluation of the ONHS programme will be completed by end of the financial year 2020/21, though information will be available from the end of 2019 onwards on progress and achievements. The evaluation will focus on the activity of the four pilot Green Health Partnerships but will also include consideration of the NHS greenspace for health partnerships, as well as aspects of the wider ONHS programme (for example, awareness raising and influencing policies).

SNH is managing a Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention Project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, and supporting up to 15 projects to deliver green infrastructure benefits including biodiversity, health and well-being.

In 2019, SNH published a report entitled ‘Maximising the benefits of green infrastructure in social housing’, highlighting the role of green infrastructure in providing high quality, successful places that support good health outcomes and can deliver a range of other social and environmental objectives.

SNH will use the experience gained in delivering the Green Infrastructure Fund, and the multiple benefits to be gained from investment of this kind, to seek to influence other funders to make green infrastructure a priority – notably through mechanisms such as the Shared Prosperity Fund, City Deal & Regional Growth Area funding, the new Town Centre development fund, the Vacant & Derelict Land Initiative and the proposed Scottish Conservation Finance Project.

The Muirburn Code, which was recently reviewed and updated, provides best practice guidance for the burning and cutting of vegetation. The Code also sets out existing statutory requirements and offences relating to muirburn. It has been estimated that over 50% of wildfires are caused by muirburn amongst other accidental, careless or criminal actions.

The Grouse Moor Management Group, chaired by Professor Werritty, is examining the environmental impact of grouse moor management practices including muirburn and its report is expected later this summer. It would not be sensible to commit to further regulation or to changes to the status of the Muirburn Code in advance of receiving Professor Werritty’s report.

In the meantime, it is extremely important that land managers adhere to the Muirburn Code and its associated statutory requirements and that all members of the public exercise care to avoid accidentally causing wildfires, especially in dry conditions. Anyone who has reason to think an offence has been or is being committed should report it to Police Scotland.

Landowners and managers actions when carrying out muirburn is covered by the Muirburn Code which also sets out the criminal offences associated with irresponsible muirburn.

Decisions on whether any muirburn was reckless and requires prosecution would be a matter for Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Where there is any indication that wilful or reckless fire raising has caused a wildfire, the SFRS will support colleagues within Police Scotland to investigate the circumstances, as is the case across all fire types the SFRS attend.

Such actions could also be classified as wilful fire raising, a common law offence which could result in imprisonment if any perpetrator was found guilty.

I would urge anyone carrying out muirburn to be very mindful of the Code to ensure our natural heritage is not put at risk by wildfires and anyone who feels that a crime has been committed should report this to Police Scotland for investigation.

Ramsar sites have been protected through co-designation with other regimes since they were first designated in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to meeting its obligations under the Ramsar Convention and to providing a high level of protection for Ramsar sites in Scotland, through co-designation with Natura 2000 sites and/or Sites of Special Scientific Interest and protection under the relevant statutory regimes. The guidance published in January 2019 on the implementation of Scottish Government policy on protecting Ramsar sites restated and explained existing policy contained within Scottish Planning Policy 2014, and did not change the level of protection for Ramsar sites.

The answer referred to does not relate to renewable energy developments. Current policy on renewable energy developments and nature conservation is available on the websites of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage.

The vast majority of Ramsar designated land in Scotland is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and all land within Ramsar sites is designated as a SSSI and/or as a Natura 2000 site (a Special Protection Area and/or a Special Area of Conservation), appropriate to the site. Our policy remains that Ramsar sites are also Natura 2000 sites and/or SSSI sites and are protected under the relevant statutory regimes.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) has been developed through a full public consultation process and subject to all statutory and other assessment requirements as appropriate. In particular, SPP 2014 and any significant policy changes in SPP 2010 were subject to an environmental assessment, with an environmental report published and views invited.