- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to the concerns raised in the consultation on the proposed Agriculture Bill that the use of the Whole Farm Plan for base level payments in Tier 1 would be a "one-size-fits-all solution" to what is a more complex issue.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when the previously ring-fenced £33 million of funding allocated to the agriculture sector as a result of the Bew Review will be returned to its budget for the portfolio covering agriculture.
Answer
Future budgets are set through the annual parliamentary Budget Bill process and the appropriate profile for returning this funding will be considered as part of the 2024-25 process.
Scottish Ministers have repeatedly assured that deferred rural budget will be spent on rural priorities on an appropriate profile.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government who will provide the education and training services that will be offered to farmers and crofters under the planned Agriculture Bill.
Answer
As part of the Bill process we have consulted on the intent to continue to support all registered agricultural businesses in Scotland to continue to benefit from accessing high-quality advice through the Farm Advisory Service.
As is convention, following consultation on proposed legislation, Ministers are considering the views received to inform a new Agriculture Bill, which will be introduced in 2023. In turn, Parliament will consider the proposals and provide further comment on draft proposals, accordingly.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to provide accessible advisory services for farmers to adopt sustainable practices.
Answer
The Scottish Government-funded Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is and will continue to offer a range of high-quality generic and bespoke consultancy and specialist advice to Scottish farmers, crofters, and land managers. This includes advice on sustainable practice at its core.
Current and future advisory services will be monitored and contractually required to prioritise inclusion and accessibility for all support, including the uptake of sustainable practices.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the implementation of a four-tiered agricultural payment structure, as consulted on in relation to the Agriculture Bill, would require the appointment of external consultants in order to administrate such a system.
Answer
Scottish Government is leading on development of the new payment system, and the intention is to create a system that is streamlined, accessible, and administered internally.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the minutes that were taken during each of its online events for the Agriculture Bill in 2022.
Answer
On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the which details the findings of this extended engagement.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold more online events on the Agriculture Bill in 2023.
Answer
Engagement on the Bill, on the Bill proposals, and on the wider Agriculture Reform Programme is constant and extensive.
The Agriculture Reform Programme is currently hosting engagement sessions across Scotland to hear from farmers and crofters and increase awareness of Agricultural Reform.
The Agricultural Reform Roadshow started in June 2023, visiting 25 agricultural shows and marts across Scotland.
A full list of the roadshow dates can be found at .
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details on whether payments under a four-tiered payment structure in the Agriculture Bill would be weighted towards base support (tiers 1 and 2) or tied to results (tiers 3 and 4).
Answer
The sets out the proposed timescales for information and interaction with the agricultural industry. As we continue to make progress with the Agriculture Reform Programme, there will be further opportunities to share key information with farmers, crofters and landowners to help them plan and prepare for change.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage food production under Tier 2 payments in the proposed Agriculture Bill.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to concerns raised in the consultation on the proposed Agriculture Bill that payments in Tier 1 would be conditional on the production of a Whole Farm Plan.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers