Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government’s policy and approach regarding woodland planting on agricultural land is based on the findings and recommendations of the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group, which were accepted by Ministers in 2013.

This policy is reflected in published “Guidance about Woodland Creation on Agricultural Land”. This guidance applies to applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme and is published on the Woodland Creation pages of the rural payments website under “Further information and technical guidance”.

30,995 hectares of land with a capability for agriculture classification (LCA) 2-7 has been converted to commercial forestry in the last five years (there is no classification 1 land in Scotland). The breakdown by year was as follows:

Scottish Forestry follows the published Woodland Creation Application Guidance process when dealing with forestry agents and applicants. In line with this process, Scottish Forestry has held pre-application discussions with Scottish Woodlands in relation to proposals in the Canonbie/Langholm area. These discussions have been focused on identifying and addressing potential environmental sensitivities that will need to be taken into account as the woodland designs are being developed.

Since 2016, across all planned projects in this area, 4522 ha of initial new planting proposals have been discussed in principle.

Streetlighting is the responsibility of local councils. We are not aware of any particular supply chain issues but we would be happy to consider this if the member can provide more information.

The NatureScot licensing team will prioritise applications for practitioners to use more than two dogs as a means of controlling predators for preventing serious damage, and where there is a high risk of imminent damage, applications can be turned around within 48 hours.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with relevant stakeholders. Their work and input to our policies is valued greatly. We have met the Marine Conservation Society, and Surfers Against Sewage several times in the last two years. We have met them to discuss a wide range of topics including single-use plastics, the Circular Economy Bill, our Marine Litter Strategy and Aquaculture policy.

Scottish Government grant making to the third sector, including credit unions, is allocated across portfolios to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will also be issued through independent grant makers or intermediary organisations. This information is not centrally collated.

Examples of credit union focussed funding is provided in the following table.

These recommendations are for the judiciary to progress and the terms of recommendation four of Lady Dorrian’s Review, Improving the Management of Sexual Offence Cases, were clear that these were matters that should be considered by the Jury Manual Committee. The Judicial Institute for Scotland has advised that the Jury Manual Committee is comprised of a number of experienced senators and sheriffs. It is clerked by secretariat staff of the Judicial Institute. The Jury Manual is publicly available and is kept under constant review. The Committee meets quarterly to agree revisions to the content of the Manual. It was most recently updated on 15 August 2023, when an important new chapter on rape myths and misconceptions was added. Detailed perusal of the Manual will disclose how the authors have dealt with Lady Dorrian’s recommendations. Further changes will be published on a regular basis.

The Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019 (“the Act”) makes it easier for child and vulnerable witnesses in the most serious cases to pre-record their evidence. The phased implementation plan for the Act builds in periods of evaluation to ensure that the roll out of its provisions is undertaken in a managed and effective way.

To date the Act has been commenced in relation to child complainers and witnesses giving evidence in the High Court in relevant cases. An evaluation of the operation of the Act in those cases has been conducted and a report of that evaluation is being finalised.

The Scottish Government established a cross-sector implementation group to monitor roll out of the Act. Once the evaluation report has been considered by the group it will be published on the Scottish Government's website with an aim to publish before the end of the year.

An automatic presumption in favour of pre-recording the evidence of complainers is a key feature of the Sexual Offences Court that the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill seeks to establish, which is subject to scrutiny and agreement by Parliament.

In the meantime, existing courts already have the power to direct that the evidence of vulnerable witnesses be pre-recorded, and evidence by commissioner hearings are regularly used to pre-record evidence of complainers in serious sexual offences.

Questions of compensation in respect of a necessary wayleave will not be addressed by the Reporter when making a recommendation on whether a necessary wayleave should be granted. Although, issues which relate to the impact on the use or enjoyment of the land which may subsequently be the subject of a claim for compensation may be considered by the Reporter.

The Scottish Ministers have no power under Schedule 4 to the 1989 Electricity Act to prescribe financial conditions in any necessary wayleave case or to resolve disputes on the level of compensation. Compensation will fall to be settled by agreement between the parties or, failing agreement, by the Lands Tribunal for Scotland at the request of either party.