Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government regularly engages with the offshore oil and gas industry on a range of topics, including workforce planning. For example, the First Minister last met with Offshore Energies UK along with the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in September 2024 and this included discussion of jobs in the context of the energy transition.

The Scottish Government is continuing to work in partnership with business and industry to plan for a multi-skilled energy workforce, one that can benefit from opportunities across sectors as the transition to net zero progresses. This includes exploring opportunities for mutual recognition of qualifications between different energy sectors including funding support from the Just Transition Fund to support the industry-led Energy Skills Passport which is now being piloted.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) does not hold a formal economic impact assessment relating to building its own facilities for processing venison. FLS experience of deer management over many decades, and working with professional meat processing business around Scotland, has provided a well-informed understanding of the significant specialist infrastructure costs, practicalities and ongoing running costs for such facilities. FLS is keen to meet with any stakeholders that wish to contact them to explore any new ideas and viable models for processing venison as part of Scotland’s high quality food and drink sector.

No formal assessment has been made of the potential economic impact of increasing the number of culled deer entering the food supply chain. There is a great opportunity, however, for the industry including venison processors and retailers to promote this local, healthy and sustainable protein and increase venison consumption.

It is not possible for FLS to maintain and hold data on the final destination of venison that it sells beyond keeping records of sales to meat processing establishments. Final destinations for venison is a decision for downstream businesses in the supply chain.

With regard to a), Scottish Government does not have precise information but we understand that an estimated 110,000 animals were processed by the three largest venison processors in Scotland in 2022-23. However, this figure includes around 20,000 carcasses originating from England and New Zealand. Some wild deer will also have been processed for commercial meat sales by smaller establishments and some will have been sold direct to the public at the farm gate.

With regard to b), we do not collect information on carcasses integrated back into the local ecosystems. Industry advise that deer are left on the hill very rarely and only by exception, where the animal has been checked to ensure there is no disease but is otherwise unfit for human consumption or because extraction of the carcase poses a risk to the safety of the stalker, for example because of steep and rocky ground.

With regard to c), this information is not available.

With regard to question a), the industry estimate that around 80% of venison sold is sourced from the annual deer cull.

With regard to b), the industry estimate that around 15-20,000 carcases are imported from New Zealand. This can be difficult to quantify because parts of carcasses are purchased rather than the whole.

With regard to c), we do not have figures on what proportion of venison sold comes from sources other than the annual deer cull or imports. However, there are around 15,000 farmed deer in Scotland (2023 figures).

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has never sold venison directly to public sector organisations.

FLS does not have the facilities to process venison into meat products for the human food chain. Instead, FLS supplies chilled carcasses to its commercial partners, primarily Highland Game of Dundee and Ardgay Game of Bonar Bridge who are accredited venison processors.

In May 2024, the Scottish Government issued a request for proposals for a supplier to support the delivery of the Scottish Peace Programme, including establishment of a Scottish Peace Platform and the 1325 Women in Conflict Fellowships. In developing a Peace platform the Scottish Government will be able to better assess the potential for further investment in a Peace institute, in line with the full recommendations of the research report on establishing a Peace Institute. More information is published on the Scottish Government website.

There are no plans at this time for the Scottish Peace Platform to focus on peacebuilding initiatives in Columbia specifically. However we have hosted nine peacebuilders from Colombia on the Women in Conflict Fellowship and the Scottish Human Rights Defenders programmes.

Three Marine Planning Partnerships (MPPs) have been established covering the Shetland, Clyde and Orkney marine regions, and are at various stages of progressing with their Regional Marine Plans.

The draft plans for Shetland and Orkney have concluded their public consultations and are making progress towards being submitted to Scottish Ministers for consideration, approval and adoption. The draft Clyde Regional Marine Plan is currently in the process of a policy update ahead of identifying a suitable period for a public consultation.

Officials will continue to work constructively with each MPP to refine and develop their plans to be suitable for adoption by Scottish Ministers.