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The Scottish Government does not accept there has been a delay in granting beavers protected species status. A process is being followed as was set out in the decision of 22 November 2016. That decision stated that Scottish Ministers were minded that the beaver populations in Knapdale in Argyll and in the Tay and Earn catchments could remain in Scotland. The decision was subject to satisfactory completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). The intention remains that beavers in Scotland will be given protection under the law as a European Protected Species as soon as is practicable after completion of the Assessment processes. The HRA has been satisfactorily completed. The SEA is currently subject to public consultation.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any welfare implications during the process for granting the European beaver protected status. Scottish Natural Heritage has published advice on welfare issues arising from the management of beavers. If evidence emerges that beaver welfare is being ignored in specific areas, the Scottish Government will consider the use of Nature Conservation Orders (NCO) made under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. NCOs can be used to prohibit specified actions, such as shooting beavers. Failing to comply with an NCO is a criminal offence.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S5W-13047 and S5W-13048 on 11 December 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government appointed four external agriculture champions in January 2017 to provide advice and recommendations on a future agriculture strategy for Scotland. The Champions recently published an interim discussion document which identified six strategic themes, all underpinned by the concept of Public Value. One of those themes, Enhancing Scotland’s Natural Capital, highlights the need to make optimal use of our natural capital, for economic as well as environmental reasons if we are to ensure a long-term sustainable future for Scotland's farming industry. The champions will analyse responses to their discussion document and publish a final report in spring. It will not be possible however to plan a long-term policy without knowing what kind of budget will be available to us, and we will continue to press UK Government for clarity on this as a matter of urgency

The position on advice will be one of the issues looked at when we are deciding the shape of the new policy.

At this late stage in the life time of the scheme, it is unlikely that it will be worth amending the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) to incorporate beaver management payments. The Scottish Government will consider whether beaver management that benefits the public interest should be part of any scheme that replaces the SRDP.

Scottish Natural Heritage has been advised of four dead beavers in the wild since May 2016. It appeared that one was killed on a railway line, one was killed on a road, and one was presumed to be drowned. The decomposed remains of a young animal were also found, with no apparent cause of death. No autopsies were carried out on these animals.

Clause 1 of the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and the Recognition of Sentience) Bill is intended to require Ministers of the Crown to have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings when formulating and implementing government policy. This would include matters applying to Scotland, to the extent that they are reserved.

The Scottish Government is considering the extension of this duty to have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings when formulating and implementing policy to Scottish Ministers as regards matters devolved to the Scottish Government.

Clause 2 of the Bill relates to penalties for animal welfare offences in England and Wales only.

Publishing the detailed reporting framework for the Land Use Strategy has been delayed following the result of the EU referendum. The Scottish Government is looking to integrate work on future strategic policy for the environment and agriculture with the next steps for the Land Use Strategy, however we have made progress on several of the proposals and policies put forward as part of the Land Use Strategy, such as policy 5 (the publication of the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement on 28 September 2017).

The results of the scoping exercise carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage, which was a proposal in the Land Use Strategy 2016 – 2021, were published in July 2017. We are currently considering the results, including the recommendations made, and will take a decision on their implementation in due course.

The Scottish Government is keen to encourage self and custom build housing in Scotland and to encourage alternative house building models including options like cooperative housing. However, it is the responsibility of local authorities to determine the appropriate housing required in their areas, based on the findings from their Housing Need and Demand Assessment and Local Housing Strategy policies. We encourage local authorities to consider all types of delivery models to provide a wide range of housing types to suit the needs of people of all ages. Housing is also addressed in current planning policy documents and we are committed to reviewing the National Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy, including their role in supporting housing development.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. As fire safety is a responsibility of local authorities, this information may be available by contacting local Authorities directly and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

However, I wrote to all local authorities in August seeking reassurance of fire safety across the school estate. From the detailed responses received, we are reassured that local authorities have taken all steps necessary to ensure the fire safety of their schools.