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My officials held meetings with stakeholders on 23 November 2015 and 3 June 2016 in connection with the ongoing review of pet welfare. Discussion at those meeting covered a range of issues, including that of licensing animal rehoming agencies. Officials have also discussed that issue at meetings with individual stakeholders.

The minutes of the meetings of November 2015 and June 2016, with participants listed, are available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/animal-welfare/AnimalWelfare/companion/welfarestakeholder. Representatives from the pet industry, animal welfare, local government and veterinary organisations presented their views.

During 2017, we intend to work with local authorities to develop viable options that may have the potential to achieve the aim of giving every household in Scotland access to a food waste service. That will include consideration of whether a realistic and cost-effective alternative to the present rural exemption is possible.

Any consequent changes to legislation would of course be subject to consultation, and I will ensure that the member is updated on the timescale of any such work.

The Scottish Government's ambition is for every household in Scotland to have access to a food waste service. However, it is for local authorities to work towards compliance with the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, by continuing to roll out household food waste collection services in their local areas. The rate of increase from the present figure of 80% will be dependent on that work.

A range of detailed studies were undertaken at Knapdale, Argyll as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial. Monitoring took place from 2009-2014, and reporting was concluded in 2015. The independent monitoring programme was coordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and involved a number of partner organisations. Beaver interactions with species and habitats, such as aquatic macrophytes, woodland habitat (including Atlantic hazel woodland), river habitat, otter, fish, and odonata were monitored. Individual monitoring reports can be found at www.snh.gov.uk/beavers-in-scotland and a summary is provided in the SNH ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report published in 2015.

Measures of biodiversity change have not been monitored in the Tayside area to any significant extent at the catchment scale, partly because the presence of beavers there was unplanned and limited baseline information is available.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has had extensive and wide ranging discussions with numerous beaver specialists and managers, country agency staff and academics over the 21 years since it started investigating beaver reintroduction issues.

This has resulted in the development of a wide network of specialists from across North America and Europe that the Scottish Government can now draw on for advice. Much of the advice provided so far has been incorporated within a range of publications produced by SNH, which can be viewed at www.snh.gov.uk/beavers-in-scotland. This includes the substantial ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report published by SNH in 2015.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a dedicated web page and advisory service in place to give farmers one-on-one advice and help on the ground. Farmers can get more information at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/beavers/beaver-management-advice

Advice to farmers and others was formalised with the creation of the Tayside Beaver Study Group in 2012 when the field officer provided a bespoke service. This service has been carried forward to the present with a specialist contractor working for SNH. SNH will continue to work with stakeholders to seek to develop solutions and mitigation measures which will underpin further advice to those landowners that are affected by beaver activity.

Identification of communities with no or inadequate public transport in the West of Scotland is under the responsibility of the local authorities and SPT who, through their Regional Transport Strategy, must take account of the differing strategic needs in the area and look opportunities to make improvements.

The Scottish Government has discussed animal welfare with stakeholder organisations throughout 2016, but there have been no specific discussions on the gifting of animals at Christmas. Independent animal charities, such as the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Dogs Trust, have issued a seasonal reminder that pets are not suitable gifts.

The Scottish Government endorses the view that owning an animal entails a lifetime welfare commitment and that all animals should go to permanent, loving homes.

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Scottish Natural Heritage, and other partners are presently developing a proposal to undertake a full census of breeding seabirds. In addition, the JNCC are developing a UK wide marine biodiversity monitoring strategy for consideration by the Scottish Government and other UK administrations. This will include the monitoring of marine birds.

The Scottish Government is taking action on improving the condition of Scotland’s Native Woodlands including Caledonian woodland through its commitments in the Scottish Biodiversity 2020 Route Map. There is not a specific target or stated optimum level of native Caledonian woodland restoration.