Seòmar agus comataidhean

This is a matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked Stuart Black, Chief Executive for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to respond to the member directly.

In May 2021 we established our employment and mental health working group to help take forward a number of key employment actions from our Mental Health – Transition and Recovery plan.

The group, consisting of policy officials, employer groups, trade unions and mental health organisations, is leading work to address some of the key challenges employers are facing in terms of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce. Their work has been focused on 3 key areas, identified by the group as being priorities for action:

1. To review, quality assure and consolidate existing mental health and wellbeing resources to enable employers to access the support they need, when they need it.

2. To help employers to learn from others by showcasing promising and emerging practice, enabling employers to understand how others have overcome barriers and challenges to create mentally healthy workplaces across different sectors and sizes of organisations.

3. To review existing guidance for employers in relation to home working, hybrid working and other models of working and to identify where consideration and support for mental health and wellbeing could be either strengthened or developed through additional guidance or resources.

A key output of this phase of work will be the production of an online platform for employers that clearly signposts employers to relevant, high quality, mental health and wellbeing resources and guidance. As the platform develops, it will be supported by a range of case studies and employer examples that showcase promising practice.

The new platform will be hosted by Public Health Scotland and is currently being tested with employers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06258 on 15 February 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

There are a range of factors which may contribute to a decline in a species’ population or a contraction of species’ range. It is likely that one of the main drivers of population decline in ptarmigan is habitat loss caused by climate change. The Scottish Government is determined to end our contribution to climate change by 2045 and prevent further climate related deterioration of habitat from climate pressure. We are taking action across the board to achieve this (as set out in our Climate Change Plan update) and are providing financial support for projects that restore and protect habitats, safeguard wildlife and tackle causes of biodiversity loss.

Other drivers of population decline may include increased recreational activity in montane habitats and grazing pressures. Ptarmigan are also a quarry species, listed on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Where there is evidence that shooting is causing declines we will consider action to remove a quarry species from Schedule 2.

a) We are in regular contact with NatureScot on a range of wildlife management issues, including discussions on the management of ptarmigan.

b) The Scottish Government has had no direct correspondence with Country Sports Scotland in relation to ptarmigan.

c) The Scottish Government has had no direct correspondence with external stakeholders in relation to ptarmigan.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 requires all local authorities in Scotland to publish and make accessible on their respective websites a list of licence holders so that prospective buyers of pets can verify that the person supplying an animal is licensed by the local authority. The information to be published includes the name of the licence holder, their postcode, licence number, date licence was granted and its expiry date.

While not a central list, the information needed to verify the status of breeders and pet sellers is already publicly available.

At present there are no plans to undertake a workforce audit. However, it is recognised that in delivering Scottish Government priorities for climate change and biodiversity, that there is a skills shortage in the rural sector, in particular in peatland restoration.

The Scottish Government is committed, through the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan, to support the creation of additional green jobs in rural and island areas of Scotland, with associated skills development and training. We recognise the key role crofting communities have to play in peatland restoration. In the National Development Plan for Crofting we committed to working in partnership with NatureScot and the Crofting Commission to identify the areas of degraded peatland in the crofting counties with a view to prioritising engagement with crofters and common grazing committees and identify opportunities for restoration.

There is also a commitment through the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland to ensure people in our rural areas have the necessary skills, which will support inclusive growth. The Crofting Commission Development Officers engage with crofting communities to encourage croft occupancy, active croft use and management of common grazings. Working closely with local assessors the Officers liaise with landlords and townships to encourage opportunities and diversification of crofting activities, including initiatives to help crofting align with this Government’s priorities for climate change and biodiversity.

Crofters can access the Forestry Grant Scheme, introduced in 2015, which has a specific premium option aimed at the Northern Isles, Western Isles and crofting counties where establishing trees can be more expensive.

In addition, the Small Woodlands Loan Scheme, introduced in April 2021, aims to reduce cash flow barriers that crofters may face when considering tree-planting. The loan works alongside the Forestry Grant Scheme and is aimed at woodland creation projects of up to 20 hectares in size. It provides up to half of the upfront costs associated with planting a new woodland.

Scottish Forestry is also a partner in the Croft Woodlands Project, run by The Woodland Trust Scotland, which provides free help and advice to crofters, smallholders and common grazings committees.

During the Pillar Two programme period (2014-20) LEADER funding supported Community Led Local Development to deliver a range of thematic activity, which included a range of farm and crofting diversification projects.

The Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme provides grants for agricultural buildings, and the Croft House Grant provides grant funding towards the costs of croft house improvements or a new build croft house.

As set out in our 2021-22 Programme for Government , the Scottish Government will introduce a Public Health Bill that includes restrictions on unhealthier food and drink promotions in this Parliament.

We will consult again on our proposals to restrict unhealthier food and drink promotions in the spring. This will help us consider the impacts of EU exit and the COVID-19 pandemic on our proposals, as well as explore the potential opportunities for alignment across the UK.

We provide £2.3m per year to NHS Boards to support the 2011 Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework Action Plan which includes a range of breastfeeding support activities and interventions.

We have additionally provided more than £6m over the past four years to NHS Boards and third sector partners to improve the quality of breastfeeding support.

In 2019, the Scottish Government established the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board to oversee the delivery of improved perinatal and infant mental health services in Scotland. Since then we have invested over £16 million in perinatal and infant mental health, including specialist community perinatal services, Mother and Baby Units and services provided by the third sector such as peer support, counselling and befriending.

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