Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not intend to permit a cull of white-tailed eagles.

The species has the highest levels of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 being listed on Schedules 1, 1A and A1. Schedule A1 of the 1981 Act lists bird species whose nests are protected at all times from disturbance, including outwith the breeding season. Schedule 1A of the 1981 Act lists those bird species which are protected from harassment.

We accept that sea eagles may sometimes take lambs and thereby have a financial impact on farmers and crofters. NatureScot operates the Sea Eagle Management Scheme (SEMS) which supports farmers and crofters to manage impacts. The SEMS was significantly revised in 2020 following consultation with local and national stakeholder groups, including National Farmers Union Scotland and Scottish Crofting Federation representatives. Further information on the scheme is available via the following web link: https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/sea-eagle-management-scheme

NatureScot has advised that there is no evidence of spread of avian influenza from poultry or gamebirds to wild birds within the UK. There is no evidence to support further disease control measures on game bird operation activities beyond those already in place, which includes a ban on releasing game birds in all disease control zones. We are closely monitoring the situation and will review disease control measures as appropriate.

The release of red-leg partridges and pheasants is a legal activity and is permitted under s14 2A of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

A moratorium on the release of non-native gamebirds could be applied where it would be in the public interest to suspend this activity. To date, there has been no evidence to support a moratorium on non-native gamebird releases.

International science collaboration is vital in both supporting Scotland’s own research and innovation, and in ensuring Scottish expertise contributes to international research addressing global challenges such as the climate and biodiversity crises. Satellite information, including Earth Observation data, is a key resource that underpins this research, and processing it is one of the many strengths of the Scottish space sector. Over the period 2018-2021, the European Commission and European Space Agency provided 8% and 29%, respectively, of Research and Development funding for Scottish Space Companies. Maintaining access to European Programmes such as Copernicus is therefore extremely important to both Scotland’s industry and academic institutes and to the international science community as a whole.

Whilst the Copernicus Climate Change Service has an open data policy meaning data produced by it will therefore remain freely available to UK users, until an agreement on UK participation in Copernicus is finalised, the UK will not be able to participate in the parts of the Copernicus programme that are open only to EU member states. For example, UK-based businesses, academics and researchers will not be able to bid for Copernicus contracts tendered through the EU, funded through the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework or through any process using EU procurement rules after December 2020.

UK organisations could previously bid for Copernicus contracts tendered through ECMWF and Mercator Ocean. Until the Copernicus agreement is implemented, UK organisations cannot bid for Copernicus Services contracts except in exceptional circumstances that need to be justified to the European Commission.

The Scottish Government therefore strongly supports the UK’s continued involvement in EU programmes such as Copernicus and continues to liaise with the UK Government on EU programmes to reiterate the impacts of the continued delays.

Existing Environmental Science qualifications (available at National 3, National 4, National 5 and Higher) draw from the sciences and social sciences and take a problem-solving approach to attempt to develop solutions that prevent or reverse environmental deterioration and aim for sustainable practices.

Scottish Government is currently reviewing and strengthening the Learning for Sustainability Action plan. As part of this process, Scottish Government will invite SQA, who are responsible for the development of new qualifications, to consider whether the existing offer should be expanded.

The Scottish Government provide annual funding to the Energy Saving Trust to manage and administer the Low Carbon Transport Loan (LCTL). There are no applications submitted before the 1 December 2021 pending completion. 74 applications are currently awaiting vehicle delivery before loan payments are issued to loan applicants.

Existing National Qualifications in Art and Design already allow the option of submitting moving image pieces. The following National Progression Awards contain units based on moving image or options to work in a moving image context:

• Skills for Work: Creative Digital Media (SCQF level 4)
• Creative Industries (SCQF level 4)
• Skills for Work: Creative Industries (SCQF level 5)
• Film and Media (SCQF levels 5 and 6)
• Art and Design: Digital Media (SCQF levels 5 and 6)
• Television Production (SCQF level 5)
• NPA in Digital Media Animation
• HNC/HND 3D Computer Animation

Susan Davies FRSB, Chief Executive of The Scottish Seabird Centre was appointed to lead the taskforce on 15 June 2022.

Susan will work with representatives from Police Scotland, Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service and Scottish Government policy officials. The taskforce will consider whether the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the Scottish SPCA) should be given additional powers to investigate wildlife crime. We expect to receive the report from the taskforce in time to take forward any recommendations that require legislation in a bill during the course of this Parliament.

Under the Edinburgh Process strand of the Nature Restoration Fund, Local Authorities have been allocated a share of £5 Million for 2022-23, using a formula based on the area of urban greenspace and local nature reserves, as set out in the following table:

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09029 on 20 June 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