Chamber and committees

The proposals to establish new environmental governance arrangements in the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill are relevant to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention. The proposals will allow people freely to bring matters of concern about the implementation of environmental law to the attention of the new, independent governance body, and they will receive information on how these matters are considered and, if relevant, resolved. The intention of the provisions is to replace, with domestic arrangements, the governance role carried out by the European Union institutions until the end of the transition period.

Work on expanding testing for the NHS has focussed on NHS laboratories which already have arrangements in place for receiving samples from patients, testing safely and ensuring that the data from test results is captured. However, we are working with two laboratories based in the veterinary science sector to increase capacity: Biobest, and the Moredun Research Unit. Contracting is underway with both organisations.

This will further increase our testing capacity, which currently is as follows:

Active maximum weekday NHS lab capacity: over 10,000 tests a day;

Weekend capacity: around 8,000 tests a day.

In addition to this we have further capacity through the UKG run Lighthouse Laboratories. Glasgow Lighthouse Lab has capacity to process approximately 20,000 tests a day and may process tests taken from across the UK.

If organisations would like to submit offers of support they should contact the National Laboratories Programme Team or Scottish Enterprise who will share the survey to allow an assessment to be undertaken.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) currently require all contractors to use non-lead ammunition for goose management when shooting over Ramsar sites, including land beyond that required by the Environmental Protection (Restrictions on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) Regulation 2004, and expect that by 2021 all shotgun ammunition purchased by SNH for use in goose management schemes will be non-lead based.

Where SNH issue licenses to shoot deer on public land the use of non-lead ammunition will be required to shoot all but roe deer by 2021. For roe deer, non-lead alternatives will be required by 2024.

In terms of deer shot by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) staff or Deer Culling contractors, it is expected that lead ammunition will be phased out by the end of 2022. A small proportion (approx. 9%) of the deer shot on land managed by FLS is carried out under other arrangements such as leasing and in these circumstances non-lead ammunition will be required by 2023.

The Scottish Government has welcomed a statement from UK field sports bodies on the phasing out of lead shot alongside recommendations made by the independent Deer Working Group and the Grouse Moor Management Review Group. We will publish our formal response to both reports in due course.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is the competent authority in the UK responsible for the testing of food producing animals for residues of authorised veterinary medicines products and prohibited substances. National Residues Surveillance Programme is carried out by VMD in accordance with The Animal and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (England and Scotland) Regulations of 2015. Food Standards Scotland collect samples on behalf of VMD in approved game handling establishments.

The testing of red grouse for the presence of anthelmintic compounds authorised for use in medicated feed, such as flubendazole, has been carried out since 2016. VMD publish annual figures on gov.uk and advise that they have not tested any samples which exceeded the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).

The testing of gamebirds for the presence of metals such as lead is carried out by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) as part of the National Residues Surveillance Programme in accordance with The Animal and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015. VMD publish annual figures on gov.uk. Since 2015 one sample exceeded the Maximum Residue Limit for lead, although this was not in Scotland.

There is limited data available on the excretion of flubendazole, the active ingredient in medicated grit, by grouse. However, a 2006 study on Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use by the European Medicines Agency Committee involving a wide range of species, including chicken and game birds, found that more than 50% of the consumed drug was excreted. Furthermore, this trend has also been observed in studies involving human excretion of flubendazole.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is currently undertaking a desk-based study to assess the potential impact on the wider environment of the use of flubendazole in medicated grit. This includes an assessment of the effects on soil dwelling organisms, aquatic organisms and the indirect effect on predatory animals (from the consumption of contaminated prey). As part of this study, SEPA is considering appropriate monitoring approaches for the substance should the desk-based study recommend that investigative monitoring is required.

The Scottish Government is committed, at the earliest appropriate opportunity, to publishing the decarbonisation action plan for Scotland’s railways.

This will include an assessment on the use of battery and hydrogen technology powered trains as well as electrification to meet the 2035 traction decarbonisation target.

Since the adoption of a new Bikeability Scotland strategy in 2018, increased funding and flexibility has been available to local authorities to support every child to have access to on-road cycle training. During 2019-20, we invested more than £1 million to support the programme in 31 local authorities, with delivery in 52% of all schools tailored to meet local needs. This includes funding experienced instructors to lead sessions in schools, increased access to bikes, support for volunteers and additional coordination capacity.

Cycling Scotland have adapted their delivery model during the coronavirus crisis to support local authorities to deliver training for the children of key workers and others. This includes funding to deliver training outside of normal school hours and at non-school locations such as childcare hubs and after-school centres. For the new academic session, in response to Covid19, further support is available to local authorities to increase access to Bikeability. Following successful pilots in Midlothian and Western Isles, intensive courses will also be offered to support schools to manage timetabling in the new session. Cycling Scotland is supporting further expansion of Bikeability with schools in East Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute introducing sessions soon.

In relation to phase 1 in the Scottish Government’s ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis’, people are permitted to travel short distances for outdoor leisure and exercise but advised to stay within a short distance of their local community (broadly within 5 miles) and travel by walk, wheel and cycle where possible. This part of the route map does not apply to travelling to undertake permitted categories of work or volunteering.

Under phase 1, non-essential outdoor workplaces with physical distancing can resume once relevant guidance is agreed. Guidance on safe working has been published in support of restarting outdoor forestry and a range of environmental management activities, including peatland restoration, wildlife and nature reserve management, and ecological surveys and research. The information and advice contained in this guidance can be used to protect workers and volunteers carrying out monitoring fieldwork such as that undertaken by the Scottish Raptor Study Group. Organisations are required to undertake risk assessments to ensure that they are compliant with the guidance.