Chamber and committees

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) publishes details of the annual expenditure on Managed Sites in its Annual Reports, which are available on the SNH website, http://www.snh.gov.uk/ . The following table sets out the published figures for 2013-14 to 2016-17 and the estimated expenditure in 2017-18. These figures include the costs of managing SNH’s 36 National Nature Reserves (NNRs).

Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH’s) 36 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) contribute directly to many of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy targets. For example:

•  SNH has active or planned peatland restoration and conservation work on ten of its reserves. Four reserves are also used in support of the Scotland-wide Peatland Action Programme to host peatland management demonstration and contractor training events.
•  SNH’s reserves help conserve about 6,000 ha of native woodland and SNH pursues woodland conservation and expansion on at least 9 NNRs, including the piloting of novel woodland restoration and expansion approaches.
•  SNH’s NNRs generate more than 600,000 visits to the countryside and provide for 3,500 education visits and work-experience for school pupils and placements for students on environmental management courses. Where possible, efforts are directed at supporting schools in the most disadvantaged areas.
•  SNH’s NNRs conserve 818 (c15% of all) ‘designated’ protected natural features of overlapping sites of special scientific interest and Natura sites. 94.9% of these are in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition, where there was an on-site remedy. (The comparable figure for all features with an onsite remedy is 87.2%).
•  SNH’s NNRs support improving connectivity through collaboration in wider landscape initiatives such as Cairngorms Connect, the Carse of Stirling Project and the Cairngorms National Park Forest and Woodland Network.

The Scottish Government has been clear that that the UK’s decision to leave the EU must not provide an excuse to lower environmental standards in Scotland, the UK or Europe. We are fully committed to continuing to maintain, protect and enhance environmental standards. The UK Government must not be able to impose lower standards in the UK, including in Scotland.

The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill includes three mechanisms which together embed our commitment to continuing to set high standards of environmental protection. These provisions are not mirrored in the UK Government’s European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Firstly, our Bill ensures we will consider environmental and animal welfare principles when using the Bill’s regulation making powers. Secondly, the Bill enshrines our commitments to consulting on how the environmental principles will continue to guide future policy and legislation, and how to maintain effective and appropriate environmental governance following EU withdrawal. Finally, the keeping pace power in the Bill would enable us to keep our environmental legislation in line with existing high standards of EU law and ensure that we do not lag behind Europe.

The Scottish Government is actively considering where environmental governance gaps in Scotland may arise should the UK leave the EU. To assist with this, I asked the Roundtable on Environment and Climate Change to advise on any potential environmental governance gaps and to suggest a range of options on how best to address those gaps. The Roundtable have now provided me with their advice which I am giving careful consideration to, alongside considering the next steps. These next steps will include publication of the Roundtable’s advice and taking forward the commitment set out in the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill to consult on proposals on how to ensure that there continues to be effective and appropriate governance relating to the environment following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

The Scottish Government fully supports all steps taken to protect sheep from out of control dogs. The consequences of sheep worrying can be devastating all year round and in particular in lambing season.

The 'sheep-wise' video produced by Quality Meat Scotland and the National Sheep Association is an excellent example of a current campaign which highlights the consequences to the public of failing to control their dogs when around other animals such as sheep.

The law on sheep-worrying is found in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. This legislation provides that if a dog worries livestock on any agricultural land, the owner of the dog, and, if it is in the charge of a person other than its owner, that person also, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. The definition of worrying livestock is if a dog attacks livestock, or chases livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce, or is at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.

Police Scotland is committed to applying the law robustly if dog owners don't keep their dogs under control, including investigating all incidents of livestock worrying and reporting cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal with a view to securing appropriate convictions. In addition, local authorities have powers to impose civil dog control notices if dogs are out of control and this includes on agricultural land.

The Scottish Government fully supports effective enforcement of the law in this area by justice agencies and local authorities.

The Book of Deer is an important part of Scotland’s heritage. The manuscript has long been in the collection of the University of Cambridge Library. By tradition and statute, decisions on cultural collections are made independently of Government. The Scottish Government would however be supportive of any partnerships and collaborations between the University of Cambridge and cultural institutions in Scotland that widened public access to and appreciation of the Book of Deer.

The Scottish Government is working closely with a range of organisations in football and more widely to raise awareness of this important issue. The Scottish Government is also working with the Foundations associated with football clubs to consider how we can collaborate and strengthen our work on mental health.

I am aware of the mental health challenges footballers can face, and the Scottish Government engages with the Scottish FA, SPFL, PFA Scotland and the Scottish Junior Football Association on this and a wide variety of issues.

A range of support is available through the organisations the member highlights, as well as others like Support in Sport and the Sports Chaplaincy Network. I know all these organisations take this issue – and the duty of care they have for players – extremely seriously.

Free mental health first aid training has been made available through the SPFL Trust to all SPFL clubs and this offers support to anyone in football, including players.

Other organisations in football are helping to raise awareness of the issue within football and the wider population, including the Chris Mitchell Foundation, the Kris Boyd Charity and the pilot Changing Room project being undertaken in partnership between Hibernian FC, the Scottish Association for Mental Health and the SPFL Trust.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with stakeholders in football to strengthen our joint work on mental health.

The Scottish Government will bring forward plans to update regulations for the licensing of cat, dog and rabbit breeding, dealing and selling for appropriate public consultation in due course.

The Scottish Government has long stressed that any organisation laying down breed standards must give paramount regard to the health and welfare of the animals, including the need to avoid breed-specific health problems. We are also considering developing guidance on these matters under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.