Chamber and committees

LFASS is vital for our rural economy and remote communities throughout Scotland, providing support to over 11,000 farmers and crofters.

Unfortunately, the EU rules do not allow us to continue with LFASS unchanged from next year. That is why, to provide as much financial stability as possible during these uncertain times, the Scottish Government will continue with LFASS next year at the maximum that EU rules allow, which is 80% in 2019.

No decisions have been made regarding LFASS 2020 where under the current EU rules payments would be restricted to 20%. Clearly the prospect of a 20% payment is one that will have a significant impact on farmers and crofters in Scotland’s remote and fragile farming areas. Cabinet Secretary, Mr Ewing raised the importance of this issue with European Commissioner, Phil Hogan when they met in Brussels on 24 April.

Scottish Government officials are actively exploring all possible options to maintain vital LFASS support to the industry in 2020. Unfortunately, the Scottish Government is unable to give farmers and crofters assurance on LFASS beyond 2019 as, despite repeated requests, the UK Government has still not given a clear statement about funding guarantees post Brexit.

Our most up to date information is for LFASS 2017 claims, as LFASS 2018 claims have not been processed yet, therefore the total number businesses in Falkirk Council area in receipt of (or expected to be) LFASS funding for 2017 claim year is 67.

(a) East constituency = 40 farm businesses

(b) West constituency = 27 farm businesses

The UK Government has shared some material from its planned Agriculture Bill, in confidence, with officials in the Scottish Government. Some of that material has been received orally rather than in writing. To date, Scottish Ministers have not received a copy of the draft bill despite repeated requests to share it in its entirety and at the earliest possible opportunity to enable us to comment on its contents.

Clean Air Day 2018 is being coordinated by Environmental Protection Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Amongst a wide range of resources and information produced for those organising or taking part in events on Clean Air Day is a schools toolkit. Detailed information on all aspects of Clean Air Day 2018 can be found on the Clean Air Day in Scotland website: https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/clean-air-scotland and the Environmental Protection Scotland website: http://www.ep-scotland.org.uk/cleanairday/ .

In November 2017, Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) announced their intention to run a further leasing round for commercial scale offshore wind energy, which will deploy larger turbines. In accordance with Scotland’s National Marine Plan, the spatial locations for such a round will be identified through a Sectoral Marine Planning process. Marine Scotland, as Planning Authority for Scotland’s seas, is currently undertaking this process

In May 2018, the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre off the coast of Aberdeenshire became home to two of the world's most powerful offshore wind turbines. This development would not have taken place in Scottish waters without this Government’s introduction of an enhanced band for innovative offshore wind generation under Renewable Obligation (Scotland). Sadly, this power has been removed by UK Ministers in 2015 and we no longer have the power to intervene in such a fashion.

However, we continue to lobby UK Ministers for a supportive financial framework for the sector, and Scotland's Energy Strategy sets out the continuing opportunities for innovation within the offshore wind sector.

Our financial support for the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and initiatives such as the Carbon Trust's Offshore Wind Accelerator, are further examples of how this Government is determined to support and grow the offshore wind sector by driving down the cost per MWH through innovation.

This work will be further supported through our joint industry working group - Offshore Wind Industry Group (OWIG) – which will work with the sector to ensure our supply chain can competitively target opportunities associated with next generation turbines.

The Scottish Government attendance management policy encourages managers to provide support to staff during periods of illness. Staff who are sick have access to specialist occupational health support and advice from professional HR staff including the People Advice and Wellbeing Counsellor. The Government also has a contract in place for employee assistance support which provides staff with free confidential counselling and wellbeing advice. This contract is also available to wider public sector bodies.

Access to the employee assistance facility also extends to close members of the employee’s family.

Where a family member is unwell, the Scottish Government provides access to domestic leave and carer support in order to help employees to manage their caring responsibilities and remain in the workplace. Where a period away from work may be required to help employees care for family members, consideration will be given to career breaks or other forms of leave.

The Carers Network has been established to allow carers within Scottish Government to share information and experiences and provide mutual support. The Government also supports the Carer’s Passport initiative set up by the Charity for Civil Servants.

The Scottish Government shares good practice with other public sector bodies via an HR network which encourages members to share ideas and promote good practice.

The Scottish Government attendance management policy encourages managers to provide support to staff during periods of illness. Staff who are sick have access to specialist occupational health support and advice from professional HR staff including the People Advice and Wellbeing Counsellor. The Government also has a contract in place for employee assistance support which provides staff with free confidential counselling and wellbeing advice. This contract is also available to wider public sector bodies.

Access to the employee assistance facility also extends to close members of the employee’s family.

Where a family member is unwell, the Scottish Government provides access to domestic leave and carer support in order to help employees to manage their caring responsibilities and remain in the workplace. Where a period away from work may be required to help employees care for family members, consideration will be given to career breaks or other forms of leave.

The Carers Network has been established to allow carers within Scottish Government to share information and experiences and provide mutual support. The Government also supports the Carer’s Passport initiative set up by the Charity for Civil Servants.

The Scottish Government shares good practice with other public sector bodies via an HR network which encourages members to share ideas and promote good practice.

The Scottish Government looks forward to receiving Professor Britton's report. However, as it is being produced independently of the Scottish Government, the precise date of publication is a matter for Professor Britton and her team.

Young people in Falkirk have directly benefitted from £1,296, 579 of CashBack for Communities investment from 2008 to 2017. Over this period this investment has delivered nearly 78, 000 activities across Falkirk.

Phase 4 of CashBack started on 1 April 2017. The Scottish Government are investing £17 million across 17 new programmes that are focussed on disadvantaged young people in every Local Authority across Scotland. This will further build on the success of the CashBack programme.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a cassette system for transporting livestock on ferries in the Western Isles.