Chamber and committees

The aim that 21% of Scotland will be afforested by 2032 was informed by the targets for woodland creation set out in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan 2018-32. The Plan is informed by the legislative targets set out in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019.

The process to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector continues and decisions have still to be taken in relation to the prospective sale of the business. With the process to return Prestwick Airport to the private sector continuing, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment further at this time.

We have committed to updating Parliament on the sale process at the appropriate stage and to protect the integrity of the process we will not be making any further comment at this time.

The loan was impaired on the basis of the risk of an Expected Credit Loss as we are required to do in accordance with IFRS 9. The loan has been impaired in the accounts but it has not been written off and legally the full value and its accrued interest remains repayable.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20139 on
‎ 26 August 2021. 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

This information is not currently collected centrally. However, local health and social care partnerships, and their store services, will collect data on the number of loans, and returns, of mobility equipment, including short-term wheelchair loans. As part of our evaluation we will work with local areas to put processes in place to collate this data at a national level .

The Scottish Government's new air quality 'Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 - Towards a Better Place for Everyone' is accompanied by a Delivery Plan which summarises the strategy actions, the dates by when they will be achieved and the organisations responsible for delivering each action.

The Delivery Plan confirms that the Scottish Government will undertake a review of nature based, green and blue interventions which can benefit air quality, using the outcomes to develop a database of potential solutions for both regeneration and new developments, by 2024.

The PAVR fund has provided much-needed support to a range of performing arts venues to help address the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on operations. In August 2020, 20 venues across Scotland were awarded a total of £7.5 million through the first round of the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund (PAVR). In total, over £20 million has been awarded to performing arts venues through the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund through multiple funding rounds.

The recipients of the first round of PAVR funding can be found here, broken down by (a) venue and (b) amount received: Emergency Scottish Government relief funds support performing arts venues | Creative Scotland

A further 59 performing arts venues received funding, totalling £4.74 million, later in September, and these details can be found here: Emergency funds continuing to reach performing arts venues | Creative Scotland

A total of 53 performing arts venues have received a total of £8.56 million from a second round of PAVR in August 2021. A full list of recipients for the second round of PAVR funding can be found here, broken down by (a) venue and (b) amount received: Further £17million emergency funding reaches Culture Organisations and Performing Arts Venues | Creative Scotland

The Scottish Land Fund supports urban and rural communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.

It has a two-stage application process. At Stage 1 groups are asked for basic information about their project and organisation. At Stage 2 groups are asked to complete a full application form for funding for the acquisition of the asset.

The following table sets out figures for applications received for both stages.

1. Stage One Applications received

In recognition of delays in the negotiation of a new post-2020 global biodiversity framework and associated targets as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Scottish Government published a high-level Statement of Intent on biodiversity in December 2020. This statement signalled our ambitions for tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and included a commitment to publish a new biodiversity strategy within a year of CoP15. That is now scheduled to take place in October 2021 in Kunming, China. The strategy will take account of the Dasgupta review alongside a range of other evidence, as well as the new global biodiversity framework, goals and targets and also the emerging EU biodiversity strategy.

The Statement of Intent can be read in full at: www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-biodiversity-strategy-post-2020-statement-intent/pages/1/ .

The Scottish Government takes the protection of its ancient woodlands seriously and there are several existing areas of legislation and policies in place to provide that protection.

NatureScot use the planning system to protect ancient woodland through their engagement with the preparation of development plans. Furthermore, protection for all woodland is in place via felling regulations under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 and the Scottish Government’s Control of Woodland Removal Policy , where there is a strong presumption against removing ancient semi-natural woodland.

Anyone wishing to fell trees in Scotland must apply for a Felling Permission and thiswill only be granted if it complies with the principles of sustainable forest management, as set out in the UK Forestry Standard .

The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Position Statement , sets out our expectation that NPF4 will strengthen our approach to protecting and restoring the health and quality of Scotland’s natural environment, including considering how we can promote nature based solutions and strengthen policy on woodland protection in association with development, aligned with new provisions on forestry and woodland strategies.

Scottish Forestry and NatureScot are working together to deliver those key recommendations in the Scottish Government’s official response to the Deer Working Group Report relevant to forestry. This includes developing a vision for woodland deer management based on protecting public interests within the context of the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, and developing actions to deliver these aims through the Wild Deer National Approach.

We are also committed to establishing a National Register of Ancient Woodlands and will work with owners and agencies to maintain and protect them.