Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is aware of opportunities to utilise hemp cake for animal feed in Scotland. There is currently no active policy with regard to utilisation of hemp cake in Scotland. We would encourage innovation from animal feed suppliers in Scotland which provide farmers with choice on animal feed while supporting efforts to deliver emissions reduction in the sector.

Trade policy is reserved to the UK Government. The UK Environment Act 2021 enables the introduction of controls on palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather and soy in an effort to ensure that are not linked to illegal deforestation. Similar provisions have been introduced in the European Union. Through the ENRA (Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture) research programme, the Scottish Government is directly funding work to develop sustainable feeding strategies that reduce reliance on imported soya.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39465 on 29 July 2025. 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.

The Scottish Government worked collaboratively on arrangements for the recent visit of President Trump to Scotland, and recognises the hard work of the police officers and police staff who delivered this complex and large-scale operation, which ensured a safe and secure visit by the President.

Operational decisions around the planning and delivery of the operation, and the deployment of police officers, were for the Chief Constable. Police Scotland is still determining the costs of this complex policing operation, and they do not expect the final costs to be available until later in the year.

The Scottish Government is engaging with the UK Government to explore the options for funding the costs incurred by Police Scotland and wider public sector partners including the Scottish Government, in supporting the Presidential visit. In the interests of openness and transparency the Scottish Government has committed to making details of the costs publicly available, once they are known.

The Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract for services between Glasgow and Campbeltown does not include a limit on the number of flights that can operate. As with any PSO, the specification sets out the number of flights for which subsidy will be paid. This number is based upon anticipated demand. The airline is, however, free to operate additional services on a commercial basis if they wish.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is engaging Historic Environment Scotland regarding the future of HMP Barlinnie and whether any part of the buildings at the prison would be considered for listed building status. This is an important part of SPS’ considerations around the future direction of the site and sale.

Agricultural businesses, including crofters and small farmers, which are registered on the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Services website may apply to the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). The scheme has now closed for applications in 2025, and detail of the 2026 round will be shared in late 2025.

An important feature of the scheme is a scoring system designed to avoid discrimination against smaller businesses, including crofters. This aims to promote applications by small businesses by awarding three additional points where the application value is less than £20,000.

Where an applicant’s business has less than 30 hectares, some beneficiaries are able to access small unit supplementary payments across many of the options over and above the income foregone payments for AECS options. This enables some businesses of less than 30 hectares to access important socio-economic options like native breed cattle introduction and retention.

An additional scoring uplift is also offered where two or more applicants intend to deliver an option collaboratively. This is available to all eligible applicants, including smaller businesses, crofters and common grazing committees.

As set out in the Agricultural Reform Route Map, AECS is expected to continue up to at least 2026 to deliver elements of Tier 3 until the new Elective support is implemented.

Opportunities to improve the equity of access to future support across all business sizes and types will be considered as part of the Agricultural Reform Programme. As part of this, a review of the AECS scoring system will be undertaken. We remain committed to co-designing the development of future support structures and delivery with rural partners, and this includes how existing schemes will transition to the four-tier model. It is right that we take the time necessary to develop the detail of our policies with the people directly affected by them, which is important if we are to deliver on our commitment to a just transition for our farmers and crofters. Following this process, further detail will be shared in due course.

We are supporting farmers and crofters to realise the vision for agriculture and the 2025-26 budget allocates more than £665 million for the purpose of supporting farmers, land managers, rural communities and rural businesses . We are continuing to co-develop the future support with stakeholders to ensure conditions fit appropriately to work for the industry and deliver to the Vision for Agriculture.

We have to date made a number of relevant announcements including the launch of the Whole Farm Plan, changes to SSBSS and changes to Greening which all contribute to delivery of the Vision for Agriculture. The future iterative progression of the Vision and its associated timeline can be found detailed within the Agricultural Routemap which is updated regularly to ensure people know what changes are coming and when those changes will happen.

The Scottish Government has not given consideration to a blanket ban on dredging or bottom trawling, however, it is standard management practice to put in place measures that limit these and other types of fishing methods for a variety of reasons relating to fish stock management and conservation management as required.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39497 on 15 August 2025. 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.