Independent review 2G Independent review (1) Environmental Standards Scotland is to— 20 (a) review each report prepared by the Scottish Ministers under section 2E(1), and (b) assess the manner in which the Scottish Ministers seek independent advice in compliance with their duties under sections 2E(2) and 2F(1). (2) Environmental Standards Scotland is to prepare and publish a report on the 25 outcome of each— (a) review under subsection (1)(a), and (b) assessment under subsection (1)(b). (3) Before publishing a report under subsection (2), Environmental Standards Scotland must— 30 (a) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, and (b) lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament. (3A) The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as reasonably practicable after a report is published under subsection (2), lay a statement before the Scottish Parliament setting out any action the Scottish Ministers intend to take as a result of the 35 report. (3B) The requirement to lay a statement under subsection (3A) does not apply if a statement made under section 2E(4) has already set out the action the Scottish Ministers intend to take as a result of the report. (3C) A statement under subsection (3A) may be combined with a statement under 40 or 2F(3). section 2D(4) 6 Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill Part 1—Targets for improving biodiversity (4) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend this section to specify a different person to carry out the assessing, reviewing and reporting functions conferred. (4A) Regulations under this section must specify a public body or office-holder 5 who is independent of the Scottish Ministers. (5) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure. (6) The duty in subsection (1)(b) does not apply in respect of the Scottish Ministers’ first exercise of the power under section 2C(1) to set the targets required by subsection (2) of that section. 10 2H Application of this Part 1 This Part applies only in relation to the exercise of functions by public bodies or office-holders in or as regards Scotland which do not relate to reserved matters.”. (4) In section 53 (orders and regulations: general), in subsection (4), after “sections” insert 15 “2C, 2E, 2G,”. 1A Reports on compliance with biodiversity duty (1) The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 is modified as follows. (2) For section 2A substitute— “2A Reports on compliance with biodiversity duty 20 (1) Each specified public body or office-holder must prepare and publish a biodiversity report in relation to each specified period. (2) A biodiversity report is a report on the actions taken by the specified public body or office-holder in pursuance of its duty under section 1 during the period to which the report relates. 25 (3) A report under this section— (a) is to be prepared in such form and published in such manner as the public body or office holder thinks fit, (b) may be incorporated within another report prepared or published by the body. 30 (4) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about biodiversity reports including, in particular, provision specifying— (a) the public bodies and office-holders which are required to prepare and publish a biodiversity report under this section, (b) the periods in relation to which reports are to relate, 35 (c) particular information that must be included in a biodiversity report. (5) A period specified under subsection (4)(b)— (a) may be specified by reference to a specific date or by reference to the frequency with which biodiversity reports are to be prepared and published, but 7 Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill Part 3—National parks (b) must require a report to be published by a specified public body or office-holder at least once every 3 years. (6) In this section, “specified” means specified in the regulations made under subsection (4).”. 5 P ART 3 N ATIONAL PARKS Modification of aims and purposes of National Parks 5 Aims of National Parks (1) The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 is modified as follows. 10 (2) For section 1 (the National Park aims), substitute— 1 “1 The National Park aims (1) In this Act, references to the National Park aims are to the following aims in relation to the area of a National Park— (a) to conserve and enhance the area’s natural and cultural heritage, 15 (b) to promote sustainable management and use of the area’s natural resources, (c) to promote public understanding and enjoyment of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, and (d) to promote sustainable economic, social and cultural development of the 20 area’s communities. (2) Without limit to the generality of subsection (1), those aims include— (a) restoring and regenerating biodiversity in the area, (b) mitigating and adapting to climate change, (c) supporting access to and within the area, 25 (d) encouraging recreation in the area, (da) encouraging sustainable and regenerative agriculture, (e) promoting sustainable tourism and visitor management, and (f) promoting sustainable economic growth and development activity which— 30 (i) improves the health and wellbeing of individuals who visit...