Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“The Scottish Government recognises the challenges that certain plant and animal species pose to agricultural businesses and is supporting farmers to manage those impacts.”
“Will the Government also commit to implementing a more pragmatic licence application scheme for the removal of species where the impact on business and other conservation species or habitats is clear? Jim Fairlie: As Amanda Lindsay points out, there is a management scheme.”
“The Scottish Government remains committed to that work. Indeed, in September, in the Scottish Parliament, I hosted and chaired a constructive round-table discussion on alternative farrowing systems with representatives from the Scottish pig industry, animal welfare organisations and academia.”
“Therefore, we will be working closely with the UK Government and other devolved Administrations on the delivery of the programme. This is a draft Official Report and is subject to correction between publication and archiving, which will take place no later than 35 working days after the date of the meeting.”
“I welcome Joe Fagan to the chamber. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting agriculture, food production and our food and drink sectors in a fair manner. In March, we published our first rural support plan, outlining support for the next five years and providing the clarity, certainty and opportunity to plan.”
“At column 3, paragraph 3— Original text— I point out to the member that we are doing this in concert with the UK Government. There is a joint consultation ongoing as we speak, and I have confirmed with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers our agreement to do that joint consultation.”
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“The species licensing review is being finalised by NatureScot following the completion of the external review phase. Once the review has been presented to ministers for consideration, it will be published alongside our response to the recommendations and any timelines for taking the recommendations forward. We expect to be in a position to respond to the report once it is received in early 2026. John Mason: I think that we were expecting the report in January 2025, and then in July 2025, and now all we hear is that the review “is being finalised”. Can the minister assure us that NatureScot has been listening to the RSPB and the Scottish Raptor Study Group, and that their input will influence recommendations?”
“I will need to come back to her on her specific point about disaggregation by sex, as I do not have an answer to that right now. The overall safety of farmers is not just about the actions that they take; it is also about their mental wellbeing. There are a number of risks to Scotland’s farmers, and it is essential that we put as much help and support in place as we can to protect them and to ensure that the fatality numbers are reduced.”
“Claire Baker: Since April this year, there have been 22 farm fatalities in the United Kingdom, including the tragic loss of life at a farm in South Lanarkshire in October. The Health and Safety Executive says that farm vehicles continue to be the leading cause of fatalities and injuries. A Farm Safety Foundation survey found that women in agriculture are less likely to carry out a risk assessment before taking on a new job and that they receive less training than men. Is there disaggregation by sex when injuries and fatalities are recorded? Do we have an understanding of where the increased risks for women working in agriculture are? What is being done to reduce those risks? Jim Fairlie: I thank Claire Baker for bringing up the subject, which is very close to my heart.”
“The Scottish Government works closely with the agricultural sector to improve safety and wellbeing. The Farm Advisory Service offers practical risk management support, and the next generation practical training fund helps new entrants to access accredited safety-focused courses. We have awarded £25,000 to Farmstrong Scotland for its social wellbeing project, which fosters supportive networks and reduces isolation through community engagement. We have also provided £75,000 to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution so that it can continue to deliver emotional, practical and financial assistance, including counselling, mental health support and help with essential living costs. Together, those measures strengthen resilience and wellbeing across Scotland’s agricultural community.”
“Applications were assessed through a standardised framework that cross-checked application data against the single application form and other system-held data to ensure consistency, transparency and audit defensibility. The scoring model looked for six core objectives: business efficiency, business sustainability, environmental protection, greenhouse gas reduction, climate adaptation and public good. The Presiding Officer: Please be brief, minister. Jim Fairlie: Priority group status, which Douglas Ross asked about, did not alone guarantee funding investment. Applicants also had to demonstrate strong alignment with the scheme objectives and the ability to deliver measurable outcomes. First Minister’s Question Time 12:00 Mossmorran 1.”
“Something has gone badly wrong here, and it looks as though the minister was asleep at the wheel and did not even ask any questions. Given the numbers involved and that many people are questioning why almost 50 per cent of applications were deemed ineligible, is there not a duty on the Government to tell each and every applicant why they were deemed ineligible and what went wrong, and to sort it out? The Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Jim Fairlie: The scheme was co-designed with the industry—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear the minister. Jim Fairlie: The scheme was co-designed with the industry, including NFU Scotland. It was designed to help eligible active farmers and crofters to improve the environmental performance of their businesses in relation to climate change and biodiversity benefits.”
“As a matter of routine, the Scottish Government does not provide individual responses to explain why an individual agricultural grant application was unsuccessful. A breakdown of the broad categories of reasons for applications not being taken forward will be published shortly, and I will write to the member concerned to provide the information on the scoring criteria. Scottish ministers were made aware of the scoring criteria, the numbers of successful and unsuccessful applications and the overall value of support offered, but ministers do not routinely become involved in day-to-day scheme- management issues. Douglas Ross: I am sorry, but that is just not good enough, minister. Surely, routinely, 50 per cent of applications are not deemed ineligible.”
“Will the minister also advise us whether the United Kingdom Government has confirmed a timetable for its dealing with the reserved components of the border control obstacles that remain outstanding? Jim Fairlie: I am pleased that the work on the consultation has already begun and that it is proceeding at pace. A short consultation will be launched as soon as possible, with time for an SSI to be laid before the Scottish Parliament is dissolved prior to the elections in 2026. The Deputy First Minister has sought confirmation from the UK Government of its willingness to address at pace the components of effective border control that remain reserved. I will instruct my officials to share further details with Ms Ewing as soon as possible.”
“We will do all that we can to ensure that a direct freight and passenger ferry service to Europe is delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible. Annabelle Ewing: As the constituency MSP for Rosyth, and, as the minister noted, having pursued the issue—along with others, on a cross- party basis—for some years, I very much welcome the Scottish Government’s now taking the lead on the removal of the Brexit obstacles to the re- establishment of an international passenger and freight ferry route from Rosyth. However, time is of the essence. In that regard, will the minister confirm when the consultation on the draft regulations will be commenced and how long the consultation will last? When exactly will the regulations be laid in the new year?”
“I acknowledge the tenacity with which Annabelle Ewing has pursued the issue. The Scottish Government is clear that a direct trade route between Scotland and Europe could have real economic and social benefits, which is why I have instructed my officials to consult on legislation that will enable the reintroduction of a ferry route, between Rosyth and Dunkirk. Last week, I met the project sponsors of the ferry service proposal to confirm that a short consultation will be launched as soon as possible, with a Scottish statutory instrument planned to be laid early next year. The proposed changes will increase access to the European Union market for Scottish exports, which have been negatively impacted by Brexit— which we did not vote for—by allowing flexibility on the location requirements for a border control post.”
“It is simply not acceptable for drivers or passengers to have to put up with antisocial behaviour. Our actions should send a clear message to the small minority that action will be taken and that they will lose that privilege if they continue with antisocial behaviour.”
“That includes people of all ages who use their free bus entitlement to travel. None of that would be possible without the bus drivers keeping communities connected. However, a minority of people of all ages act in a way that can result in harm to bus employees and passengers, and that is simply not acceptable. We are determined to address antisocial behaviour on the bus network. The programme for government prioritised the consideration of suspending the use of concessionary travel cards on a temporary and potentially permanent basis as a result of antisocial behaviour when using the card. Detailed work is progressing on a behaviour code, robust impact assessments and a process for suspension, with enabling secondary legislation due to be laid before the Parliament on 4 December.”
“Those improvements are designed to shorten journey times, increase reliability and improve integration with other modes of transport, which ultimately encourages more people to choose the bus over private vehicles. To help local transport authorities to improve bus provision in their areas, the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 has now delivered the powers for local authorities and regional transport partnerships to take forward partnership working, franchising and local authority-run services, alongside their existing ability to subsidise services. It is important to remember that it is a decision for each authority to determine which, if any, of the powers that we have introduced will best address the transport challenges of their area. The vast majority of passengers who travel by bus do so safely and responsibly.”
“The cost of the free bus pass for under-22s is currently sitting at £200.5 million, and we estimate costs of a further £100 million per year to extend free travel to young people under the age of 26. This financial year, we will also progress a national pilot to extend free bus travel to people who are seeking asylum, as well as establishing a pilot scheme for a £2 bus fare cap in one of Scotland’s transport regions, which is backed by a £3 million fund. I also recently announced £20 million through our transformative bus infrastructure fund. That investment supports the development and construction of a wide range of infrastructure projects across Scotland, from bus lanes and bus priority signals to accessible features and transport hubs.”
“That has helped them and their families to cut costs for essential and leisure travel. That is an incredible achievement, and the benefits are so important to Scotland’s young people. Craig Hoy: Will Mr Fairlie elaborate on the point that I made to Mr Ruskell, which is that one consequence of the expansion of concessionary travel is that the budget is very constrained for supported services, particularly in rural areas? Will the Government now look at creating a rural bus fund for areas, such as Dumfriesshire, that are rapidly becoming bus deserts? Jim Fairlie: I will come on to Craig Hoy’s point later in my speech. Although we are supportive of the Green Party motion that we are debating today, it is important that any future expansion of free bus travel to more young people—and, indeed, to others—must be affordable and sustainable.”
“We invest all that money because buses offer a more sustainable way to keep our country moving in a way that is accessible to many. The Scottish transport statistics that were published earlier this year show that about 334 million passenger journeys were made by bus in Scotland in 2023-24. That represents a 13 per cent increase compared with the number in 2022- 23, which shows that good progress has been made. Across Scotland, more than 2 million children, young people, disabled people and older people now benefit from free bus travel, and they make more than 3 million journeys per week. Since January 2022, more than 250 million bus journeys have been made across Scotland by children and young people using their under-22 free bus travel entitlement card.”
“I thank Mark Ruskell for bringing the debate to the chamber. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the importance of local bus services and, in particular, to acknowledge the enormous success of the under-22 free bus travel scheme, which was introduced by the SNP Government, with Graeme Dey delivering it as the minister. Bus services play a vital role in delivering the First Minister’s four priorities: eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and improving Scotland’s public services. The Government is investing more than £2.6 billion in 2025-26 to support public transport and to make our transport system available, affordable and accessible for all. We have increased our funding for bus services and concessionary travel from £430 million in 2024-25 to almost £465 million this year.”
“I look forward to updating Parliament on our progress in the months ahead.”
“We will continue to engage with land managers, insurers, emergency services and all key partners involved to refine our approach. We will also hold a round table with MSPs on 18 November so that they can share their views with us. Let me take a moment to thank the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, gamekeepers, land managers, volunteers, local authorities, the wider land management sector and local communities. Their efforts in tackling this year’s wildfires have been nothing short of heroic. The Government is committed to working with our rural communities to tackle the very real wildfire threat that is facing us. Through the right planning, the right investment and the right leadership, we will build a more resilient Scotland. We will continue to listen, to learn and to act.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service strategy includes continued investment in training and upskilling, and we will support that through policy and funding alignment. The Scottish Government has increased the service’s annual budget to £412.2 million for 2026, which is an increase of more than £19 million since 2017. The summit concluded with a clear mandate for action, and the following steps are now under way. We will finalise the Scottish multi-agency resilience training and exercising unit debrief, and we will publish its recommendations in full. We will develop a collaborative outline proposal to consolidate actions and to guide future strategy. We will review legislation, including national byelaws and fire-related product restrictions.”
“Landowners and land managers conducting muirburn must notify the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service before and after burns to ensure full situational awareness. We must address issues around insurance and liability. We are working to overcome barriers related to insurance coverage for wildfire response. That includes clarifying liability and ensuring that responders are not penalised for taking action. We recognise the financial impact that wildfires are having on rural businesses, so we are providing grant funding of up to £10,000 through the Cairngorms National Park Authority to replace damaged equipment. We are committed to ensuring that emergency services and land managers are properly resourced.”
“We are reviewing helicopter access protocols, including through exploration of the potential for a central budget, contractual arrangements and a trump card approach to ensure that public sector needs are prioritised. Improvements are needed in communication, interoperability and improved command and control arrangements across large-scale incidents. We will strengthen co-ordination and ensure that all responders understand their roles, including through priority communications with affected residents and those who may be at risk in a wildfire event. We must empower communities and volunteers. The community asset register remains a vital tool to help us achieve that, so we will look into what is required to expand its use and to overcome barriers to adding new assets and volunteers.”
“We will work with the Scottish multi-agency resilience training and exercising unit to develop a national table-top exercise and to improve preparedness in a truly collaborative way across all agencies. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has invested £1.6 million in wildfire response assets, including personal protective equipment, all-terrain vehicles, fogging units and drones. Further investment is currently being considered. We are exploring a mountain rescue-style voluntary response model, with trained wildfire wardens to support local efforts. We must enhance co-ordination. A shared concept of operations will be developed to clarify roles and responsibilities across agencies, supported by the Scottish Government resilience room, local resilience partnerships and regional resilience partnerships.”
“A national campaign will be explored, using behavioural science and lessons from Covid-19 communications to tailor messaging for different audiences. We will look to develop Scotland-specific fire risk models, moving away from reliance on Canadian data. That includes integrating wildfire layers into the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s community risk index model. We are also evaluating the unintended consequences of alternative land management practices that may increase fire risk to determine how those policies can better align to Scotland’s increasing wildfire risk. We must strengthen our preparedness. A gap in multi-agency training was identified.”
“That decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that gamekeepers and land managers can continue to manage land appropriately in light of increased wildfire risk. The licensing scheme will help us to build a stronger evidence base, improve safety and reduce the risk of damaging effects. We are also reviewing land management plans and considering stronger requirements for wildfire mitigation, including guidance for both public and private landowners. The wildfire summit and associated meetings identified several key themes and actions. However, it is clear that prevention must come first. There is strong support for a wildfire warning system, similar to flood and storm alerts. That would improve public understanding and preparedness.”
“However, when restored and managed properly, they can act as powerful carbon sinks and natural firebreaks. Land managers and gamekeepers are on the front line of wildfire prevention and response. We owe them a debt of gratitude for the valuable role that they have always played in controlling wildfires. Their intimate knowledge of the land and terrain remains crucial. That is why we must strike a balance that recognises their expertise, supports sustainable practices and enables them to work in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Controlled burning, when done responsibly, plays a vital role in creating firebreaks and reducing fuel loads. To that end, we have delayed until September 2026 the implementation of the muirburn licensing scheme.”
“The fires between 28 June and 2 July were described as the largest in living memory, with flames reaching 20m in length and jumping up to 750m. Those incidents underscore the scale of the challenge that we face. Wildfires are no longer a seasonal hazard; they are a climate-driven crisis that is placing immense pressure on our rural communities, our emergency services and the natural environment. They devastate landscapes, threaten people’s homes and businesses, threaten biodiversity, damage critical infrastructure and release vast amounts of carbon. Scotland’s rural terrain, which is rich in biodiversity and extensive peatlands and woodlands, makes us uniquely vulnerable. When those landscapes burn, that undoes years of climate progress in a matter of hours.”
“I am here today to update the Parliament on the outcomes of the recent ministerial wildfire summit, which was held on 14 October in Grantown-on-Spey. The summit was a culmination of a series of engagements, including the Scottish multi-agency resilience training and exercise unit debrief, the ministerial debrief with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and cross- public sector meetings on wildfires. Those events reflect the seriousness with which the Government treats the growing threat of wildfires across Scotland. This year, Scotland has experienced its most severe wildfire season in recent memory. So far this year, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has recorded a total of 241 wildfire incidents. There was a sharp spike in activity in April, with 109 recorded in that month alone.”
“When farmers, estates, communities and Government work together, we can achieve remarkable things—from tree planting and peatland restoration to tourism, education and food production. That is the Scotland that I want: one where families can make a living from the land, food production is valued and the next generation has the opportunity to stay, work and thrive. Our shared purpose should be trust built on fairness, freedom and belief in the people who make rural Scotland what it is today. 18:01”
“It achieved some success in supporting young farmers and reducing speculation, but that was a long time ago and things have moved on. It also brought layers of bureaucracy and market distortion and reduced transparency. We should be careful to not repeat those mistakes. Scotland’s strength lies in its diversity and its ability to combine private enterprise with public purpose. I do not agree that the bill is transformative. People in rural Scotland want a balance: a system in which landowners can invest with confidence, tenants can build a future and communities can choose to own land, without private owners being treated with suspicion. We need a rural economy that thrives without being tangled in red tape. Good land management is about partnership, not punishment.”
“We have heard concerns, including from respected voices such as Don Macleod, about the potential impact of the bill’s pre-notification and lotting requirements. Those could create uncertainty in land sales, add cost and delay and deter legitimate investment. That is not reform; it is bureaucracy. There is a danger that, however well intentioned, the bill begins to resemble the kind of state control that we have seen elsewhere in Europe. Some have suggested that it echoes the French reforms of the 1960s, which created the SAFER model—a system in which the state has extensive powers over land transactions. That suggestion is probably unsurprising, given the Scottish Land Commission review in 2023. It is true that that model reshaped rural France, where feudalism was abolished centuries earlier than in Scotland.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Tim Eagle: I am happy to. Jim Fairlie: Does the member not recognise that in the programme for government, it was set out that all public landholdings should look at what opportunities they can create for new entrants? Tim Eagle: I do remember seeing that, but I do not think that it has progressed since. The minister can correct me if I am wrong, but the Scottish Government has created only nine starter farms, and there were comments about unclear plans in the 2023 review. Glen Prosen still lacks a complete land management plan. If ministers are serious about supporting new entrants, they must demonstrate that commitment on the land that they control. Another central issue in the bill is property rights—rights that have existed for generations and that are fundamental to how our economy functions.”
“Davy Russell: Approximately 37 per cent of people in Scotland aged between 16 and 24 are economically inactive. A number of rural and semi- rural professions have historically been more prevalent than others in the public imagination, including forestry, farming, land management and agricultural engineering—the list is endless. However, those professions are associated with the highly marketable and transferable skills that we presently lack in this country. Does the minister agree that expanding the current offering of apprenticeships in the agricultural sector would help to preserve traditional farming practices and benefit the environment, while simultaneously bolstering the productive workforce to the benefit of not just the rural communities but, essentially, everyone?”
“We are committed to supporting new farmers in South Lanarkshire. The Farm Advisory Service provides peer-to-peer groups, mentoring and advice across a range of topics that are relevant to new entrants. They were one of the priority groups in the future farming investment scheme, and they can access national reserve payments. Wider national support is available through the farming opportunities for new entrants programme, the Scottish land matching service, the land-based pre-apprenticeship programme and the next generation practical training fund. Unlike elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Scotland remains committed to direct support and additional voluntary coupled support. Finally, I note that South Lanarkshire is not a crofting county, so there are no crofters there.”
“The potential impacts on communities and nature, including prime agricultural land, are important considerations in the decision-making process, and all applications are subject to site- specific assessments. I hope that the chamber has some confidence that we have the provisions in place to help protect the land. New Farmers and Crofters (South Lanarkshire) 8.”
“Maurice Golden: In recent years, a number of infrastructure projects, from energy transmission and battery storage to housing, have been proposed or developed on agricultural land. Although individual projects may have a limited impact and some, such as solar farms, may be reversible in the long term, does the minister share my concern that, if the Scotland-wide cumulative effect of such projects is not monitored, localised planning decisions could undermine our long-term food security? Jim Fairlie: Maurice Golden makes a valid point, but the national planning framework 4 seeks to strike a balance between ensuring that land is protected and achieving other objectives relating to land use.”
“Scotland’s fourth land use strategy is due to be published by March 2026. Throughout its development, we will work with stakeholders regarding the multiple demands that are placed on our land and the fine balances that must be found as we move forward. The national planning framework 4 soils policy has safeguards in place for our best farm land and supports only in limited circumstances new development proposals on prime agricultural land or locally important agricultural land that is of lesser quality. The Scottish Government’s food security unit also seeks to annually review available information about the use of land with a capability for agricultural grades 1 to 3.2 and to improve the data.”
“Jim Fairlie: Although the consultation demonstrated support for licensing, concerns were also expressed about the proportionality and cost of statutory licensing and about the capacity of local authorities to absorb and meaningfully enforce additional licensing requirements when budgets are already stretched. We are therefore assessing whether less onerous and more proportionate approaches, such as registration schemes linked to codes of conduct, could deliver similar outcomes to licensing. In the meantime, our immediate focus is to deliver on the proposal to regulate canine fertility businesses, due to the significant animal welfare concerns that are associated with that sector. Land Use (Urban Settings) 4.”
“The discussion recognised the challenges with enforcement of any potential new regulatory rules and the fact that, when complaints or concerns are raised about pet groomers, pet boarders or dog walkers, the lack of regulation covering those businesses prohibits the police, trading standards officials or Scottish SCPA officers from being able to act. Will the minister provide an update on the Scottish Government’s position on the matter, given that the consultation analysis demonstrated overwhelming support from the public for regulation of pet services? Would he encourage the next Government, after the election, to introduce legislation to improve safeguards for pets?”
“Officials from the Scottish Government’s animal welfare team meet trading standards officers as part of their regular engagement with local authorities, which are responsible for the enforcement of animal licensing legislation. There have been no discussions about licensing with Police Scotland since the consultation in 2023. Stuart McMillan: The minister will be aware that I hosted a parliamentary round-table meeting last week to discuss the regulation of pet services, which was attended by Trading Standards Scotland, the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Police Scotland and members of the Scottish Parliament.”
“On the ability to shoot deer effectively, I do not think that it is too much to ask to ensure that deer stalkers and those who control deer have the requisite training to ensure that that is done safely and appropriately.”
“Meanwhile, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and NFU Scotland have expressed significant concerns about unintended impacts of the bill’s mandatory training provisions, which come without any grandfather rights on lowland deer management. That could create barriers to entry and reduce the pool of active deer stalkers, despite a lack of evidence indicating that it is required. At a time when the Government is legislating for more deer to be culled across Scotland, why is it simultaneously ignoring such concerns? Jim Fairlie: We are not ignoring concerns at all. I stated in my first answer that we are actively engaging with deer managers right across the country—lowland and upland.”
“We have undertaken the full suite of assessments that were required for introduction of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. The rationale for the bill is set out in the accompanying policy memorandum. Ahead of its introduction, the Scottish Government carried out three public consultations on the proposals in the bill, and the responses to those consultations informed its development. In addition, officials continue to engage closely with internal and external stakeholders, including non-government organisations, land managers and farmers, to identify and address any potential unintended consequences. Sue Webber: The bill could seriously impact the deer management sector, allowing NatureScot’s overreach and conflicting powers to be enhanced while eroding the trust of those who work in the sector.”
“A decision was made that we would make the scheme work for the communities that it was targeted at. The money has not been wasted: it has gone to farmers who have shown a clear appetite and are prepared to put in the time, effort and investment to ensure that they help us on our journey to create biodiversity, reduce emissions and make farming sustainable for the future, which is something that we should be very proud of.”
“That was despite Mairi Gougeon’s own concerns, expressed by her office, that “we haven’t had those meaningful discussions with stakeholders at an early stage and are presenting them with the complete package”, which is “not in the spirit of the commitment that was made.” Is it not the case that the minister rushed out the scheme without proper engagement, which meant that millions of pounds of public money—funding that the farming sector so desperately needs— risks being spent on a scheme that will not meet its objectives and that has left thousands of farmers, crofters and agricultural businesses disappointed? Jim Fairlie: That is quite simply not the case. The scheme was co-designed and we had numerous discussions with various stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union Scotland.”
“Priority status alone did not guarantee funding, because, as I have already said, applicants also had to demonstrate strong alignment with scheme objectives and the ability to deliver measurable outcomes. Jamie Halcro Johnston: Speaking on Radio Orkney this morning, the minister claimed that the scheme was co-designed with stakeholders and was as good a scheme as the Government could put forward in the time that it had to get that money out of the door as quickly as possible. However, information obtained by the Scottish Conservatives following a freedom of information request reveals that pressure on the timescales was caused by the cabinet secretary’s demands that the scheme must be ready to go and to be announced at the Royal Highland Show.”
“Jim Fairlie: I cannot talk to the specifics that Jamie Halcro Johnston raises, but I say clearly that I absolutely understand the frustration felt by any farmer who put in what they believed to be a very good application but who did not receive funding. He asked me to set out the process. The FFIS scoring model applied six core objectives: business efficiency, business sustainability, environmental protection, greenhouse gas reduction, climate adaptation and public good. Funding requests were assessed to recognise realistic and proportionate applications, ensuring value for money. Equity adjustments were applied for smaller and lower-capital businesses and a 20 per cent priority multiplier was applied to new entrants, young farmers and small business tenants.”
“The figures that are available suggest that larger and longer-established farming businesses on the mainland of Scotland were successful, which has left many farmers and crofters struggling to understand what the scoring criteria were—some suggest that selection was just a lucky dip and others say that names were pulled from a hat. Can the minister set out the process by which his officials decided who was successful? Was artificial intelligence used at all in the process? Can he explain why many applicants who met four or five of the priorities were unsuccessful while others who met none have been offered grants?”
“The FFIS was co-designed with the industry and prioritised a number of businesses and business types. As with any support scheme, applications were assessed using a bespoke scoring system and being in a priority group assisted in increasing an applicant’s score but did not guarantee success. Given the level of demand, offers of grant were made to those assessed as delivering the best outcomes against the scheme’s overall objectives. Jamie Halcro Johnston: The scheme was supposed to help priority groups such as young farmers, new entrants to farming, tenants and island businesses, but only about one third of the total funding has gone to those groups.”
“Should members agree to support the general principles of the bill today—as I think they should—we will work with them, stakeholders and communities to deliver a landmark natural environment bill that builds on the vision that is set out in our biodiversity strategy; that gives us the tools to act, the targets to aim for and the accountability to stay on course; and that says clearly that we will not stand by while nature declines but will act together to restore it. I think that we should make that commitment today. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.”