Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. 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 .

Since 2021 the Scottish Government have made strong progress in meeting the 2021 PFG commitment to provide £100m of funding for new woodland creation during this parliament. We have already spent £96.3m and have commitments for a further £87.8m, for approved applications to create new woodlands during this parliamentary term.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on  23 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. 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 .

Scottish Ministers met with the Scottish Hospitality Group on several occasions in advance of the Scottish Budget 2024-25.

The Scottish Hospitality Group are represented on the New Deal for Business Non-Domestic Rates consultative sub-group which is chaired by the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance who has portfolio responsibility for non-domestic rates. The sub-group has met regularly, and the meetings of 3 October and 24 November provided the opportunity for members, including the Scottish Hospitality Group, to share their views specifically on non-domestic rates in advance of the Scottish Budget 2024-25. The Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance also met with members of the Scottish Hospitality Group’s board on 12 December to discuss the Scottish Budget 2024-25.

On 29 November, the Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade met with the Scottish Hospitality Group and other key hospitality bodies to hear first-hand about the current issues facing the sector.Ministers value the insights provided by the trade bodies representing hospitality businesses and are aware of their asks and concerns.

The Scottish Government recognised that damage from flooding during the autumn of 2023 extended into parts of the Highlands and for this reason the eligible area of the Agricultural Floodbank scheme has been extended to include Highland Speyside.

In June this year, a delivery action plan was announced aimed at ramping up tree planting levels. This included a £1 million investment by Scottish Forestry to provide comprehensive training for its staff to speed up the woodland creation application process.

Other measures announced include increasing the level of support for smaller scale woodland projects, providing more advice and support for farmers, refreshed community engagement guidance and more support for riparian planting.

I will chair a Woodland Creation Summit on 12 December, with industry leaders and stakeholders directly involved in woodland creation, which will look at the opportunities for growing more trees and also look at overcoming any associated barriers in meeting the woodland creation targets.

To date this year, Scottish Forestry has provided regulatory approval for over 11,200 hectares worth of new woodland applications, which already exceeds last year’s total, with more approvals expected.