 Rwy'n credu i ni, eu tympagwyr diwethaf ei ddweud i gyd byw seepio, a'r ddau a'r byw seafood yng Nghymru yn dweud yr Acraeg yn y gynghorod, yn y ni, mae y cyfwyl Cymru yn y tympagau. Fy nid wneud eich bwysig os yw, oes o bwysig ynghylch fel, dweud y cyfwyl cyfwyl Cymru yn yㅋㅋㅋㅋwyl gyda gael cymaint, o erbyn eu ddweud, oer wych i ddweud. Rwy'n credu i ni, yr eich ddweud ei ddweud i ni, oherwydd mae'n ddweud i ddweud that motion 4, 8, 9, 5 be agreed. Are we all agreed? We are agreed. The next item of business is portfolio questions and portfolio questions today is rural affairs and islands. I would ask any member if they would wish to seek a supplementary to please press the request-to-speak button during the relevant question or enter the letter R in the chat function during the relevant question. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting farmers to adapt to new technologies. The Scottish Government is clear that adoption and development of technology and innovation will be a vital component toward our vision for Scottish agriculture. Central to developing solutions to the challenges facing Scottish agriculture is the Scottish Government's multi-million pound portfolio of research on the environment, natural resources and agriculture, which launched recently. In addition, measures such as our knowledge transfer and innovation fund play a critical role in supporting new and innovative approaches in agricultural practice. I am pleased to confirm that the latest batch of scheme awards will be announced shortly. I thank the minister for that answer. The James Hutton Institute, along with a number of Scottish scientists and the National Farmers Union, supports the UK Government's genetic technology bill, which reaches its second reading next week. The legislation allows researchers and farmers to take advantage of crops that are more efficient and climate-friendly, but the SNP-Green Government still insists on following outdated EU regulations that ignore that evidence and dismiss Scottish scientists who stress the benefits and safety of gene editing. Why does the Government continue to ignore Scottish scientists and farmers and why will the minister commit to implementing the genetic technology bill in Scotland? We are aware of the current debate around the new genomic techniques and how they relate to existing GM legislation. We note in particular the on-going consideration of this in the EU, our biggest international trading partner. The Scottish Government's policy is to stay aligned where practicable with the EU, and we are closely monitoring the EU's position on the issue. Scotland's position in response to the UKG's invitation to join its genetic technologies precision breeding bill has not changed. George Eustis has written to the First Minister regarding the Scottish Government's position on the new technologies, and the Scottish Government is considering its position. However, does the minister agree that the UK Government ought to respect the bounds of devolution and recognise that this matter and how to support Scotland's farmers is a matter for this Scottish Government? Absolutely. Decisions on the Scottish environment and the Scottish agriculture are matters for the Scottish Government. We want to ensure that Scotland operates at the highest environmental standards and that we protect the strength of Scottish agriculture and food production. That ensures that Scotland is able to protect and advance the high standards that we enjoyed as part of the EU, promote market access for our people and businesses and ease the process of Scotland rejoining the EU in the future. To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring uptake by farmers of rural payment schemes including in relation to agroforestry. The agriculture and rural economy directorate and Scottish forestry operate a number of schemes that are accessible to farmers and crofters across Scotland. The Scottish Government communicates with potential applicants through emails or written correspondence where appropriate, as well as wider communications through social media and the press. In addition, we offer support for potential applicants through the Scottish Government's network of local offices of the rural payments and inspections division and Scottish forestry. We also seek partnership working through industry representative bodies such as the National Farmers Union Scotland, the Scottish Crofting Federation and the Confederation of Forest Industries to ensure that farmers, crofters and forestry industry representatives are aware of and can access the opportunity to apply for public funding and support where that is appropriate. Thank you, cabinet secretary, for that answer. It is important because soil association Scotland has said that farmers and crofters can play a key role in helping to meet tree planting targets and agroforestry, integrating trees with farming systems, could deliver 342,000 hectares of new woodland and trees outwith woodland by 2050. Will the Scottish Government commit to making changes to the current forestry grant scheme to better meet the needs of farmers and crofters who want to plant more trees on their farms and open up new market opportunities for timber, fruit and nuts? The member raises a really important point. Of course, that forms part of the matters that we will consider when we have our consultation on the future agricultural bill. I, in regular contact with the soil association, am aware of some of the concerns that it has. I also recently met the woodland trust to hear about some of those issues that the member has raised as well. Of course, we want to make it as easy as possible for people if they are looking to integrate woodland and agroforestry in particular, because we know that there are so many benefits that come with that. We want to enable people to undertake those projects where that is possible and to make that as easy as possible for people too. I will, of course, take that into serious consideration. Given how effective agroforestry delivers environmental benefits without distorting the vital role of agriculture to food and rural economies, when we can expect details of the new agricultural sport schemes for agroforestry to come into effect and to estimate the value of those schemes, the soil association estimates that delivering the support needed to meet the ambition of 342,000 hectares of new woodland by 2050 could be achieved at a cost of around £100 million. In relation to future support schemes, the member will be aware that we have committed to stability and simplicity until 2025. As I have already said, we will be introducing the agriculture bill next year and consulting on that, where we will be able to take all those proposals into consideration. I would echo what he said about the importance of agroforestry and all the benefits that come with that. As I said in my response to Liam Kerr, we want to ensure that that process is as easy as possible for people to access. Scotland's ambitious woodland creation targets, and the Scottish Government's commitment to enact a farming and food production mean that it will likely become necessary to identify opportunities for integrating farming with forestry. How many specific agroforestry applications have been issued by Scottish Forestry for on-farm tree planting? Just last year alone, we at Scottish Forestry had approved 281 woodland creation schemes and, using their management information, 206 of them were for areas that were under 50 hectares or less, so they can therefore be categorised as on-farm tree planting. I also want to emphasise that, since 2015, 912 applications have been made for tree planting of 20 hectares or less by farmers and by small landholders, too. To ask the Scottish Government in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the social justice secretary regarding the impact on rural and island communities of second home ownership. Scottish ministers continue to work closely to ensure an effective cross portfolio approach, including the development of a remote rural and islands housing action plan. We recognise that concentrations of second homes can affect community sustainability. Wherever it occurs, we have taken action, and that includes the introduction of an additional dwelling supplement, a short-term licensing scheme to regulate second homes used for secondary letting, and ensuring that local authorities have powers to vary council tax discount on second homes. The distinct housing needs of island communities are also reflected in housing to 2040 and the national islands plan. Thank you, cabinet secretary. For the answer in March, I asked the cabinet secretary for social justice housing and local government if she had considered a council tax surcharge on second homes. However, as the cabinet secretary suggested, she then said that additional dwelling supplement was sufficient to tackle the issue. I ask if both cabinet secretaries have discussed that, because in Argyll and Bute, 6 per cent of homes are second homes, 3 per cent in island and 5.7 in western isles, while those areas have around 50 per cent rates of fuel poverty. By this winter, second home owners in those areas will have seared in a £4 million windfall from the Scottish and UK Government related to the council tax and energy rebates, while permanent residents in those areas are really struggling. Can the cabinet secretary commit to cross-government working to try and claw back that windfall and make sure that it is distributed to those who need it most in permanent homes? Of course, I am happy to commit to working across government to try and do what we can for people who live in our most remote and rural areas, as well as in our island communities, because the member raises really important matters there. It is one of the key issues that I hear about when I am out and about and have visited various island communities, too, but that is where I think that the work that we do in the development of the remote, rural and island housing action plan will be really critical to that as well, making sure that we get that engagement right. We are listening to communities, we are listening to island authorities as well as working across government to make sure that we are putting the right solutions in place to tackle those problems. The Government has pledged further action with additional powers for local authorities in its housing 2040 plan, but there is very little detail as to exactly how that will be done. Rural communities such as mine and the East Newk of Fife are reflected by too many second homes, depriving working people of a local home that they can afford. When will the Government set out more detail on how we control the numbers of second homes? We are going to be engaging with stakeholders on how best to support and empower local authorities to allow them to manage the issues relating to second-home ownership in their areas, and that will also help to improve communities' say on the way that homes are used in their areas and to make it easier for local people to stay in their areas, too. I would also add that to limit the number of new-build homes becoming second homes, that is why we increased the land and buildings transaction tax additional dwelling supplement in January 2019 from 3 per cent to 4 per cent of the total purchase price for any additional home of £40,000. I would be happy to come back to liaise with my cabinet colleague and to come back to the member with more information as to what the timescales for that might look like. Scotland's islands are vital contributors to our environment, society, economy, culture and heritage. Clearly, second homes have a large impact on the social and economic make-up of island communities. What action the Scottish Government is taking in relation to the number of second homes that are used as short-term lets in rural and island areas? Action that is taken to regulate short-term lets with licensing schemes will be operational from 1 October this year, and the option for local authorities to introduce control areas to manage the numbers and locations, too. I know that Highland Council has recently consulted on designating Badenach and Strathsby as a control area. We consider that the legislation that we have is appropriate for the whole of Scotland, including island and rural communities, because it offers considerable flexibility to local authorities as to how it is implemented. Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government what engagement it had with the UK Government regarding the impact of food shortages and rising food prices in Scotland. The Scottish Government continues to hold numerous discussions with UK Government departments on a variety of topics relating to food resilience. Just this week, I met the Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs to discuss the on-going impacts on the food and drink sector. The UK is facing a serious cost-of-living crisis, and the latest figures show that inflation has reached a 40-year high at 9 per cent. The UK Government holds many of the levers to address the on-going pressures, but, of course, we will continue to use all the powers that we have available to support people in Scotland. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. We have had stark warnings regarding food price inflation from the chairman of Marks and Spencer, the Bank of England and recently from the chief executive of the British retail consortium. However, if the cabinet secretary agrees with the comments of the former chief executive of Stainsbury's, Justin Kinney, we said that the current pressures started with Brexit, while in excess of 40 per cent of our food comes from Europe, started with Brexit. I would agree with that, and I think that many businesses would also agree with that comment that has been made. There are, of course, numerous challenging impacts on the Scottish food and drink industry, but it is the UK Government's reckless Brexit deal that removed Scotland from the EU single market, which plays a huge part in that, as well as the significant loss that we have experienced through the loss of freedom of movement. The food and drink sector has borne the brunt of the hard Brexit that has been pursued by the UK Government, particularly through the loss of freedom of movement and free trade. We repeatedly warned the UK Government that Brexit would be damaging to business, as well as to trade, and we are now seeing that through decreases in our trade with the EU, as well as a huge increase in food prices in the UK. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I refer members to my register of interests. One way of preventing food shortages is empowering farmers to plan for the future, something that they cannot do at the moment as they wait until 2024 for the Government's future policy. Failure to speed things up is not good for our farmers and food producer who have worked tirelessly, especially during the pandemic. Is the cabinet secretary prepared to meet as soon as possible with Opposition parties to explain how this policy development is progressing and discuss whether the date for putting it into action can be brought forward? I have already outlined in previous responses today the timescales that we are looking at for introducing future legislation, as well as in relation to the consultation that will be taking place in relation to that, too. It is really important in terms of the process that we are following at the moment. We are, of course, discussing our future policy and co-development is the critical part of that, where the ARIA board is essential, because it is really vital when it comes to developing our future mechanisms for support. We do that with the people that it is going to most effect. I would say that that is what is critically important as we move through this, that we undertake and go through that co-development process when it comes to designing our future policy. Food prices are rising, but the costs paid by farmers for feedstuff and fertiliser are also rising faster, as well. What help can both our governments give to farmers to ensure food security? Will the Scottish Government now implement our human right to food to ensure that people do not go hungry? The member will no doubt be aware that, obviously, we have the discussions on the Good Food Nation Bill and the final stage of that is due to happen shortly. However, what it does outline provides the legal framework, but essentially what we have been doing is that we have a number of policy initiatives that are about giving and putting in place that right and delivering on that right to food, which, of course, will become part of and co-operated into Scots law in future legislation, too. We are committed to doing all that we can to helping our farmers and crofters in Scotland, where it is within our power to do so. I no doubt the member will also be aware of the specific issues that we have faced in the pig sector in particular, where we have again extended our hardship scheme, recognising the significant challenges that they face. In fact, all farmers face when it comes to all their input costs significantly increasing. We continue to liaise with the UK Government to see what it can do to tackle some of the bigger issues as well when that comes to fuel energy and some of those other costs, where it is not within the Scottish Government's power, unfortunately, to tackle that. What I find particularly frustrating is that we see other initiatives taking place in other countries and other methods to help farmers to put in place that, unfortunately, we do not see replicator here, but we will continue to keep that pressure up to do what we can to help Scotland's farmers and crofters. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help farmers to tackle the reported increasing problem of Neospora in livestock. The Scottish Government does not require farmers to take specific action on Neospora as it is a non-statutory disease. However, farmers do have access to subsidised surveillance via SRUC veterinary services to assist with the cost of diagnosing animal health and welfare problems. A meeting with a local constituent this month that is farmed to discuss four calves that were aborted during pregnancy due to Neospora. While dogs are a primary host for the parasite, all it can take is for one cow grazing on pastures, contaminated by infected dog feces, to infect the entire herd. Can the minister tell me what has been done to educate members of the public that when walking their dogs they must pick up their dog mess, bag it and bin it to ensure farmers' livestock remain healthy? Yes, I know that control of this is particularly difficult because there currently aren't any drugs available to control the disease in cattle or to cure animals that may be infected with it either. However, there are certain management practices that can be applied to try and reduce the risks. The Scottish Government has supported SRUC to make that information available to farmers as well as to vets, but enforcement is also difficult. We have the dog filing Scotland Act 2003. That makes it an offence not to pick up dog feces, but unfortunately that doesn't apply to agricultural including grazing land. Therefore, it is vitally important that dog owners are reminded about just how important it is to lift dog feces. The Scottish Government has worked with the NFUS to publicise the importance of picking up after your dog on farmland as well as in urban areas, and we continue to promote that message wherever we can. Question 6, Audry Nicolle. The microphone was late coming on, but please continue. To ask the Scottish Government what its latest assessment is of the impact of Brexit on Scotland's food and drink sector. The Scottish Government repeatedly warned that Brexit would be damaging and recent trade statistics only serve to underline the negative impact of our exit from the EU. In 2019, Scottish exports were growing consistently. We now know that Scotland's trade with the EU was 16 per cent lower in 2021, with food exports to the EU down £68 million and imports plummeting down £220 million. The Scottish Government continues to use all devolved powers available to support the sector. However, more needs to be done from the UK Government now to protect our food and drink sector. Audry Nicolle. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. In the last week, there has been local media coverage highlighting how north-east food and drink small businesses are struggling due to Brexit, the Ukraine conflict, VAT and soaring energy costs, all issues that the cabinet secretary has already highlighted. Some businesses have had to make very difficult decisions, such as reducing operating hours, increasing menu prices or even removing items entirely. Can the minister give assurances that the Scottish Government will do everything that it can to press the UK Government to do more on the issues such as VAT and energy costs, given that most of those problems are as a result of the UK Government's own mess? I am happy to give the member that assurance that, of course, we will continue to do everything that we possibly can as it rests within our power to try to help our food and drink sector. Of course, we will continue to press the UK Government because it is urgent now and more needs to be done to address those issues. We will continue to keep on pressing until those matters are taken seriously. We know that the Scottish Government has long been opposed to the cultivation of GMO, but they clearly misunderstand that there is a significant difference between genetically modification and gene editing, which the Scottish Government needs to recognise. We know that, rather than decisions being science-based, the Green SNP Government simply— Mr Carson, I take it that we are coming to the substance of the question, which is on the bulletin. The Scottish Government's position is simply to stay aligned with the EU, putting their constitutional obsession ahead of Scotland's food security, and turning their back on world-leading crop institutions such as James Hutton and Roslyn institutes. That is even after the European Commission launched a review on its own rules, concluding— I am sorry. I think that we can all calm down and could we actually get to the question, which is a supplementary thank you, Mr Carson. The decision is after the European Commission launched a review into its own rules— Could we get to the question, please, Mr Carson? It's been quite a long supplementary thank you. It's likely that the EU are going to change the position on gene editing. The NFU Scotland and scientists back gene editing, so why don't you? Cabinet Secretary. It's a bit rich for the Tories to talk to us about not taking food security and food production seriously. Where is the task force established by the UK Government to look at food security, like the task force that we set up in Scotland to tackle the serious, the very serious and urgent issues that our food and drink sector faces, as well as our primary producers? Where is the focus on food production in terms of the English Government's future policy on agriculture completely absent, unlike us, who have put and kept the focus on food production because we recognise how important our food security is in Scotland. We take those matters seriously, which is why we have undertaken the work that we have established as a task force to do everything within our power to help our producers in Scotland. Ask the Scottish Government in relation to the impact on the food and drink supply chain. What discussions the Rural Affairs Secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the availability of allotments and community growing projects? The Scottish Government fully supports increasing the land available for community growing, but given that this is aimed at growing food for personal consumption and not on a commercial basis, it has not been considered in relation to the food and drink supply chain. While allotments and their provision are the responsibility of local authorities, since 2012, the Scottish Government has allocated more than £1.6 million to direct support and increase the land that is available for community growing. The local government committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into that, and it is clear from some of the work that we have looked at already that the local food strategies have not had the desired impact to empower communities to develop new allotments and community growing projects to the levels that will help to meet demand. Can I ask the minister what steps the minister now intends to take to help to turn that around and address the blockages in the system preventing people from being able to grow food locally? As the member himself will know, we have the local government housing and planning committee undertaking this inquiry, which has improved on whether the Community Empowerment Scotland Act has improved availability to allotments and whether it has reduced the barriers to accessing allotments. The committee has held the first of three evidence sessions last week and heard from a range of organisations that represent allotments in food growing associations. A local food strategy consultation is under way or planned. The Inverness-based community organisation, not in a scale limited, is awaiting the outcome of their asset transfer request to convert the Scottish Government-owned Smidifield into a green hub with allotments, anortured community agriculture, space for walking and wildlife. However, the local development plan proposes a change of land use that could allow the site to be sold for volume house building. How will the Scottish Government ensure that communities are supported to develop projects that protect agricultural soil and biodiversity, like the not in a scale green hub? As noted in the question, the land is subject to an asset transfer request. It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of any of this while the Scottish Government is still considering the request and assessing against the needs of the farm at North Nagle and the operation of the crafting cattle improvement scheme. The Scottish Government has already had discussions with the community group North Nagle Ltd with regard to the asset transfer request and proposed land use change. That engagement will continue through the conclusion of the asset transfer request process. Allotments in community growing are undoubtedly important for people to get encouraged to get engaged with the food that they eat. Does the minister agree that, if the Tories are really so concerned about the situations that are impacting the food and drink supply chain, they might want to raise those concerns with their colleagues in Westminster? The Scottish Government takes seriously the food security of Scotland and will continue to use all devolved powers available to support the food and drink sector. It is the UK Government, however, that holds most of the levers to tackle this crisis. So we will continue to press the UK Government, urging them to do more. More needs to be done now to address these issues and to protect our food and drink sector. To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for the Clyde islands. The national islands plan provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for Scotland's island communities. The plan sets out 13 strategic objectives that are critical to improving the quality of life for all of Scotland's island communities across all six local authority areas. Scottish ministers are committed to delivering those improved outcomes through the national islands plan and through other initiatives such as our programme for government commitment to support six islands on their journeys towards carbon neutrality. I thank the minister for that answer and I am delighted that one of those islands is Cumbria. Well, Clyde islands such as Arran and Cumbria are not far from the mainland. Assistance is required to sustain the working age population. Can the minister advise as to the Scottish Government's support for the provision of affordable housing and other on-going efforts to attract more people of working age to live and work on Arran and Cumbria? I absolutely recognise just how critical those issues are for our island communities. We have committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70 per cent will be available for social rent and 10 per cent of those will be in our remote rural and island communities. As well as that, we are also developing a remote rural and islands housing action plan to really try and help attract and retain people in those communities too. However, we do know that housing isn't the only challenge and we have to work closely with regional, local and community partners to really try and address some of the wider challenges that we know our island communities face. This year we will be progressing with our commitment to developing an action plan to address population decline. Thank you, cabinet secretary. That concludes portfolio questions on rural, affairs and islands. There will be a very short pause before we move on to the next item of business to allow front bench teams to change positions should they wish.