Stewart Stevenson

Answer · Ben Macpherson · 24 Mar 2021

The Scottish Government response to the Deer Working Group’s report has today been published on the Scottish Government website and can be found on the Deer Working Group page.
Effective and sustainable deer management is fundamental to our efforts in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Our Climate Change Plan sets out ambitious woodland creation targets, aiming to increase woodland cover to 21% of the total area of Scotland by 2032. However, the creation of new woodlands also creates new and ideal habitat for deer, demanding greater urgency to management action to prevent deer damage to newly planted and regenerating woodlands.
High densities of deer can also have a serious impact on the environment through overgrazing and trampling of vulnerable habitats. This is of particular concern regarding the protection and restoration of peatland, so that peatland restoration can play its vital role in absorbing and locking-up carbon. Scotland’s National Peatland Plan outlines the important role of sustainable deer management in protecting and restoring peatlands.
The impacts of deer on our climate change targets and on biodiversity are the main drivers of our policy on deer management, alongside having due regard for the socio-economic value of deer as a resource and a much-loved and iconic species, forming part of the Scottish rural environment, character and landscape. Furthermore, consideration has also been given to the potential welfare implications where deer densities are particularly high and we will continue to take account of how sustainable deer management can benefit the welfare of wild deer.
NatureScot, working with partners in the land management sector, have made notable progress in improving deer management in recent years, and this has been set out in the report published by NatureScot in 2019. However, as the scale of the climate change and biodiversity crises, and the measures needed to tackle them, have come clearly into focus, it has also become apparent that a significant stepping-up of deer management efforts are required. It is with this in mind that we have considered our response to the recommendations of the Deer Working Group.
The Group’s ninety-nine recommendations cover a broad range of areas, including improvements to, and modernisation of, the legislation, as well as to the current operating practices of all those involved in deer management. As well as making deer management more effective, there is also a strong focus on deer welfare.
The Scottish Government supports most of the recommendations. Many of the recommendations are detailed prescriptions in complex areas and further consideration and examination of their legal effect, and inter-action with other legal provisions, will be required. There will also need to be further consideration and consultation with stakeholders over matters concerning the practical implementation of some of the recommendations.

Answer · Kate Forbes · 22 Mar 2021

The Scottish Government has a vision that Scotland’s data is used systematically to improve decision-making, saving time, money and lives.
Data impacts on almost all aspects of human activity and in every sector of the economy, which means that to ignore its potential risks being left behind. Scotland is well-placed to harness the potential of data innovation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to benefit our citizens, economy, public services and society.
That is why the Scottish Government set out its commitment to developing an AI strategy for Scotland in the 2019-2020 Programme for Government. We committed to doing so to help ensure that Scotland maximises the potential economic and social benefits of AI, and sends a strong signal to the world about our ambition.
Work began in autumn 2019 when The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, were tasked with convening the strategy development process. This included a consultation, engagement programme and working groups, and involved hearing from and working with people and organisations across Scotland and beyond.
This open and collaborative approach enabled us to produce a strategy that sets out a vision for Scotland to become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI. Through the Scottish AI Alliance, we will build partnerships to achieve this practical, tangible and inspiring vision.
“Scotland’s AI Strategy – Trustworthy, Ethical and Inclusive” sets out our vision, the principles that will guide us, and the actions that we will take to develop and strengthen our AI ecosystem over the next five years. It complements work to implement our new Digital Strategy, the recommendations of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review and related initiatives.
The strategy is due to be published on 22 March 2021 and will be available at www.scotlandaistrategy.com/ .

Answer · Ben Macpherson · 8 Mar 2021

The Scottish Government recognises the unique and significant pressures that COVID-19 and EU Exit have placed on industry over the past year, including the businesses with responsibility for implementing Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
Despite this, industry has made good progress towards implementing the scheme, including the recent establishment of Circularity Scotland Ltd as a not-for-profit industry body seeking to operate as a DRS scheme administrator. This is a significant step forward, which demonstrates the industry’s collective commitment to move ahead with the scheme.
At the time that the DRS Regulations were passed, the Scottish Government committed to closely monitor the impact of the pandemic on implementation of DRS. Given the significant disruption caused to relevant sectors over the past year, we have decided to commission an independent gateway review to assess the impact of the pandemic on the go-live date for the scheme.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon · 3 Feb 2021

All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Interim Chief Medical Officer. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice on immunisation to all UK Health Departments, including on the efficacy and safety of vaccines.
All first responders are included in the Allied Health Professional cohort and they are covered in the priority list.
Those who are initially eligible for COVID-19 vaccination can be found in the CMO list, which is illustrative but not exhaustive, and additional information can be found in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Priority Group 2 statement, which defines patient-facing frontline workers.