I want to understand that the next item of business is rural fairs and islands. I remind members that questions three and seven are grouped together and therefore I will take supplementaries on those questions after both have been answered, otherwise if a member wishes to request a supplementary question they should press the request to speak button or indicate. In the chat function by entering the letter are during the relevant question. To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that keepers of birds and poultry and the general public are informed and able to respond to cases of the avian influenza virus. The Scottish Government, through its operational partners, have written to all known poultry keepers in the avian influenza protection and surveillance zone in Angus informing them of the mandatory biosecurity controls in place and where to get help. Scottish Government meets regularly with key poultry industry stakeholders to discuss the avian influenza situation, and keepers of poultry or other captive birds, as well as members of the public, are routinely informed of current risk levels, disease outbreak information, disease prevention guidance and introduction of mandatory heightened biosecurity measures through social media, SMS messages, news releases and updates to its website. I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. As she said, there have been cases in Angus and within my Mid Scotland and Fife region. The UK is currently an avian influenza prevention zone, meaning that strict biosecurity measures are in place. Across Britain, over 1 million households now keep chickens, but registration is only a legal requirement for keepers of larger flocks. How confident is the cabinet secretary that those with smaller numbers of birds are keeping up-to-date with their responsibilities, including self-assessment in relation to the prevention zone status? What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that this is the case? I completely accept the member's point and the concern that she raises about other keepers. That is where our communications are vital in that regard. In relation to the risk of the incursion of avian influenza from migratory birds across the globe, that is continually assessed. It was the recent reports of that that triggered the campaign messaging by the Scottish Government to really try and encourage the preparedness ahead of the anticipated outbreak season. As I said in my initial response, the Scottish Government promotes preventative messaging using our social media channels, news releases and other media, utilising them to specifically reach out to our rural audiences where much of the livestock are kept. There are challenges there in trying to reach the smaller backyard keepers of less than 50 birds, but we are working hard to ensure that our communications reach them. I really want to give the member and others across the chamber assurance in that regard. Given that the current outbreak of avian influenza is currently affecting other UK nations with cases recently confirmed in England and Wales, can the cabinet secretary outline what engagement the Scottish Government has had with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the matter? I am happy to, because the Scottish Government meets daily at a range of meetings with DEFRA, the Welsh Government and with DERA to take stock of current outbreaks and what the on-going actions are being taken to try and control the disease. We also meet daily with operational partners and key stakeholders to keep a prize to the current situation and to share that information on actions that are being taken to control the disease at infected premises, the surrounded area and the tracing and surveillance activity that is required to really try and prevent the spread of disease too. The most recent assessment of the current risk for wild birds poultry and other captive birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza in the UK and Europe was published on 10 November. Work is under way to update that with the most recent findings. The chief veterinary officers of the UK will meet to discuss the findings of the assessment and whether further preventative actions need to be taken. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the rural economy in the north-east. The Scottish Government provides significant support to the rural economy in the north-east through its £125 million contribution towards the Aberdeen city region deal and a further £254 million investment alongside the city deal to support road, rail, housing and digital projects across the region. Working with partners, communities and other stakeholders on investment in innovation, digital connectivity and infrastructure will help to diversify the regional economy, create new jobs and aid in the transition to a net zero economy. That includes work that is being led by Scottish Enterprise delivering a number of transformational projects in the north-east. Within the Aberdeen city region deal and co-created with industry, the £21 million seed pod project will provide support to help the region to become a leader in low-carbon food production and environmental sustainability. Nondelivery of the R100 broadband programme in the north-east and rural Scotland is seriously hindering businesses, communities and the delivery of NHS care while increasing rural inequalities. It recently emerged in the press and journal that the roll-out had slipped again to the end of 2026-2027 financial year. How is this Government going to compensate our rural communities for the six-year broadband delay that they have caused? I simply refuse to accept that assertion that has been made by the member when this is a reserved area and the Scottish Government has gone above and beyond to pay for the roll-out of the infrastructure, a job that should have been done and the investment that should have been made by the UK Government. I am afraid that I do not recognise that at all. I seek potato merchants and my constituency have been in touch with me to ask for my support to their letter to the Prime Minister as they face exclusion from exporting to EU markets in Northern Ireland as a result of the Brexit deal. My constituent says that there has been no attempt by the UK Government to protect them and that they have instead allowed EU imports to England, Wales and Northern Ireland of seed potatoes. Can I ask the cabinet secretary what communication the Scottish Government has had with its UK Government counterparts on this and how they are assisting the seed potato sector so vital to the north-east rural economy? The member is absolutely right that this is a vital industry, particularly in the areas that we both represent across the north-east of Scotland. The Scottish Government absolutely shares the concerns that have been raised by the seed potato industry. The Scottish seed and where potato industry is a vital part of our successful rural economy, as I have already said, particularly in the north-east of Scotland. Regrettably, it is another example of where a Scottish industry is being disproportionately impacted by EU exit. It is also an example of where the UK Government's failure to secure, through negotiations with the EU, an outcome that could have protected this key Scottish industry as far as possible from the impacts of EU exit. Finding a resolution to this is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government. We have raised concerns with the UK Government from the outset of this on the serious impact of losing access to the EU and Northern Ireland market on the seed potato sector. That includes through the interministerial groups of the regular meetings that we have there, as well as engaging regularly with the UK Government and our counterparts and with seed potato representatives. The Scottish Government has written to the DEFRA Secretary of State to request an urgent update on progress with the UK equivalence application with EU for our seed potatoes, as well as to seek assurance that Scottish seed potato producers will not be placed at a commercial disadvantage over suppliers from the EU in supplying seed to where potato growers in England while we do not have that reciprocal trade with the EU. To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the impact on the food and drink supply chain, what is its responses to a recent survey of 1,000 UK businesses by Gallagher, which reportedly found that many businesses have been affected by a shortage of staff because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of Brexit regulations? Just to say that I am aware of the report that was published by Gallagher, and although much of the detail covers the retail sector, its findings nonetheless provide further evidence of just the extraordinary recklessness of this hard Brexit, which takes us out of the EU, the single market and the customs union, as Covid-19 continues to ravage our society and our economy. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. In the light of this research, does she share my view that the pursuit of this hard Brexit forced upon Scotland at the height of an unprecedented public health crisis amounts to nothing less than an act of governmental vandalism, which put ideology ahead of the needs of our economy? I absolutely agree with that. More importantly, I think that industry would agree with that as well. Scotland-food and drink, James Withers, the chief executive, had said that Brexit has been an enormous shock to the labour market and a Brexit implemented in the middle of a pandemic when supply chains were already straining. There is no doubt that the harm that has been caused by Brexit on Scotland's economy, and especially the rural parts of it for which I have responsibility, is going to be long-lasting. The most recent research suggesting that many exporters are thinking about relocating to mainland Europe is just really depressing if not entirely unexpected, given that our exporters have been facing barriers to trade now for nearly a year, which has created a completely unlevel playing field with importers. We continue to do all that we can within the powers and resources that we have to support our businesses and exporters, but the solution to that is increasingly clear for Scotland to vote for independence and to rejoin the EU. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding reports of labour and skills shortages in the food and drink industry and supply chain. I have written to the UK Government a number of times and most recently on 2 November. In that letter, I again requested a meeting with the Secretary of State and the Home Office, but I await the UK Government's response to that, as well as all other previous communication. Despite agreeing to meaningful engagement on migration, the UK Government has dismissed our proposals for addressing the acute labour shortage crisis, and the UK Government simply has to improve its engagement not only with the Scottish Government but with all devolved Administrations, as well as with industry. As was pointed out by my colleague Jim Fairlie on channel 4, the political slot, one of Scotland's great strengths, is our natural larder. But food industry leaders have been clear that Brexit has led to a critical shortage of pickers and processors. The UK Government's ad hoc visa scheme is bureaucratic, not fit to address the chaos caused by Brexit. Has the minister had any engagement with her UK Government counterparts regarding changes to the visa scheme, which was to allow us to welcome back valued food workers and build resilience into our supply chains? Yes, I have. To follow on from my initial response, we have sought to engage constructively with the UK Government on so many different occasions. The frustration is that it has been to little avail. On the back of raising this at the last interministerial group meeting that we had in September, together with ministers from Wales and Northern Ireland, we had a follow-up meeting with Minister Victoria Prentis, where we were assured that our concerns would be looked into, and that DEFRA would arrange a meeting between ourselves and the Home Office. That was two months ago now, and we are still waiting on a response to that. As I said, it is just hugely frustrating that we continually pursue those matters, which are absolutely critical to our industry. That is our food and drink industry right across the supply chain, and we are repeatedly ignored. That is the single biggest issue that I have raised with me by food and drink businesses right across the supply chain. We need the UK Government to listen and to act to address those serious issues. Supplementary, Liam McArthur. The cabinet secretary will recall that earlier this year a seafood trade group was established within government to provide additional capacity to help seafood exporters to deal with the increased bureaucracy arising from the UK's exit from the EU. Given that the issues facing seafood exporters, including Orkney Fisherman society and my constituency, are likely to continue for some time, will the cabinet secretary commit to keeping in place this valuable additional resource? The member is absolutely right. I think that this has been a critical piece of work that we had established to deal with the issues that we are facing. As I have just outlined, I do not think that those issues are going to go away anytime soon, and they probably will be with us for some time to come. However, I would just want to give them that assurance that our commitment to delivering a seafood trade strategy and all the work that is currently on-going and the work that recognises the importance of sustainable fisheries will continue, irrespective of the internal structures that we have to deliver that. However, that is something that I will consider closely and carefully. The minister will be aware that an equally important issue is relevant to supply chains and that the food and drink industry is affordable access to sufficient amounts of nutritious food for those in our most deprived areas. Could the minister explain why the SNP and Green MSPs failed to support the progression of a right to food bill at committee stage last month and advise what action the Scottish Government is taking to address hunger and food insecurity, particularly in our rural communities? I would be happy to provide a response to that because we fundamentally believe in a right to food, but we have already said that the vehicle for that will be the human rights bill that will be introduced to the Parliament. Of course, the right to food is an integral part of other human rights, and it is only right and fair that is considered as part of that. However, that is only part of the work that we are doing. At the start of October, we introduced the Good Food Nation bill to the Scottish Parliament for consideration. We have also been consulting on a draft local food strategy, and that consultation is open until 2 December. Again, I would encourage everyone in here to spread the word about that as well as to fill in the consultation, because we want to make sure—this Government's intention is to make sure—that everybody living in Scotland has a right and is able to access good, healthy, local and nutritious food, and we are absolutely committed to delivering on that. The Northern Isle is at the end of the supply chain and rely heavily on lifeline ferry services for incoming freight. What assurances can the Scottish Government give that shortages in the national stock supply chain, impacted by Brexit and HGV driver issues, will not be the Grinch that steals Islanders Christmas? I appreciate the member's concern on that issue, but I would say that we are in regular discussion and dialogue with our retailers and right across the food and drink supply chain to ensure that that does not happen. I give that commitment that this is, of course, a situation that we will continue to monitor to make sure that our islands do not suffer. To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to ensure that the agricultural sector plays a leading role in delivering a net zero Scotland. Agriculture is absolutely taking a leading role collectively through the agriculture reform implementation oversight board. On 28 October, I announced a £51 million national test programme that will support our farmers and crofters to learn how their work impacts on climate and nature, and to help us to understand how sustainable farming can be supported and rewarded in future. That builds on a range of other support, including grants, advice and research, to deliver our vision for Scottish agriculture, to transform the sector, to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture delivering on our ambitious climate targets. I am grateful for that answer and I am sure that the minister will agree that a one-size-fits-all approach will not be effective. Our local farmers need flexibility, so what steps are the Scottish Government taking to deliver a flexible approach that will enable different farms, with different circumstances, to secure support to help to tackle climate change? That is an absolutely critical point. The work that we are undertaking through the implementation oversight board is absolutely pivotal to that. We wanted to make sure that we had broad representation across the board. We have 21 members who represent all different geographies and sectors across Scotland, as well as environmental interests, so that we can really help to shape and develop this policy together and to make sure that we absolutely get this right for the different parts of Scotland and the different needs that exist. Last week, leading agricultural figures, including Scotland's young farmers, penned a powerful open letter of concern to Marigoujon. Despite their efforts, hard-working farmers are being demonised over emissions, and their morale is low because of a negative perception that they are to blame for climate change. That is fuelled by some politicians. Furthermore, it did not help that recently, the First Minister, given the opportunity, did not deny that the SNP policy to meet net zeroes to cull 300,000 cattle. Cabinet Secretary, rural Scotland is waiting. I hope that you will support me, and I ask that the cabinet secretary comes to the chamber with a ministerial statement to address the very serious issues raised in this letter. I have to admit that I feel quite fed up of having to answer and respond to that point as well. I have responded to that question three times from the member before in this chamber to say that it is not our policy to cull livestock. It has not been and it will not be. I confirmed that when I was at the NFUS Conference on 28 October and made that statement very, very clear then, too. I hope that that will finally knock that claim on the head. I completely understand the concerns that have been raised by the Scottish young farmers. I responded to them immediately when I first received that and saw the letter that they had sent to me on Twitter, and I have since followed that up to meet them to discuss the concerns that they have. I am absolutely with the industry in that regard and I am taking every opportunity to challenge that negative perception that can exist there, because we have people who are doing fantastic pioneering work already in agriculture, and it is our job to support and encourage that and enable that through our transformation programme. The Scottish Government's world-leading climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. Could the cabinet secretary please outline how the recently announced national test programme will lay the groundwork for Scotland's agricultural sector to be global leaders in sustainable agriculture? Yes, because our positive vision really seeks to transform Scottish agriculture to be low-carbon and sustainable in the future. Through the national test programme that I announced, farmers and crofters will be able to better understand their current environmental performance and efficiency, for example through undertaking carbon audits and nutrient management plans, and that will then enable them to mitigate their businesses' greenhouse gas emissions. The programme will also put in place livestock data and performance systems for businesses in the beef sector with the aim of improving both business and emissions performance. Those who farm in the Fife regional park, the Lomond Hills, have a significant role in the climate change efforts but also in public access too. They do not make an awful lot of money off the land, so can the cabinet secretary reassure me that the new farm support mechanism will reflect the contribution that they make to climate change and also to public access so that they can continue to do the good work? Absolutely. Where that good work is happening already, we want to ensure that that continues as well. As part of the vision for agriculture that I set out, we had already said that we want to support active farming and food production as well as supporting our farmers and crofters to lower their emissions to the lowest possible level as well as looking to enhance their biodiversity. We have already said that by 2025 we would be making half of the direct payments that we have conditional, but we very much want to support active farming and food production and to keep people on our land. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues and rural businesses regarding action to improve and enhance rural skills development. I keep ministerial colleagues regularly informed, highlighting the particular issues that are faced by rural businesses, many of which are micro-businesses. That has allowed us to invest in rural skills projects and targeted support for employers. On my visits to rural businesses across the country, skills are always one of the main topics of conversation, and those visits provide me with the opportunity to hear first-hand how employers benefit from investment in the skills of their workforce. Just last month, I visited We Cook in Barrie near Curnusty, and that is an award-winning business that is doing fantastic work with apprentices to launch a practical toolkit for rural employers on how they can invest in apprenticeships, training and work placements. Emma Harper I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Skills planning, which meets the current and future needs of Scotland's rural economy, is a vital part of the suite of measures that is needed to develop a highly skilled workforce and deliver sustainable economic growth. Can the cabinet secretary outline how the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland 2019-2021 is working to support rural skills across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders? The Skills Action Plan has driven forward a partnership approach to developing the skills and talent that is needed to ensure that Scotland's rural economy and communities essentially continue to flourish as well as to grow. People are really key to driving forward our rural communities, making them sustainable and inclusive places to live, work and thrive. Through the actions that are identified under the plan's five priority areas, it ensures that we have the right people with the right skills. We are currently commissioning an evaluation to determine the success of the plan in achieving its objectives while also reviewing what lessons might be learnt from the first two years of the plan. That evaluation will really help inform the direction of any future support for skills development and the co-ordination of that in rural Scotland. To support the rural skills, in addition to the national test programme that we just heard about from the cabinet secretary, will the Scottish Government set up and invest in a land advisory service tasked with supporting the whole sector to become a global leader in regenerative agriculture through training, advisory services, research, improving supply chains, supporting corporations, encouraging farm diversification, knowledge transfer, innovation and marketing? I hope that the member will understand that I am obviously reluctant to commit to that absolutely today, but that is because with the work that we are undertaking with the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board, we are looking at all those issues and how they can best be tackled. It is as well as developing the policies that will help with that transformation, very much working with our farmers and crofters to do that too. It is really important that we consider all those issues as part of the work of the board so that we can really develop and work on that together. Question 8, Evelyn Tweed. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on making payments to farmers and crofters through this year's national basic payment support scheme. Scottish farmers and crofters are an essential part of our rural economy and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting farmers and crofters. Once again, it was the first UK paying agency to make advance loan payments available to maintain cash flows through the recovery from coronavirus and overcome the challenges presented by Brexit. We started making payments in September, injecting more than £330 million into the Scottish rural economy, and those advance payments are worth up to 95 per cent of their final claim value. In contrast to that, farmers in England will need to wait until December while farmers in Wales and Northern Ireland start to receive advance and full payments from 15 October. The loan scheme closed on 12 November with full scheme payments in respect of basic payment scheme greening and young farmer payment on track to commence from early December. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Does she agree with me that initiative such as the national basic payment support scheme are demonstrative of this SNP government's support for Scotland's agricultural sector, as opposed to the actions of the Tory Government and Westminster, who have chosen to endanger Scottish agriculture by agreeing trade deals that offer little to no benefit but threaten great harm? I cannot agree more with that, because the Scottish Government is committed to supporting and protecting our farmers and crofters who work extremely hard to produce quality products to world-leading standards. It is really disappointing that the UK Government disagreed to propose amendments. Excuse me, cabinet secretary. Could we have less chance ring from a secondary position? The cabinet secretary is trying to answer the question that was asked by Evelyn Tweed. Please resume, cabinet secretary. I was just saying that it was disappointing that the UK Government disagreed to propose amendments in both the UK Agriculture Act 2020 and the Trade Act 2021 that would have enshrined in domestic law the imports of agri-food have to be produced to equivalent standards to that of the UK and therefore would have protected Scottish farmers and crofters. We saw those agreements rushed through before the Trade and Agriculture Commission was fully established, there was no engagement with us, with other devolved administrations or in fact with industry prior to reaching those agreements and I think that that is in stark contrast to the approach that I believe had taken place in both Australia and New Zealand with their own industry and all of that is for the sake of an expected increase in GDP of 0.02 per cent from the Australian deal, 0.0 per cent from the New Zealand deal and it simply beggars belief. I call a supplementary from Edward Mountain, who is joining us remotely. Mr Mountain. Thank you, Presiding Officer, and I refer members to my register of interest. Cabinet Secretary, given that the most inept Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs that we have ever had in Scotland, who I have ever saw the failure of the CAP IT system, managed to get all basic single farm payments without any deductions or loans out before the middle of November each year, why can't you? I'm sorry, there were elements of that question that I think I might have missed, but first of all, I think that the comment that he's made about the previous Cabinet Secretary is an absolute disgrace and I don't think that that befits him. We've done everything that we can to make sure that our farmers and crofters have the cash flow that they need. We've made our payments at the earliest ever stage and that's why at the NFUS conference again on 28 October to ensure that we have that continuity and can offer that stability for our farmers and crofters, I made the announcement that the rate for basic payments won't reduce in the lifetime of the Parliament and that I made the commitment that we'll endeavour to get those payments out before December each year through our national loan schemes. Thank you, cabinet secretary. That concludes portfolio questions and we have a very short pause before we move on to the next item of business.