7. To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support the Christmas tree industry. (S5F-00691)

I am delighted to say that there are two home-grown trees in Bute house this Christmas. If people have not already bought their Christmas tree for this Christmas, I urge them to consider buying a Scottish-grown tree; if they have already bought their tree, I urge them to consider it for next Christmas.

There is an important point behind the question. The Christmas tree industry is a privately funded sector but the Government is absolutely committed to continued investment in Scotland’s wider forestry sector, which is an important part of our economy. The draft budget protects funding for forestry and increases the money that is available for forestry grants in the next financial year to £40 million.

I am delighted that the First Minister has bought two Christmas trees and I hope that they are, indeed, Scottish trees. More than 55 per cent of the UK’s Christmas trees are produced in Scotland, many on the Black Isle, which I represent.

However, the UK still imports 2 million Christmas trees every year, so there is more to do.

As the First Minister pointed out, it is not just Christmas trees that are important to Scotland. Commercial forestry is also important, especially if we are to meet Scotland’s timber needs and the Government’s environmental targets. The Scottish National Party has missed its planting targets for the past three years. [

Interruption

.]

The Presiding Officer:

We should hear Mr Mountain’s question.

I will repeat that, just in case the members opposite did not hear me the first time. The SNP has missed its planting target for the past three years. Does the First Minister really believe that the additional £4 million announced in the budget will be enough to make up the shortfall and to hit a target of 100,000 hectares of planting by 2020? No one else believes that it will.

The First Minister:

The Tories’ spending commitments are really piling up today. Unfortunately, they are relying on Santa to deliver them the resources that they need to fund those commitments.

There are important issues in the question. I can confirm—I think that I did so in my previous answer—that the Christmas trees in Bute house are Scottish grown. I cannot insist that people across the country buy home-grown Christmas trees, but I encourage them to do so because it is good for that sector of our economy.

On our planting targets, we are absolutely prioritising the action to increase the scale and pace of new woodland creation, and that is absolutely the right thing to do.

I hope that, as we go into the Christmas holidays, everybody enjoys their Christmas tree, wherever in the UK or elsewhere it happens to have been grown.

The Presiding Officer:

We will have a final contribution from Graeme Dey.

In the spirit of Christmas, which Edward Mountain was so uncharacteristically lacking, and on the subject of trees, will the First Minister join me in welcoming this week’s community buyout of the historic Loch Arkaig pine forest as another step along the road towards Scotland’s land being owned for the benefit of the many and not the few—something that we know the Tories are so supportive of?

The First Minister:

We know that the Tories really do not like the principle of for the many rather than the few; nevertheless, I think that it is one that we should support.

I very much welcome the community buyout, which has been achieved by the local community trust working with Woodland Trust Scotland. The 2,500 acres of Loch Arkaig forest form one of only 38 Caledonian pinewood inventory sites in Scotland. These are vital ancient native pinewoods, so it is really good to see the local community coming together to work with other agencies on a long-term plan to conserve and restore them. [

Interruption

.] I think that the Tories are demonstrating that they do not like the idea of land being owned by the many and not the few, but this Government is determined to continue down that road.

As that was the final contribution, Presiding Officer, in the absence of Christmas spirit from elsewhere in the chamber, I end by wishing you a very happy Christmas. [

Applause

.]

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you. That ends First Minister’s questions. Parliament will resume in the new year. I take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and merry Christmas.

Meeting closed at 12:46.