Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 10 September 2025.
Ruth Maguire
Scottish National Party
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to support sustainable farming and food production that is based on improving biodiversity. (S6O-04900)
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
As per the vision for agriculture, Scotland will have a support framework that delivers high-quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation and nature restoration. The agri-environment climate scheme continues to support targeted environmental actions, with £339 million having been committed since 2015. The £14 million future farming investment scheme will facilitate farmer-led actions to restore nature, address climate change and improve business efficiency.
We have new requirements to prevent damage to peatlands and wetlands, and the whole farm plan biodiversity audit encourages the adoption of nature-friendly approaches. The transition to the four-tier framework will further incentivise farmers and crofters to improve biodiversity.
Ruth Maguire
Scottish National Party
As of last week, support payments of more than £322 million had reached the accounts of farmers and crofters. Uniquely in the United Kingdom, Scotland has maintained direct payments, showing that the Scottish National Party values the work of farmers and crofters and knows the importance of stability and the ability to plan. How much of that funding has been received by Ayrshire agricultural businesses compared with equivalent businesses in England, thanks to the SNP’s policies?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
The Government whole-heartedly supports our farmers and crofters. We recognise how crucial forward planning is for agricultural businesses, which is why we have committed to having no cliff edge in support as we transition to the new four-tier framework.
As of 8 September, basic payments scheme and greening 2025 advance payments worth £21,799,762 have been issued to businesses in Ayrshire local authority areas. That is one part of a wider package of support, including the aforementioned agri-environment scheme, that we are delivering to farmers and crofters. I point out that Andrew Connon of NFU Scotland was delighted to see farmers receiving those payments.
Ariane Burgess
Green
Scotland has legislated for sustainable regenerative agriculture, but stakeholders—farmers and other people who are employed in the sector—are concerned that little has been done to provide the education and training opportunities that are needed for that urgent shift. Without a properly funded long-term education and skills pipeline, there is a real risk that the transition in agriculture will stall before it has had a chance to get started. What consideration has the Minister given to allocating a greater proportion of funding to the education and skills tier of the farm support budget, to ensure that the agricultural workforce has the skills and training that it needs?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
I am sure that Ariane Burgess knows that a range of things happen in agriculture that help knowledge exchange between farmers and among the community. In specific terms, tier 4 of the framework is about continuous personal development, and it will continue to help farmers to get to a place where they can deliver the vision of the agriculture programme.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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